Great Site...
Muthuh,
Discovered your site a couple of days ago while on "www.madmaps.com". Just an email to tell you thanks for this site. It is very informative. I've been reading it off and on for the past two days. I got a couple of questions for ya. But first, a little about myself if you don't mind.
I'm 35 and have been in the USMC for 17 years. I'm from NC, Johnston County area. Been here for a couple of months. Got married this past September to a beautiful lady in the Navy after being together for 8 years. She retires in May. After I got back from Iraq we dropped our plans for a big wedding and actually got married at a funeral home!! That's me, Mr Romantic. Ride an '02 Superglide. Great bike for the price. Had my first Harley at the age of 16 and haven't quit since. Like you, I prefer to ride alone or with my wife as a passenger. Trying to talk her into taking my bike so I can get me my "dream" bike, an Electra Glide Ultra Classic. Don't consider myself a biker, just a Marine who loves to ride, alot. Now to my questions.
In one of your journals you mentioned some software that helped you plan out you routes. You stated it listed a variety of options:different routes, nice locations, etc. But you gave no name. Just curious of what is was. I want to start planning my retirement trip, across country and back. And also a trip to Gettysburg here in the near future. Also, any other info would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, your site has helped me out tremendously. Can't wait to read the rest of Lance West. Sent your web address to some of my buds still in Iraq to help pass their down time.
Sorry for such a long first email. That is a hint to say I hope I hear from you. Thank you for your time and Semper Fi.
JD
I sent a pic of myself and "LT" at this past Rumble Throught the Tunnels ride.
JD - First off – appreciate your and LT’s service on behalf of the rest of us freeloaders … I was Navy at the very end of Vietnam – thankfully never went over. Have gotten a lot of military mail over the past year, send the link to any of ‘em you please – good to know I might provide a little entertainment – one MP Sgt. In Mosul is getting out any day and joining us on our trip to Sturgis this year. Hopefully bringing some good campfire stories.
I use Microsoft Streets and Trips…cheap, too – maybe $30. It allows me to plan routes, store them for continued tweaking throughout the months leading up to the trip and can put “pushpins” in the map to store notes and contact information. I usually at the last minute transfer (manually I’m afraid) that route information over to the GPS routing software – in itself a good mapping program but lacks the auto routing and trip info features, like average speed, preferred routes, etc. I store GPS routing in separate files for each day so when I mount the bike in the morning, I select a different daily segment and off I go, bikes in tow following my lights.
Streets and Trips is also what I use when I take screen shots of the map to make images on my site of the days route. I’ve used it for years and can make it sing for me, but I imagine it is hard to pick up all at once. If you get it, feel free to ask how to use it. I’ve found it is not all that accurate when it says, for example, there’s a saloon on this corner – it is sometimes a block or more away… and it sure doesn’t list ALL the saloons and motels and restaurants, but enough of them, with their phone numbers, that I can plan a trip based on what limited info is programmed in. I suppose businesses have to pay to be included, so not all do – and the small mom n’ pop places that I like are often missed…
I just did a trip to Gettysburg last year – on the Laconia trip…the first 5 days was with my daughter doing battlefields of the civil war as we headed north.
I’m winding down my riding after this season – arthritis flares up badly on these rides nowadays and the convertible just seems to offer a lot in the way of freedom and openness…not nearly as good as a bike, but close. As for Lance West – I just don’t have the time to write like I used to – business is booming and retirement looms – gotta make hay, etc.
Welcome back home….
