trip prep…

getting ready to take a trip on the blue ridge parkway with my father-in-law at the end of the month. we’ve been talking about riding the parkway for a while and now it’s time to make it happen…

the past week or so i’ve been trying to figure out the details – when we’re going , how far we’ll travel each day, where we’ll stop overnight and other rides we might be able to fit in during our journey. the original plan was to make travel the parkway in two days. knowing we’d want to ride the snake as well as the tail of the dragon. to help plan the trip i ordered the latest version of the blue ridge parkway maps from america rides maps.

the maps arrived today and i was pleasantly surprised. from the start i’ve been impressed with the maps. i also know the maps have expanded and upgraded. but i didn’t realize how much until i got the latest versions of the map.

the new maps contain more routes as well as more detail. detail in both the crispness of the maps themselves and the number of amenities like gas stations, restaurants and lodging along the suggested routes. the routes are well marked on the map with descriptions on the back of the map. the maps, seven in total, are well labeled to indicated how all seven maps fit together. making it easy to pick up a road or route on an adjacent map.

i know wayne put a lot of time and effort towards creating these maps. his effort is definitely paid off with these maps.

well, i better get to finalizing the details of the trip. with the help of these maps it shouldn’t be too tough.

early christmas...

got an early christmas present in the mail the other day from america rides maps... they were thoughtful enough to send me one of their latest maps, best roads north and south of asheville, nc... an excellent way to share the spirit of the christmas season...

what's really nice is they've been making improvements to the maps. they've added road mileage for the roads on the map. that's really nice to have when you're trying to plan out a route or two for the day. they've also improved the detail and resolution of the maps. it makes quite a difference compared to the older maps - gives you a better idea of the area... and finally, a must have for bikers, recommended places to eat. the improvement to the maps is remarkable.

i really like this particular map for two reasons. one, it joins several of the other maps, making a series on the blue ridge parkway. two, it will fit in nicely if i can pull off my plans to ride the blue ridge parkway with my father-in-law next year.

looks like i'm going to have to head over to their web site and order a couple more maps to complete my collection of the blue ridge parkway series...

the coffee test...

i posted earlier about some maps i had gotten from america rides maps. i'm really impressed by the detail contained in the map as well as the quality construction of the map.

in my post, i suggested chipping in the extra couple of bucks to get the waterproof map. to be honest, i hadn't actually tested the waterproof durability of the map. i based my comment on the quality material used in the map as well as the price. again, for eight bucks how can you go wrong??

the way i figured it, testing the waterproof-ability of the maps would come one day when i was riding, using the maps and it would start raining. it would be a good test to see how the maps hold up as well and manipulating the maps in the rain. funny how things work out...

i'd been ranting and raving to my neighbor about the maps and wanted to show them to him. on the way to his house, my wife's coffee spilled on the maps. what better time to test them out. both the waterproof and the non-waterproof versions got coffee, so i figured it was a heads up competition.

after noticing the spill, we used napkins to wipe the excess coffee off the maps. wiping the waterproof map was like wiping a piece of plastic. the coffee came off easily and didn't soak into the paper much. there was some staining, but i would expect that.

the non-waterproof map had to be wiped more carefully - blotting more than wiping. if we wiped the map too hard, some of the print started to come off. when we were more careful, we didn't have a problem getting the excess coffee off. more coffee soaked into the map, but not as much as i would have expected. since more coffee had soaked into the map than the waterproof one, it was obviously stained more.

we dried both maps on the dashboard of the car. after the maps were completely dry, they both folded up nicely. other than staining on the waterproof map, you would have never known it got wet. the non-waterproof map had more staining and was a little wrinkled - you could tell it had been wet. however, it is still very usable.

both maps fared well. if you were on a trip, you could probably get by with the non-waterproof map. it could take some water and still survive. but, if you ride, you're going to get wet. in those cases, you definitely want the waterproof map. and even if you don't plan on riding in the rain, you'll want the waterproof map for those mornings when you're planning your ride and your coffee or beverage of choice doesn't stay in the mug...

now that i've real-world tested the maps, i'm even more impressed. definitely a must-have for trips...

i don't need no stinkin' map...

...or do i??

i've always had a fondness for paper maps. there was some sort of instant bond the first time i opened one up - even if i couldn't get it folded again. opening a map was like expanding the world, new areas to explore, new places to go.

over the years, i became adept at reading maps, quickly figuring out where i was and picking out routes to get me where i wanted to go. did i ever get lost?? sure, but that was part of the adventure.

fast forward many years... i get a gps for my bike... did i need it?? of course, not, especially since i'm an expert map reader. it's fun toy, a complement to my paper maps, certainly not a replacement.

over time, i used the gps more and more... learning how to use it, exploring the capabilities, the ease of use. it's not perfect, it did get me on the wrong road a time or two, but it could correct itself and ultimately get me where i wanted to go. but i got lost using paper maps too, so i guess i can't fault the gps too much.

the more i used the gps, the more i liked it. the more i could use it to my advantage and avoid it's disadvantages. and the more i used it, the less i used paper maps. heck, i can't even remember the last time i looked at a paper map. unless you count the pirate maps my son and i plan our adventures with...

even though i still carry paper maps on my rides, i'm thinking they're more conversational pieces, bits of history. that was until my wife, always looking for a good deal, found an offer for a free motorcycle map!! a double-whammy. not only a motorcycle map, but a free one!!!

i jump online, head over to america rides maps, and order me up a map. the hardest part was decided which one to get. the maps mostly cover western north carolina, an area i'd like to spend a couple extras riding around. and heck, with a new map, i'd have a reason to take a couple extra days.

after i ordered the map, reality started to set in. what the heck am i really going to do with this map?? after all, i have a gps. and my paper maps are just along for the ride - they don't play an active role in my riding anymore... at worst, this map would give me some ideas of roads to ride...

a couple days later, the map arrived... i tell you, i'm pretty impressed with it. first thing i noticed was the paper it's printed on. looks very durable and waterproof - an important feature when you're taking a trip on a bike for a few days. the size of the folded map is perfect - it can easily fit into a windshield bag or even a jacket pocket.

unfolding the map was like entering new worlds again, discovering roads and areas i never knew existed. i was also discovering how much was packed into this map. on one side is the maps itself. with 'featured' roads, marked in red, and easy to follow. the addition of gas stations marked on the map takes the concern out of riding and wondering when, or even if, you're going to make it to the next gas stop.

route descriptions are on the other side of the map. they contain everything you need to plan the route - mileage, turn-by-turn instructions, road types, traffic patterns and other useful information to make the trip enjoyable. there are also suggested rides, which helps take the guesswork out of creating your own perfect trip from scratch.

the next time i travel to western carolina, some things will be different... the trip will be a couple days longer and i'll be bringing this map along. not only that, i'll actually be using it to plan a couple rides around the area, taking roads i would have never found or taken with just my gps.

the america rides maps have brought the paper map back on par with the gps - more of a companion again... check them out - for five bucks you can't go wrong. hell, throw in the extra three bucks and get the waterproof.

happy ridin'...