Free GPS Guidance
I have often wondered how the Garmin nuvi compares to the iPhone for automotive GPS navigation. I recently had the chance to find out. I found myself traveling with a friend about 6 hours away from home and back. I had brought my nuvi along when I went to meet them, but I was told it was not needed as they had GPS in their car. Well, their car is much fancier than mine so I believed it came with a GPS navigation system factory installed. Just after leaving my nuvi behind I learned the truth. Oh my! How I missed my own GPS device once we hit the road. We came across a detour which the iPhone had no idea about and had to figure out the detour ourselves by enlarging the map and watching our car move as a blue dot around the screen working our way back onto the suggested route. Well, that was fun – not. Then again, I have become quite spoiled and like it that way.
My nuvi comes with lifetime traffic and helps me bypass traffic jams and scoots me around detours without hesitation, talking me through every step of the way. Instead of reading directions printed on the screen and trying to follow them, my device makes me aware ahead of time which lane to be in and when and where to turn next, readjusting automatically if I don’t make the suggested turn for whatever reason. I do agree that ‘she’ sometimes seems to get frustrated with me if I decide to take a shortcut that takes me off the beaten path, but ‘she’ adjusts to my choices as well as my mistakes and takes it all in stride. I have plans for another trip soon with yet another friend who says she has a GPS device in her car. This time my nuvi will ride along in my purse just in case I again miss her help along the way.
Hurricane Irene – Automotive GPS to the Rescue!
Well, as the end of summer is upon us we just experienced a rare occurrence in the northeast, a category 1 hurricane which, fortunately for us, then reduced to a strong tropical storm. As the folks who live on the southern and southeastern fringes of the US are well aware there was some significant damage along the roads and bridges. To say there are or have been some detours is an understatement. Some bridges were washed away, and there were quite a few trees blocking roadways not to mention the roads which were flooded or just plain washed away. This was a great time to experience automotive GPS systems at their best! Detours can be so confusing, especially for all the folks who were in the area vacationing or enjoying their summer homes and aren’t necessarily familiar with all the back roads or alternate routes in order to get to where they need to be. At this time especially, I wish everyone safety and health throughout the recovery period. Happy traveling!
Living out in the country as we do we have lots of open spaces and great views all around us. With all those open spaces come the most magnificent hot air balloons soaring over and around our property. It is so much fun to help get one ready to fly then watch it float away on the breeze. Beautiful! Another part of ballooning is the chase. We love to hop in the car and try to figure out which back road will lead us to where we think that beauty is going to land so we can meet the friendly people and help to fold that balloon back into it’s bag at the end of the ride. Also, you never know when the balloonist might open a bottle of champagne to share afterwards.
With one of the largest balloon festivals in the country happening practically in my back yard I have often wondered how so many chase vans who are unfamiliar with the area are going to get to the right back road to catch up with their own balloon and have seen more than one balloon have to stay inflated enough to pop up in sight for that chase van to find them. Now I have been wondering how many of those same balloonists might be changing over to a handheld GPS device or even automotive GPS so they can give their chase van the coordinates or road intersections they need in order to find them? That would be geocaching taken to a whole new level! I’m going to have to ask about that next time we go out chasing one of those beauties and find out how that might work for them. If anyone has tried this let me know! Sounds pretty intriguing to me.
Hey, Happy 4th of July everyone! I was just sitting here reminiscing about some of my friends I haven’t seen in quite a while and some of the July 4th celebrations I have been to in my lifetime. Maybe I’m getting old, but I like getting in touch with old friends whether they live near or far away.
Anyway, one great friend of mine used to crack me up. She was a terrific bargain hunter, and normally by the 4th of July she would announce that she had finished her Christmas shopping! Sounded like an amazing idea, and I often laughed at her for that, especially since her teenage daughter had caught on and would claim not to have a thing to wear suddenly before school and talk my friend into giving her daughter any clothing Christmas presents early which would send my friend back off shopping to replenish the shortage. Pretty smart girl, her daughter!
Well, with that thought in mind my thoughts moved on their own to the idea of checking out the great GPS accessories and GPS devices on sale and the realization that I, too, could save a lot of money on this year’s gifts by following my friend’s example and beginning planning now while watching the great GPS prices throughout the next few months. Wouldn’t that be great to finish my own shopping before the rush and madness in the stores that starts on Black Friday? That will be my motto for this year – get moving and watching the great sales early to avoid the stress. Wouldn’t I love it if I can be just like my old friend during the holidays who would sit back and wrap and decorate and party and enjoy the lights and the fun side of the holidays while the rest of the world would hustle trying to catch up! I can pick up a GPS receiver for one friend, perhaps a GPS mount for another, perhaps golf GPS for yet another at great prices on each. If I watch the possibilities will be nearly endless. This is the year I personally plan to shop smarter, not harder.
We live out in the country. I love the quiet, our view and the space between our home and our neighbors. Now, don’t get me wrong – I really appreciate our neighbors ‘cause we have the best neighbors anyone could ask for, but I’ve lived where you can hear your neighbors just as well as your own family even when they are in their own homes. Can’t say I enjoyed that. I prefer life out in the country. Well, that being said, it is sometimes difficult for people to follow the directions we give to them so that they can easily find our house.
A friend of mine just called, and we decided it would be fun to get together at my house. I was mentally preparing myself for the usual “are you familiar with…” conversation and extensive directions when my friend spoke up and asked “what’s your address? I have one of those thingies in my car!” I love it! Gotta admit that I really love my own “thingie” in my car! Automotive GPS units are such a convenience. Of course, my Garmin nuvi has me spoiled. Sounds like my friend feels the same way about her automotive GPS “thingie” and has learned to rely on it the same as I have mine. I love to explore new places, but I sure love being able to find my way home again no matter where I wander and now that it is summertime I plan to do plenty of that! Have a happy 4th of July, and enjoy your own wandering this summer…
Oh the thrill of Americade! I love to see the assortment of bikes, big and small, some with luggage carriers, side cars or even customized trailers, as they drive down the road. Some travel in groups, some individually out to explore the beautiful countryside and open roads with this wonderful weather we have been having. I envy those with motorcycle GPS the most as they can take off with confidence and explore the area, looking for historic sites or just simply enjoying the beauty of nature here beside beautiful Lake George and throughout the Adirondacks.
Well, today we had quite a sudden storm with the sky opening up and dropping quite a deluge on all. I am certain that any cyclists caught on the road were especially glad their motorcycle GPS unit was waterproof at that time, or it would have been ruined for sure. Of course, I expect most have motorcycle GPS mounts so they were able to grab their GPS units and run for shelter until the storm passed. Now the rain has passed, the sun is peeking through, and I envy those cyclists again as they are back out on the open road enjoying the camaraderie of their friends and the beauty of nature all around them. Such a wonderful family type adventure must certainly be remembered for years to come and anticipated with relish from spring to spring.
Turn by turn directions for marine GPS? That’s a new one on me! I was talking to someone who asked for that just recently. That sounds pretty slick, but can’t say I have ever seen that before. After all, on a river or a lake the maps are going to show you where there are obstacles and where it is safe, deep enough for the boat to navigate safely. Nobody sticks to just one particular route unless they are navigating white water or other treacherous situations, working around shoals or sandbars or whatever.
Anyway, GPS chartplotters or GPS fishfinder combos are meant to show you the lay of the land, the obstacles and the channels which, if you actually use their aid, will help you to navigate safely and to find where those big fish actually live, but won’t give you a strict street map setup. After all, in my book that is much of the magic of spending time on the water, the ability to wander freely and enjoy the ride. Again, turn by turn directions? Not really, but marine GPS will still certainly help you to find your way and bring you home again.
Turn by turn directions for marine GPS? That’s a new one on me! I was talking to someone who asked for that just recently. That sounds pretty slick, but can’t say I have ever seen that before. After all, on a river or a lake the maps are going to show you where there are obstacles and where it
Turn by turn directions for marine GPS? That’s a new one on me! I was talking to someone who asked for that just recently. That sounds pretty slick, but can’t say I have ever seen that before. After all, on a river or a lake the maps are going to show you where there are obstacles and where it is safe, deep enough for the boat to navigate safely. Nobody sticks to just one particular route unless they are navigating white water or other treacherous situations, working around shoals or sandbars or whatever. Anyway, GPS chartplotters or fishfinder combos are meant to show you the lay of the land, the obstacles and the channels which, if you actually use their aid, will help you to navigate safely and to find where those big fish actually live, but won’t give you a strict street map setup. After all, in my book that is much of the magic of spending time on the water, the ability to wander freely and enjoy the ride. Again, turn by turn directions? Not really, but marine GPS will still certainly help you to find your way and bring you home again.
is safe, deep enough for the boat to navigate safely. Nobody sticks to just one particular route unless they are navigating white water or other treacherous situations, working around shoals or sandbars or whatever. Anyway, GPS chartplotters or fishfinder combos are meant to show you the lay of the land, the obstacles and the channels which, if you actually use their aid, will help you to navigate safely and to find where those big fish actually live, but won’t give you a strict street map setup. After all, in my book that is much of the magic of spending time on the water, the ability to wander freely and enjoy the ride. Again, turn by turn directions? Not really, but marine GPS will still certainly help you to find your way and bring you home again.
Ha! One of my closest friends in the whole world still was not willing to try using GPS. “Why bother when you can just Google where you want to go and write out the directions? That’s silly. I have my directions all written out and will have a teenaged copilot with me. I don’t need to use GPS.” Well, I set up my Garmin nuvi in his car the other day when he was heading off to a new location, directions in hand, and asked him to just humor me and see how the automotive GPS compared to his written directions. I showed him how to turn it off if it got too annoying and sent him on his way. When he got back to me he was truly amazed at what it was like to drive with automotive GPS on board. There was one intersection in particular that totally stumped him, and the GPS system just kept saying “recalculating”, and after a couple of tries it got him turned back around and onto the correct route. “Wow! Thanks! I’m not sure I would have gotten there without the auto GPS!” My friend is definitely a new convert to the use of automotive GPS. I love it!
Well, I was talking with a friend recently, possibly getting a little giddy talking about fishing now that the weather is finally turning around. We are experiencing Spring! About time! Anyway, he got a new GPS fishfinder combination to celebrate the season and made an amazing discovery – whether you have a GPS fishfinder combo or not, if there are no fish in the area you will still not catch any! Well, I tell you, that was pretty disappointing, but the fishfinder GPS is helping him locate a new spot to fish, this time where the fish actually live. Pretty funny actually, as all this time he has been trying different lures and different bait thinking he was doing something wrong. I guess he was doing something wrong after all, but certainly not what he was thinking. This weekend should be gorgeous, so I am sure he will be out on his boat looking for a much better fishing hole. His fishing should improve greatly this summer once he finds where those fish actually live. Mine will, too, if I join him in the search. Happy Spring, Happy Fishing!
Soon after I wrote the previous article about how thieves will do a ‘smash and grab’ if they see any evidence of having a GPS, or anything valuable for that matter, in your car I stayed at a hotel in Pennsylvania for a week. During that time, with my weighted friction mount GPS holder well hidden and my GPS safely in my hotel room, I heard of just such activity having occurred overnight in our hotel. Wow, three different cars had windows smashed and stuff grabbed out of them during the night. I was one of the lucky ones and have to wonder how much of that luck I can credit to not leaving anything of value in my car, or any evidence of having mounted my GPS in my vehicle. It was so easy to do, too! I just remove my GPS from the friction mount, tuck it into my purse, and hide the mount under the front seat out of sight. How much simpler can you get?
On a lighter note, the thieves actually spent the time to riffle through a CD case, tossing those they weren’t interested in and only taking a few. I sure wouldn’t expect someone doing a ‘smash and grab’ to take the time to bother doing that! The teenage girl was relieved not to lose very much of her collection, though, since we obviously had picky thieves! It sure did put a damper on their plans, though, as they needed to get the window replaced in their car while they were still on vacation. Bummer.
I will continue to use my friction mount and have recommended the same to several of my friends who have those telltale suction cup marks on their windshields. Besides, mine is more convenient because I don’t have to work to get it to stick or stay, just set it on the dash and go!