by D. Brent Miller
By now, and if you have been thinking about Part 1, you are starting to think about that next ride that will incorporate your other interests. And, you are starting to do a little planning. Here’s a few things to think about in planning your route.
My favorite print ad for a line of motorcycles was created by BMW. They have run some pretty creative ads for the wanderlust in us, and this one hits the spot. The ad says, “My favorite author? Rand McNally.”
I love maps. I have produced photography for a map company and sold advertising for them for a short while. It was a good company, but my heart was and always will be in writing and photography. But … that does not change my love of maps.
When I travel, I pick up maps. Give me a good detailed map, and I can sit for hours studying. What is to study in a map you ask? Plenty. Look at all those state routes and county roads, or the parks that are in the area you are going to visit. And what about all of those little red markings on the map, identifying historic places or museums or points of interest. Yeah, give me a good map, and I can get absorbed in it. That’s the adventurer or explorer in me. I love to explore and a good map is the beginning of a good trip. Thank you mapmakers!
A word about GPS: do I use one? No. Not at this time. I have been with others who use them–boats, cars, hiking, motorcycles–but I don’t have one, nor do I see one in the near future. I do have a mapping software on the laptop, but paper maps suit me just fine. There is something nostalgic about exploring with maps, as opposed to knowing exactly where you are on the planet within three or four feet of the coordinates. But, that’s me. I would never suggest that GPS should not be used by others. I love maps.
I also love the Internet for research. Type in a search at Google, Yahoo or Ask, and you are on your way to a wealth of information … okay, almost too much information. I usually start by looking for county convention and visitor bureaus, also known as CVBs. I find a CVB has much more detail than state tourism areas. CVBs can point you towards lodging and places to eat, attractions, museums, and calendars of upcoming events and festivals. Chambers of commerce can provide even more detail for communities, if the community has an active chamber. You may also find a community tourism office or council on tourism. FYI: All of those hotel/motel and entertainment taxes you pay when you are out on the town are actually used to fund those tourism offices and CVBs, so take advantage of the information they have to offer.
With the map spread out on the kitchen table or floor and the events and attractions lined up, it’s time to start laying out the route that will take you to your other interests … on your favorite mode of transportation … your motorcycle.
For example, I love minor league baseball. I was the official photographer for the South Bend Silver Hawks, a class A farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks. For five seasons, I photographed players, captured images for baseball cards, portraits and the official team photo. Those days seem to be history, now that I have moved to Cincinnati. But, I still love minor league baseball. My route planning should include a few games, and an Internet search of the ballparks and game schedules along the route will help in the route planning.
On top of that, throw in some historical sites, museums, a little arts and culture … well, you can see, I need to do some research because all of those items determine the route I will take. AND, the most important aspect is to choose some roads that will provide a great ride between stops.
In other words, plan for the activities, and the roads will lead you to ‘em.
Next: what to take. Hint–keep it simple; it’s a motorcycle.–DBrent
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I too love maps, atlases, and spinning globes! I’m reading _Ghost Rider_ the true account of a man whose daughter and wife both died within 1.5 years of one another. The author, Neil Peart, happens to be the lead drummer of the band Rush–and is a superb writer. His book is a map lover’s dream in that one can get the atlas out and follow him on his more than 55,000 miles, over 14 months of motoring across the US and Canada as a way to handle his grief.
Have you checked out the route mapping feature at Grouprider.com? I really like that feature.
I have tried a number of online route mapping programs, and I have Delorme 2007 Street Atlas on my laptop, which I use frequently to plan, but it is not something you can sit and study. I have not found anything better than a good paper map with lots of detail. What can I say? I love maps. BTW, Vinod, I have been thinking about that ride to southeastern Indiana. I have an idea for a good 3/4-day ride involving Ohio-Indiana-Kentucky.–DBrent
Sharon, I don’t have that book, but your comments make me think I should be looking for a copy. Thanks.–DBrent
I see your comment on GPS. Each to their own - I started riding last summer and I love to explore places on my motorcycle. The problem was that maps didn’t help much in my exploration. I tend to follow similiar roads and the tedium of having to clearly right down every change so I could see them in my map holder on the tank bag stifled some of the spontenaity of the trip. I just wanted to get on and ride but when I did this without the GPS, I rode in the same old circles that I could remember.
Recently I picked up a GPS and glad that I did. After donning my gear and doing a full inspection on the bike, I’m ready for the open road. On my GPS, I state my destination, instruct it to not take the highways and I’m off. I have no idea what roads my GPS will take me, I can zoom out and see the list of changes but I prefer not to. I just let the GPS take me where it wants to go.
Doing this, I have found some very pretty back roads that I never taken before and found new routes to destinations that I’ve been to dozens of times. The GPS helps me keep my eyes on the road and not on my map or directions in the map pocket. Out of the corner of my left eye I can see clearly the next change. I have found the freedom of spontainety that I fell in love with when I first rode a two-wheeled motorized contraption over twenty years ago.
Maps do have an advantage over the GPS - they don’t require batteries or 12v adapters. : ) Nice write up on the love of maps, I know Sharon who made the first comment and she too is a lover of maps. I guess I’m too impatient and just want to head out and not do so much planning.
Lucas, you make a pretty argument for GPS.–DBrent