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I agree with the suggestion to use Streets & Trips. I use it to create my trips and then export them to my Garmin GPS. Even if you don't have a GPS for the bike you can buy the version of Streets & Trips that comes with a GPS that fits in the USB port. So when you stop you can fire up the laptop and see where you are and where you have been. If you are going to export make sure you get the 2010 version.
My husband and I are going to take a 9 day trip on our Ultra Classic in June. We live in Southeastern NC and want to ride to eastern TN, then on up into Kentucky, then to WA, then into VA and come on home down NC. I would love to be able to map this out and be able to highlight the points of interest we want to stop and and ride through, you know, so I can actually SEE before me the ride we want to take. I have books that show me the exact places I want to go and places we want to see, but I want to MAP it. You know, kinda like map quest does, but it will only do it from point A to point B, not point A to B to C to D and so on.
Any suggestions? Gosh, we're looking forward to this. Have never taken a motorcycle trip this many days before!
Sounds like a great time. DeLorme has software that will do just that and allow you to transfer that trip data to a cell phone.
Be safe and smile a lot.
google will do this....
Break it up Day to Day.
Put the basic Start and finish, then drag the route to which road you want to go ...
It will recalculate, it's a little slow but works
I use streets and maps..... but I sprung for it. You can plan out your various routes, modify them, then print out directions, and maps. You can print out "turn by turn" or zoom in to make (many) detailed maps.
HD has the trip planner has similar.
If you use Google, you can simply select the locations you want to visit, then drag the route to suit your riding style.
Rhonda --- You can move the route on Mapquest. You can start by mapping point A to point B, but then put your cursor on the blue line & you can drag it to any road you want.
I prefer Google Maps. For a week-long trip, just make one "trip" per day. You can add all kinds of destinations. I like the aerial photography on Google...kind-of gives you an idea of the terrain you'll be in.
I was just talking the other day with a friend about planning trips...remember when you could go into an AAA office and they would plan the whole trip and print off a trip ticket (or something like that)...a map for every day of the trip. That was pretty neat.
Another vote for Streets & Trips, Rhonda. Not only is it a powerful mapping software, but also has a pretty good database of points of interest, motels/hotels, restuarants, gas stations, etc. I don't use a GPS, so I can't tell ya how it works with those...or, if it does...I like to use it to get ideas on distances and times. I also use Google Maps for quick reference and street views sometimes, but I've seen it do some wierd chit at times...told me a distance between two points was 250 miles one time...when I knew for a fact it was only 50 +/- miles.
Sounds like a great time. DeLorme has software that will do just that and allow you to transfer that trip data to a cell phone.
Be safe and smile a lot.
I've been using DeLorme Street Atlas for years. It is, by far, the best I've found.
Hey thanks to everyone for their advice. I've been battling a wicked stomach virus for 4 days now and have not been able to get back to the post. I remembered I do have a Streets & Maps software I bought a few years ago and then put it up and forgot I had it. Maybe it's not too old to use. Just a couple years old. I got it out and played with it and it IS incredible and will do what I need. Don't want to make firm plans, just get in the general directions. Thanks again.
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