Keeping the Windmill Alive - Where was your last trip with your GPS?

Made a quick trip to a graduation celebration today and the 760 served me well to and from the event location (Baltimore area).

Went to Villanova for my wife's 10th reunion, plus visited various relatives in Delaware.

Went off to Cleveland & on to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 for the May 24th shindig.

The Garmin 350, with many of your POI's, including restaurants & lodging, served well.

Fred

Leaving tomorrow taking the nuvi360

Took a short trip around Illinois relying heavily on the GPS to warn against red light cameras and find some POI's along the way. It performed flawlessly and even pointed us to a new triple-D restaurant.

So my kid could fall asleep.

the multiple destination feature works great for figuring out the best order to do things!!

Yesterday I went on an errand and took the 5000 along, as I was stopping at a store in another city. I had the address but did not know the exact location. No problem, I have my GPS! After driving a half hour, the GPS still had not got a fix on the satellites. I stopped and placed it on the roof of the truck and waited-- still no fix. I drove another half hour and finally after an hour total, it got a fix and worked OK. Never had that problem with my 680. Lesson learned.

Drove from Washington, DC to Montreal, Canada. Participated on two bicycle events there this past weekend. Then drove to Ottawa adding some side trips on the way (took scenic routes instead of the boring highway). Then Ottawa back to Washington, DC.

Interesting that both times at the border, the GPS asked if it could switch the maps between 48-Lower states to Canada and vice-versa.

GPS behaved very well. The only exception was during two pit stops, after I exited the main highway and looking for a place to eat/re-fuel, the GPS started to re-calculate the route. Although a u-turn back to the highway (I just exited) was the obvious option (and was not prohibited, in case someone asks), the GPS calculated some convoluted routes through other local streets. So, common sense is still much needed when using these gadgets.

Cheers,

Went from Seattle to Vancouver with my 200W, which doesn't have maps of Canada in it. So after entering the Great White North, the map was looking a bit sparse. Fortunately, the main highway from the US runs directly into Vancouver, so I had no problem finding my final destination (plus a little paper cheat called a map).

Why did I continue to use it even without maps? I figured that even if I didn't know what street I was on, it would know my exact LAT/LON and if I broke down, needed emergency help, etc. I could still at least report those, then hope that the emergency services would know how to use Google Earth!

Just got back yesterday from a 1,950 mile trip to Palm Springs, Yosemite National Park, Lake Las Vegas and back to Tucson.

The new Garmin 885T worked like a charm and saved my rear a couple of times in the LA area when I could not get to the correct lane in time. Also saw the Lane Assist full screen view pop up quite often while in the LA area. Again the Red Light and Speed camera files worked well in the Phoenix areas. I cannot believe how many cameras they have now but they have really slowed the traffic on I10 and the 101. It used to feel like you were competing in the Indy 500 when you were on them and now most everyone is around the speed limit.

I also found that while traveling around 250 miles in Yosemite in nearly all areas including the Valley I did not have any loss of sat signal with the GPS at any time other than while in the very long mountain tunnel coming into the Valley area.

was to Key West, Florida. On the way there my Garmin 2610 hit the pavement (from my bike) and as you can guess messed it up pretty good. Oh well, it was time for an upgrade anyway...now have a Zumo660 and it will be good if Garmin ever gets some bugs out of it. HURRY PLEASE!!!

On a business trip last week. I had a general location (the address wasn't very definitive) so I searched with Google Earth until I found the equipment I was looking for (large enough to see) and marked it as a waypoint on my Geko.

As I approached it I realised I had the wrong company. I had to drive around to find my appointment.

But I did find a new possible customer!

To Charlotte, and back to Central Virginia. Pleasant drive. I really need to find something to install Mapsource on so I can make a route that avoids the Interstates.

It's not fun trying to dodge 70+ mph when you only want to run 60 in a Jeep with no top. It's hard to enjoy the drive running any faster.

My last trip was to the drag strip...

To KC again and then to DFW area!

I can`t wait to try my garmin 670 from S. Ontario to Florida to give me a better understanding how it performs on a long journey.

Like many said, when using a gps you need to have also common sense to interpret all the information that your gps gives you.
Relay on it, but keep your street smarts on alert also.

So, this past Friday I was running some late errands when I received a call stating that I had a pick up to make at Chicago Midway Airport... The GPS made the trip much faster, smoother and less stressful... I even made it on time. The airplane didn't. (of course)

GPS behaved well on a trip from DC to a few cities in North Carolina.

Went to Las Vegas in mid-May. My Garmin took us right to the valet parking areas in almost every case when driving to hotels/casinos. It also took us to the Grand Canyon West and Hoover Dam. It was 100%, dead-on accurate in every instance. I was thrilled.

Was working with 5 teams rebuilding houses from Katrina (yes, still!). Was really helpful to just be able to type in addresses of the houses and get right there, having only been to the city once before!

Also the drive down and back was interesting with a convoy of 5 vans, each with different GPSs picking slightly different routes at times...

alan

Did you go to that walkout deal where you can walk out over the canyon? I think it's on the west side of the canyon. Last time I was in Vegas they were still building it.

From Burbank Calif to Dubuque IA last week.

Went from Fort Mac to Edmonton and back,Is help full in the city for sure.

Recently took a trip to Savannah, GA. The gps worked great the way there. Also made finding local places a breeze.

Just drive from Atlanta to Savannah, GA. The gps worked great. Also made finding local places a breeze. I have a trip to New Orleans planned pretty soon too.

Phoenix to San Francisco, LA to San Francisco, Rapid City to Las Vegas, Salt Lake to Denver, Salt Lake to Rapid City.

Last weekend, we went on a trip from Bakersfield to Apple Valley and then on to San Diego. One of the neat features on the GPS during the return trip was seeing the lane control photos that pop up about a mile or so before the actual point in question. It shows a photo of the overhead sign and which lane you should be in to make the transition.

Just returned from a quick business trip to San Antonio and had to leave my GPS behind for the wife to use as she had a lot of driving to do. Having just been to SA two weeks previously with the GPS, I knew my way around enough to get by with the good 'ol rental car paper map.

Used the Nuvi 255W extensively on this trip from Minneapolis down to St. Louis then Memphis and back home. Visited many touristy sites:

Brandon, IA - Worlds largest frying pan
Chester, MO - Home of Popeye
Metropolis, MO - Adopted home of Superman
St. Louis Arch
Budweiser brewery tour
Hannabil, MO - Home of Mark Twain

Nuvi did it's job and we had a great time.

We had our yearly "Parade of Homes". This is an event where home builders get together and show off their prize homes. I had the brilliant idea that I would put the address of these homes in my GPS so that we could navigate easily to them.

WRONG!

Since these are new construction, they are typically in new housing areas. *slaps forehead*

Well the good news was that I was able to get a map to these houses that had main street intersections on it. I used these intersections to get me in the vicinity of the houses. THANK YOU GARMIN!

Ran down to Phoenix for a few days last weekend. Didn't really need the 250W (I've been there enough). I did use it to mark the locations of the mobile radar in AZ (Hwy 93), since they seemed to be in the same locations on both legs of the trip (several days apart).

We used out Nuvi 765T to get us to a dinner party at a friend of a friends house that is in a new subdivision in the middle of nowhere. It did a great job and I would have had a very hard time finding it on my own.

I've done the same while walking around town. The GPS pointed me in the right direction, saving several blocks of walking.

Orlando FL on business.

Once again Trip Log has come in handy mapping out uncharted roads in Grand Bahama. It's like cheating in a maze of sorts. Great feature for exploring.

memorial day trip from home to St. Augustine for a few days. A little over 1K miles all totaled. GPS was really handy until I got the lay of the land. Helped in finding some out of the way restaurants. Also helped to get us the quickest way to Ft. Matanzas in time to catch the boat.

The more I use it, the more I like it.

I still have my old C340. Sometimes we use it along side of the 2720 just to see if they both go the same route. Funny thing, even though they have the same settings, we occasionally get different routes from each of them.

I actually used my Zumo on a boat all weekend... around Hilton Head and down to Tybee Island!

Using the GPS to run some errands. Everything great...besides the GPS insisting every now and then for me to get off the main highway into a local lane, then back to the highway.

I guess when going over a long curve, the slightly shorter radius of taking a lane closer to the center of the curve makes the travel 0.1 mile shorter....thus the software thinks it's the fastest way.

No problem when this happens on an area you know well, so you can just skip the instruction and remain on the main lanes. Problem is when you're on an area you don't know much about!!

Cheers,

I'll be taking my Garmin 350 to Charlottsville from Washington, DC. Perhaps I should rephrase that - my Garmin will be taking ME to Charlottsville.

Love to get off the major thoroughfares & explore the back roads without the hassle of finding my way back.

Keep on travelin'
Fred

Julie and I collect the National Park Service Passport stamps that they have around the country, and a few years ago they added the Iowa Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area to the festivities. There are 18 sites with stamps that we know of, and we made it to 13 of them over four days, plus we also stopped at the Herbert Hoover birthsite in West Branch.

DUBUQUE:
Mines of Spain Recreational Area
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

WATERLOO/CEDAR FALLS:
Grout Museum of History & Science
Nature Preserve

ROCKFORD:
Fossil & Prairie Park

DES MOINES:
State Historical Museum

AMANA
Amana Colonies

CEDAR RAPIDS:
Koehler History Center
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Grant Wood Studio
National Czech & Slovak Museum (which had to relocate to a nearby shopping mall after last year's flooding)

DAVENPORT:
Putnam Museum & IMAX

BETTENDORF:
Family Museum

Ones we missed: Des Moines Living History Farm, Indian Creek Nature Preserve in Cedar Rapids, Gilbertson Nature Preserve, The Dairy Center, and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum. The last three we hope to get on another trip that includes the Effigy Mound National Monument nearby.

Been taking a few small trips to locate items for my bar. I've converted an old built in pantry into an wine bar for myself and the wife.

I've gone all the work myself, but it's been fun and tracking down bargains has saved me quite a bit.

I've searched for cabinets at 3 different salvage places. Found the ones I wanted and almost missed out on them as the 2 upper cabinets were the last ones they had and will ever have.

I've driven to 10 different lighting stores to find the right under cabinet and puck lights. I found the ones I really like and only one place had them. Not even the internet had them...whew.

Called and visited probably 20 different granite and solid surface stores and rock yards to find 2 remnants that looked perfect. I ordered the counter top and a week later get called saying you wanted black, right? yeah! Well the one that was your top choice wasn't black, it's dark blue once we cleaned it up.... UGH! Luckily the second piece was right and we went with it.

What else can go bad....Turns out the lights I found need a special electronic dimmer that only two companies make... for $190 a dimmer!!! UGH!

Then the upper cabinets are 1/2 inch to large for the area and I have to trim the edges off to fit. Even then it's SNUG fit.

I've given my poor Garmin a real work out these last few weeks, but she's help up and only steered me slightly wrong a few times... LOL

in Indianapolis.

Used my Zumo 660 to go to the mountains. It was perfect riding weather except on the way home. This Zumo is so much nicer than my 76 CSX....
Heading on a 15 State motorcycle ride in the am...Can't wait, trip is all loaded and ready to navigate.

My last trip was frustrating-- I went to a grandchild's graduation, and then to take some other grand kids to lunch. I asked the wife-- where are they-- Oh, by Disneyland at American Sports-- you know-- you have been there. (never been there) So I look for American Sports and nothing comes up - so I start driving to Disneyland-- I am using my NUVI 5000- I bump the power cord and the unit shuts off. (Note 5000 has no battery backup) The unit comes back on and cannot find satellites-- I keep driving and have to make several telephone calls and finally find it-- without the GPS.

The unit finally gets a fix on satellites after an hour of driving-(I was almost back home then)- I was ready to throw it out the window. OK, rant over-- my 680 works great, but was at the house.

San Antonio, Texas.

for an Irish Dance competition...

To get me to a Lowes store about 90 min away so I could get a Torx driver set that enabled me to un-brick my Nuvi 7865T all by myself

Took an Etrex legend w/ me to Costa Rica. It was totally useless since it would constantly lose and acquire the satellites. This happened whether on the road or trail.