Day to Day Resources - Open Source Overlanding Info
I may at times, be travelling on the other side of the world, in an 'undeveloped' country, solo and generally having to speak a different language BUT there are resources available to help me - because this is not the eighties!
WIFI is pretty common most places now, as is internet as part of a data package on a cheap local sim, which i've picked up in most countries i've ridden through. So, along with internet access, some local Spanish schooling, a travel guide book and my (crappy 3 year old android) smart phone, i'm all set.
Heres a list of resources I use most days for route planning:
2 - OSMand (uses GPX files), good for topo/contours info (available as a plugin for a couple bucks - allowing downloadable files for each country - good for tracking altitude).
3 - IOVERLANDER is an app which presents info posted by previous offroaders regarding (particularly) free/wild camp spots (set out as pins on a google type map) plus a bunch of other potentially useful info - cheap hotels with decent parking, restaurants, road information and even places to shower occasionally.
4 - Even Google maps allows you to download maps to use offline.
6 - Occasionally I use paper maps - I didn't use really until the US where I found the waterproof Butler ones to be nice. Ive used the Colorado Back Country dual sport map which outlines an offroad route through the state north to south. Idaho has a back country route i'm aware of, with other states having these routes in current development.
We only used a paper map in the North of India (2 months Delhi - Himalayas loop) - however this meant there was A LOT of asking for directions (and because of this, getting lost :)
2 - ADV RIDER - the tent space page (I used for the US - it was a bit sparse elsewhere), works similarly to couch surfing but for moto peeps. It works well and i've had some fantastic stays with people I now consider to be lifetime friends.
FB GROUPS - great for a quick question and meeting other current travellers.
1 - PanAmerican Travellers Association
2 - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Adventure Travellers (The HUBB)
3 - Overland Sphere
Theres heaps of others out there but any more than the three listed above and I think my head would spin.
WIFI is pretty common most places now, as is internet as part of a data package on a cheap local sim, which i've picked up in most countries i've ridden through. So, along with internet access, some local Spanish schooling, a travel guide book and my (crappy 3 year old android) smart phone, i'm all set.
Heres a list of resources I use most days for route planning:
MAPPING (free offline mapping apps for smartphones)
1 - MapsME (uses KML files - can transfer route/pins files straight out of google maps and google earth) and,2 - OSMand (uses GPX files), good for topo/contours info (available as a plugin for a couple bucks - allowing downloadable files for each country - good for tracking altitude).
3 - IOVERLANDER is an app which presents info posted by previous offroaders regarding (particularly) free/wild camp spots (set out as pins on a google type map) plus a bunch of other potentially useful info - cheap hotels with decent parking, restaurants, road information and even places to shower occasionally.
4 - Even Google maps allows you to download maps to use offline.
6 - Occasionally I use paper maps - I didn't use really until the US where I found the waterproof Butler ones to be nice. Ive used the Colorado Back Country dual sport map which outlines an offroad route through the state north to south. Idaho has a back country route i'm aware of, with other states having these routes in current development.
We only used a paper map in the North of India (2 months Delhi - Himalayas loop) - however this meant there was A LOT of asking for directions (and because of this, getting lost :)
ONLINE FORUMS
1 - HORIZONS UNLIMITED (THE HUBB) is first point of contact for most overlanding information. I find myself Google searching a query and adding either 'THE HUBB' or 'ADV RIDER' to the search words to narrow the results down.2 - ADV RIDER - the tent space page (I used for the US - it was a bit sparse elsewhere), works similarly to couch surfing but for moto peeps. It works well and i've had some fantastic stays with people I now consider to be lifetime friends.
FB GROUPS - great for a quick question and meeting other current travellers.
1 - PanAmerican Travellers Association
2 - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Adventure Travellers (The HUBB)
3 - Overland Sphere
Theres heaps of others out there but any more than the three listed above and I think my head would spin.
Comments
Post a Comment