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Paper maps...

If you don't have a stock of them, they are getting harder and harder to find. Bookstores are still carrying them, last I looked, but I recently asked several other stores that used to carry them including a national chain drugstore and the manager laughed and said I was the first person this year that had asked for one; that they stopped carrying them a couple of years ago because "everyone" is using GPS on their smartphones.

Hmmm, when the power and/or web goes down, what will these people do? What will you do, if you're trying to navigate rural roads in an unfamiliar area?

You are correct. Sure, my wife and I have all the fancy navigation gadgets. Between the car that talks, the "smart" phones and the GPS you would think all bases are covered. Only if you have the old fashioned paper maps. I have tons. Tourist information centers are a good place to get good free paper maps. I laminate the ones that are important. Allows for writing on with a dry erase marker.

Deal

I can say for certain that GPS does NOT always work. I took a trip to northern Minnesota recently, and I couldn't get a reliable signal on my cell phone. I always have a few paper maps in my car for such an occasion!

I should get an updated Rand-McNally Atlas while I'm at it.....

Once in Florida I had an odd craving for Cracker Barrel. Not being in our usual area we just punched in the closest one and went. About 30 minutes later we arrived. Only problem is that we were in the middle of a housing subdivision at some guys house. And to think he wouldn't even make me breakfast....

Deal

NotABigDeal wrote:Once in Florida I had an odd craving for Cracker Barrel. Not being in our usual area we just punched in the closest one and went. About 30 minutes later we arrived. Only problem is that we were in the middle of a housing subdivision at some guys house. And to think he wouldn't even make me breakfast....

Deal

Did a face to face with Doc Rodebaugh a couple years ago at a Bob Evans about midway. Problem was Google maps decided I wanted to visit Bob Evans the man, not Bob Evans the restaurant. Hilarity ensues....

I realised this, found a good road map for all of North America at Sam's. Found good state topographic maps on Amazon, careful they have two versions. One is about $20, and the other about $300 (or way too expensive).

Had a problem with many of our electronic gadgets taking an unscheduled vacation over the last few months.

this is great info! Everyone is connected to gadget and looking down. I feel a young person has been on a bus route for two years now, that they could not tell you the way they went or arrived as they were distracted!

Another post noted about watches to "check the library."

Our county library doesn't have but a few books, mostly lot of computers.

Good thought, Rich. I could take a 1500 mile drive on the back roads to another bug out spot from memory, but couldn't tell you the road names and don't know all the detours to get to the really remote roads. An updated atlas and state maps would be helpful if GPS went down.

My wife and kids would be helpless on anything but the interstates.

Excellent point. I'll admit that I have become too dependent on technology. Thanks for the idea.

For free Maps try a Home Show

AAA has booth an gives away paper maps in Oregon