General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,540 posts)

4. I really hate voice directions when I'm driving. So, I rarely use them.

Mon Feb 18, 2019, 12:28 PM

Feb 2019

Instead, if I know where I'm going, I look it up in advance on Google Maps and plan my route. Often, I even switch to satellite view and zoom in to see what things look like as I near my destination. Is there a left-turn lane for my destination. If so, I know about it in advance.

My wife and I went to a funeral last week in an unfamiliar place. I used that strategy and drove right to it, feeling familiar with the surroundings. I'm pretty systematic with planning trips to unfamiliar places. I can use the voice directions, if necessary, but prefer to have my route committed to memory before I leave.

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Here's a typical 1962 GPS System for cars in that day. [View all] MineralMan Feb 2019 OP

I still have a stack of Thomas Guides Codeine Feb 2019 #1

I really hate voice directions when I'm driving. So, I rarely use them. MineralMan Feb 2019 #4

That's the same procedure I follow Codeine Feb 2019 #17

Around here, street names change in many cities. MineralMan Feb 2019 #20

AAA used to plot a trip book for cardholders. It was a... brush Feb 2019 #44

Yes. Those were very useful, indeed. MineralMan Feb 2019 #45

Yep. Ohiogal Feb 2019 #58

Ditto. They were my introduction to navigation. n/t Beartracks Feb 2019 #64

They still do them. Not sure if they still print them up the same, PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #63

I am pretty sure that they still do this. efhmc Feb 2019 #73

They still do them and offer paper maps. we can do it Feb 2019 #117

I finally found something we disagree on... Ferrets are Cool Feb 2019 #39

My wife's like that. MineralMan Feb 2019 #40

Oh, I confuse "her" all the time by Ferrets are Cool Feb 2019 #50

Yes. I'd use it for that, too. I just don't do that, so MineralMan Feb 2019 #54

When in college I delivered payrolls for ADP on Long Island. Before I left I'd plot out my trip.... George II Feb 2019 #35

I sure wish we were all driving electric vehicles back then DemocracyMouse Feb 2019 #46

Thomas Brothers! In Los Angeles people lived by them More_Cowbell Feb 2019 #52

I live literally right at LibDemAlways Feb 2019 #56

The SOCONY maps were always wrong after JDR died... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #2

I still have an up-to-date road atlas. MineralMan Feb 2019 #5

I use both. Cracklin Charlie Feb 2019 #8

True story; Google Maps GPS kept trying to send me south from SC to NY... Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #15

Oh, that can be really frustrating. MineralMan Feb 2019 #57

This advertisement says it all: Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #60

+1. Best thing for trips back then were AAA Triptiks. Among other things, I'm a moron when it Hoyt Feb 2019 #3

Wow! I've driven that particular route hundreds of times. MineralMan Feb 2019 #7

On the other hand, when my wife and I moved from California MineralMan Feb 2019 #13

I35 goes south all the way to Texas. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #68

I was on I-20. MineralMan Feb 2019 #98

Aha! I misread your post, thought you were talking about going PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #108

No problem. MineralMan Feb 2019 #109

one of my favorite one-line jokes.... lastlib Feb 2019 #104

LOL! MineralMan Feb 2019 #107

AAA was a biker's best friend... Wounded Bear Feb 2019 #9

Born in Santa Maria... pecosbob Feb 2019 #11

Was just right near Santa Maria for Xmas :) Cal Poly Alum (as are both my 1st cousins) here ... mr_lebowski Feb 2019 #75

When I was 13 my family made our big trip using AAA TripTick. We went from Missouri to Arkansas Granny Feb 2019 #12

Oh, yeah! True Blue American Feb 2019 #55

I used one yesterday. Cracklin Charlie Feb 2019 #6

Since we're talking about Petroleum company pubs, what about the Shell Answer Man Books? Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #10

Very cool! MineralMan Feb 2019 #14

They coincided with the Shell / CBS promotional "Bicentennial Minute" Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #19

...of course, found an old ad via YT: Dennis Donovan Feb 2019 #77

'Blue Highways' by William Least Heat Moon: panader0 Feb 2019 #16

Excellent book! MineralMan Feb 2019 #18

I remember how my family chose where to go using the old atlas ProudLib72 Feb 2019 #21

Yes! Planning a road trip was fun. MineralMan Feb 2019 #22

I still use 101 instead of I-5 sometimes. RockRaven Feb 2019 #23

Well, I lived in San Luis Obispo County for 35 years, MineralMan Feb 2019 #27

Check my pics above posted to Pecos I took Xmas 2018 :) mr_lebowski Feb 2019 #82

Cool! I recognize them all. MineralMan Feb 2019 #89

Once decided to take I-5 back from the Bay Area to So Cal a couple of days after LibDemAlways Feb 2019 #51

Hell yeah it is! (nt) mr_lebowski Feb 2019 #90

I always look at an atlas or individual maps before going to a completely new place. WeekiWater Feb 2019 #24

The best state maps were Exxon's (even when they were Esso)... TreasonousBastard Feb 2019 #25

I recall that road maps were free at most gas stations randr Feb 2019 #26

Yes. The oil companies had great state maps. MineralMan Feb 2019 #28

Many times I will I had some of them randr Feb 2019 #110

They're cheap on ebay. MineralMan Feb 2019 #111

Thanks, I'll check it out randr Feb 2019 #112

Wow ! You had a color TV in 62 ? jaysunb Feb 2019 #29

Early adopters. MineralMan Feb 2019 #30

Lol my first thought. N/t jaysunb Feb 2019 #32

W bought a huge True Blue American Feb 2019 #91

Fun random fact: the cheapest gasoline's ever been, adjusted for inflation, was in 1998. Spider Jerusalem Feb 2019 #31

Cellphones have changed the way we get around so much Johnny2X2X Feb 2019 #33

So much has changed due to technology. MineralMan Feb 2019 #36

I remember car phones in the 80s Johnny2X2X Feb 2019 #47

I still use that GPS system. nt yaesu Feb 2019 #34

Well, I hope you have a more up-to-date road atlas. MineralMan Feb 2019 #38

I am 62 and hope I NEVER EVER have to look at another Ferrets are Cool Feb 2019 #37

Mt. Rushmore isn't a natural rock formation? Harker Feb 2019 #41

I still haven't seen Mt. Rushmore. MineralMan Feb 2019 #42

I can hardly remember it. Harker Feb 2019 #62

W took a day tour True Blue American Feb 2019 #93

I'd like to go back. n/t Harker Feb 2019 #99

Relatives have a ranch out there. True Blue American Feb 2019 #101

I am a map hoe. 7.5's are my fav for the woods, google earth if I looking for a particular place. GemDigger Feb 2019 #43

I had a 20 something d_r Feb 2019 #48

Kids. I always ask at the car rental exit how to get to the freeway I want. MineralMan Feb 2019 #66

I have gotten a car at lax before d_r Feb 2019 #115

Signage for car rental returns at LAX is lousy. MineralMan Feb 2019 #116

Thanks! d_r Feb 2019 #118

I keep an Atlas in my car all the time and get a new one every couple years. appleannie1943 Feb 2019 #49

What always amuses me is traffic gridlock, but nobody takes the first MineralMan Feb 2019 #53

You and I think alike. I have used the sun as my guide on macadam roads to get around I64 in appleannie1943 Feb 2019 #69

Right. I got lost in Minneapolis a while back. MineralMan Feb 2019 #74

Our summer family vacations were taken using this. redstatebluegirl Feb 2019 #59

Sounds like our family trips. MineralMan Feb 2019 #67

I prefer that kind of GPS system . . . must be the geezer in me. Vinca Feb 2019 #61

Ah, nostalgia Mr. Quackers Feb 2019 #65

Oh, I'm not doing that at all. MineralMan Feb 2019 #71

It's been my observation in recent years that people PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #70

That's true. MineralMan Feb 2019 #80

My 93yo mom kept all of hers Duppers Feb 2019 #72

hell, a whole lot of people (myself included) Blue_Tires Feb 2019 #76

Yup. There's one in my car, along with a street map of MineralMan Feb 2019 #84

Who among us could forget HoJo's, Esso gas and roadside parks? KY_EnviroGuy Feb 2019 #78

That's how I do it, too. MineralMan Feb 2019 #81

I have Thomas Guides from when I lived in SoCal! EllieBC Feb 2019 #79

That's a good point. Codeine Feb 2019 #95

Yes! I tried to explain that to my sister recently. EllieBC Feb 2019 #103

It's sad but true that a lot of kids today don't even know how to read a map infullview Feb 2019 #83

Without GPS, I'd be in big trouble Clash City Rocker Feb 2019 #85

Look up in the sky. That big ball of light and the time of day MineralMan Feb 2019 #87

My kids can't figure out that I know which direction I am going in. True Blue American Feb 2019 #94

It's generally possible to tell where the sun is, even on a cloudy day. MineralMan Feb 2019 #96

I knew that!:) True Blue American Feb 2019 #100

I still carry a Rand McNally atlas in my car! Staph Feb 2019 #86

That's Smart. MineralMan Feb 2019 #88

I still carry one Bettie Feb 2019 #92

Another historic travel guide. Similar, but more essential. Marcuse Feb 2019 #97

I have a reprint of that. MineralMan Feb 2019 #106

We have maps in our Farraday bags underpants Feb 2019 #102

I am lost without my GPS ZeroSomeBrains Feb 2019 #105

Yes I have a Rand McNally in my car BumRushDaShow Feb 2019 #113

That's the one I have, too. MineralMan Feb 2019 #114

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