Saturday, January 30, 2010

To GPS or not to GPS....

Another decision I need to make is whether or not to purchase a navigation system for my pick-up truck. I have a good sense of direction, and have maps and atlas' coming out the wazoo.

I drove from Stratford, CT to Fairbanks, Alaska using just one Atlas... one that had roads for Mexico, the US, and Canada. That atlas and a compass. I actually prefer to do it 'old school', if you will.


But when I was doing this year's CBC, my driver (Chris Loscalzo of CT) had an awesome GPS unit in his car. I doubt I'd use the audio functions, but it is pretty cool to be able to see what is what.



So, since I just found out that one of my blog's 'gadgets' is a poll, I am going to set one up asking the single digit number of readers what they think...


-Should I do it freely and just follow my atlas and my nature-loving desires??

-Or should I get the GPS??


With the GPS I may be able to find refuges or birding locales that I may drive past, or may not be on my edition of the atlas.

Without it, it will make finding those spots that much cooler. Example: Potter Marsh in Alaska.

7 comments:

  1. Hey Brian, interesting dilemma. I have a $100 Garmin GPS, and it does come in really handy at times. But there's something about the old-school way of using maps that I miss when using the GPS. No doubt you can do it all without a GPS if you wanted to...and it would save you $100 or more. Either way you'll have a blast.

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  2. I loved navigating to AK with just one atlas and a compass. Though AAA.com has an awesome feature that lets you print out a step-by-step booklet of you entire directions... I used that as a guide to know how many miles before the next turn.


    Right now I think I am going to continue the plans as, well, planned... and then see how much money I have before I leave. If I feel I can spare the $1-200, I'll go for it.



    What is the ease of installation, I'm wondering?? Is it something I could do myself? I've worked in the trades for about 5 years now so I have a decent general knowledge of stuff.


    -Brian-

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  3. Get a GPS - it will save you time and frustration especially when you are tired. BTW If you want any thoughts on finding stuff in Yellowstone more than happy to share some good spots I discovered whilst doing the Sunrise Birding Trip there. Let me know.

    Luke

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  4. I will CERTAINLY get back to you on that, Luke. I'm obviously going to be looking for any birds/creatures, but a main goal for this year (and trip) is to hit 400 lifers (stuck on 304 for a while now)... and the more info the better.


    This month's photo on my Nature Conservancy Calender are two gorgeous Burrowing Owls!

    I got close to Yellowstone/WY on my last trip (drive from CT to AK), and my best memory from that area were the Pronghorns and a Golden eagle plucking a Prarie dog right from it's hole!


    Thanks,

    (and thanks for doing the Big Jan comp too!)


    -Brian-

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  5. Hey Brian,

    We had a pretty nice trip out there Great Gray Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Harlequin Duck and you can't miss good stuff like Barrow's Goldeneye, Clarks Nutcracker, 3-Toed Woodpecker etc. Drop me a line when you are formulating plans.

    Luke

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  6. Awesome. Lewis's Woodpecker is on my top 10 target birds for the entire trip. A list which does not include hummingbirds, because I want to see every single one.

    Great-grey Owl would be amazing also. So would everything....



    ...ahhh only 85 days left....



    -Brian-

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  7. I'll get you as much info as I can from my trip later this month. The 'problem' is that we'll be there during very different seasons, so I'm not really sure how much my observations will help. At the very least I can lend you my SoCal birdfinding guide I just picked up.

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