GOOGLE MAPS

[Cormanus]

Nice work, gentlemen.

I wonder if I might bore you with the Cormanus approach:
[li]Ride out the gate with but the vaguest idea of where you're going.[/li] [li]If you get there, either turn around and retrace (not desirable) or keep going in a way that may take you home (preferred).[/li] [li]If you don't get there, enjoy where you got to and then find a way home.[/li] [li]Sit in front of the computer and try to remember where on earth you went and how you got there so you can draw it on a Google Map.
[/li] For what it's worth, I find Google My Maps can be a slightly more sophisticated tool for route planning and drawing.

Yeah, but you're on an island. How can you get lost?

Good point, popgun. You could make sure you head only east or west and the same would be true for you.

If you're going north and it gets too cold, or south and it gets too hot, you may also be lost.

I like your approach, Cormanus. When I retire, that will be my system.

One thing I found useful on my TomTom Rider satnav is the Record function. It records everywhere I go (intentionally or otherwise). Once I have the trip file, I upload it into Tyre to Travel (Windows software) and from there I can export it to Google My Maps (or not, lol).

GPS Tracks is a very good app for the iPhone that will also keep a record of your wanderings.

The Eat Sleep Ride app is also good for that, although I'm not sure you can upload it to Google My Maps because of the volume of data it collects.

If I took that approach I would probably:
A: Get lost
B: Run out of gas
C: Go hungry
D: All of the above

Yes. But, hey, what else is there to do?

[Rolls_imp]

I use it Win10 pretty frequently. In 10, just type the first few letters into that box in the lower left and it should go get the Snipping Tool for you. Enjoy!

[curlyjoe]

Nice work, gentlemen.

I wonder if I might bore you with the Cormanus approach:
[li]Ride out the gate with but the vaguest idea of where you're going.[/li] [li]If you get there, either turn around and retrace (not desirable) or keep going in a way that may take you home (preferred).[/li] [li]If you don't get there, enjoy where you got to and then find a way home.[/li] [li]Sit in front of the computer and try to remember where on earth you went and how you got there so you can draw it on a Google Map.
[/li] For what it's worth, I find Google My Maps can be a slightly more sophisticated tool for route planning and drawing.

This is exactly the way I ride, Cormanus except I skip step 4.

I do carry a cell phone but I don't use GPS or carry any maps.

[Cormanus]

Yes! A superior approach, curlyjoe. I'll learn from that!

[emptysea]

On the other hand, many of us need to have a planned route for many of our rides and a thread on how to use Google Maps (and other programs described above) to our best advantage is very much worthwhile.

[Stichill_imp]

Here's a trick: in Google My Maps, change the base map from "Map" to "Simple Atlas" to better highlight available secondary roads.

"Map"


"Simple Atlas"

[emptysea]

Did not know this. Could be hugely helpful.

[Stichill_imp]

I just just found that Atlas feature recently. Another one that I've used a lot is Terrain. Gives you an idea how interesting a ride might be in terms of scenery and elevation changes.

[emptysea]

I don't need the terrain feature very much in northern Illinois. LOL I have used it when exploring other areas.

Can't find the Simple Atlas feature (or "My Maps" for that matter). Maybe I'm using a different generation of Google Maps? Any insight on this for me?

[Stichill_imp]

Google My Maps is completely different (and more powerful) than Google Maps. You'll need a Google account to get the most out of it, like saving your maps.

Try these links:
https://www.google.com/mymaps
http://www.google.com/mymaps