Online Route Building?

[ecirwin]

I am planning to purchase a GPS, but for now, I am without. Meanwhile, I am also planning a trip for August and need to communicate possible routes with the other two guys I am traveling with.

Is there any online resource for building trip routes? This resource needs to include Canada, because that is a big part of my plan. North from Michigan, Southeast to Ottawa, Northeast to Qebec City, Southeast into New Brunswick, continue into Nova Scotia, ferry ride to Maine, through New Hampshire and Vermont to upstate New York, and then find a way home.

I hope to have the GPS before I leave, but we are working out routes next week.

Thanks,
Eric

[PeteM]

<Snip>I am planning to purchase a GPS, but for now, I am without. Meanwhile, I am also planning a trip for August and need to communicate possible routes with the other two guys I am traveling with.

Microsoft street and trips $ 30. I am sure each in the group can afford great tool. Then get the garmin 2610

[ecirwin]

I didn't realize Streets and Trips was that cheap. I could buy it and use it at work, but fortunately I use Mac at home.

[ranks]

Try this one out.

http://rideplanner.harley-davidson.com/en/RidePlannerMain.jsp

its not great, but people have used it and sent me links to their plans. It seems to be ok.

[cfell]

If you buy the 2610 and the Map software, you can "share" Map files which can include specific Waypoints and Routes. Those files can be shared/transferred, etc... if they have the SW, too.

[ecirwin]

Bummer, doesn't look like the Harley Ride Planner goes into Canada! At least it won't let me put in a Canadian address.

[ecirwin]

I don't think that the other two will be stepping up to the GPS. I'm not positive of that, but I will soon find out. The first meeting to discuss ride plans is next week and we are supposed to bring printed copies for everyone. Doesn't seem too high-tech at this point.

[PeteM]

I don't think that the other two will be stepping up to the GPS. I'm not positive of that, but I will soon find out. The first meeting to discuss ride plans is next week and we are supposed to bring printed copies for everyone. Doesn't seem too high-tech at this point.
You can install mapsource or streets and trips on your friends computers and exchange maps.
Streets and trips is very use friendly , and waypoints transfer to mapsource with the use of GPSU allows compatibility between both applications.

PeteM aka Murray

[meese]

...but fortunately I use Mac at home.:D

Route USA (http://www.macstore.com/product/Route_USA_66_Street_Network_for_MAC_OSX/ms-134519.html?PHPSESSID=de2e6f64e6cb9ca009d143c3ff7c7e29) by Route 66 works on the Mac and includes Canada, but it isn't the best software for this kind of thing. Kind of clunky & cluttered, very un-Mac-like.

[ecirwin]

I have been playing with Google Earth tonight. Very interesting, but I don't think I can do intermediate destinations.

It sounds like Streets and Trips is the better option at this point, even better than upgrading to Google Earth Plus. I will have to use it at work, but I will have to use the work computer for the GPS anyway, since Garmin hasn't released their software for Mac yet.

MapsOnUs.com is good for U.S. maps and allows up to 5 intermediate destinations. So you can kind of force it to go where you want. At least for a start point, then 5 more points, and an end point.

[ecirwin]

Google Earth doesn't seem to have an intermediate destination or "way point" type of function. I have been able to force it to go where I want by creating multiple short trips.

Fairly easy to use, but not very powerful. I think you can do some actual file editing and piece multiple routes together, but I haven't looked too deeply into that yet. Something about editing KML files.

Having some fun anyway!
Eric

[grahamw]

The Michelin site does routing software:

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm

If you have access to an iPaq or similar device I could let you keep an off site back up Tom Tom for me. Enjoy your trip.

[ecirwin]

Seems that Via Michelin only allows 3 intermediate destinations, unless there is routing somewhere else that I am not seeing. They also don't seem to have many cities that aren't right along the border with the U.S. in their database.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't have an iPaq or similar.

Google Earth is still leading the way for free solutions. It is time consuming, but I am getting what I want. I may still order Streets and Trips, but I need to have some maps printed for next week. Google Earth will also be good for exchanging with the guys between meetings too. Of course, if we all had Streets and Trips we could do that too.

Eric

[RMW]

I found V7 of mapsource will allow you to view your route on Google earth. Has a drop down menu selection under VIEW. Shows waypoints etc. very cool.


There are several save options that look like they will allow you to save it for web viewing. I haven't played with it much but I will give it a try when I get a chance to see what the save options are.