Garmin Street Pilot 2

[Simon Harby]

I have used a garmin street pilot for the last two years. It has been an excellent "aid" to navigation.
Garmin supplied a 16mg memory stick booster, and World map source CD. This meant, for example I could down load into the GPS memory almost all of Africa.
On another front the World Map source CD is remarkable for the level of detail. For example, when crossing Burma the GPS showed extensive tracks which crossed the Shan state and meant there were options to "avoid" the military!!
Finally, this GPS has a good size screen and is easy to use. However there are a few "user" tips I could mention if anyone is interested. IE getting Lat and Long way point in can be a bit of computer programming class!! But they worked fine crossing the Magadigadi Salt pans in Botswana!!
All in all its a fine GPS and is quite cheep now its a little old...

[NHamilton]

Simon
I'm very interested in your reference to going through Burma. My understanding was that vehicles are absolutely prohibited entry into the country. In a couple of years' time I will probably be planning a trip by motorcycle from the UK to NZ and if it is feasible to travel through Burma I should certainly like to hear how to go about it. Could you please give me a call? -daytime during the week: 020 7490 6323.
Neil.

[Simon Harby]

Hi Neil,

Afraid I cant call you as I'm in Thailand and calls to the UK are expensive.... For reference I am still on my RTW journey and the budget is tight..

I guess that your not in too much of a hurry for the information as you dont intend to leave for two years, so I should be back by then.

In the meantime, have a look on the Hub "Asia" section. I posted a note on getting into Burma, which explains most things.

Good luck leaving the UK getting started is often the most challenging bit!!

Simon

[NHamilton]

Simon
Thanks very much for your prompt reply. I'll take a look at the Asia section - was unaware of your posting there. My likely trip is indeed rather distant as I'm likely to have to continue earning my living for a good while yet. I trust your own trip is proceeding enjoyably.
Regards,
Neil.

[Simon Harby]

Hi Neil

NOT SURE WHATS HAPPENED TO THIS KEY BOARD???

THANKS FOR THE GOOD WISHES... I MUST BE HONEST AND SAY THE JOURNEY HAS INCREDIBLE HIGH AND .....INEVITBLE LOWS.. THE LOWS NORMALLY ARE ACCOMPANIE\D WITH MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ...

HOPE YOU EARN A GOOD CHUNK TO GET AWAY SOON!
MEANTIME HAVE A BUTCHERS AT OUR WEBSITE... THE PHOTOS IN THE HIMALAYAS ARE THE BEST
WWW.MCCS.CO.UK/GLOBAL
SIMON

[NHamilton]

Thanks, Simon, I have already done so and I agree your photos are excellent - as indeed are the reports. I envy you. My particular ambitions are to ride the Karakoram Highway and in due course visit the tomb of my ancestor in Calcutta who was the first Englishman (as the Scots were then referred to) to enter Tibet; he went as the envoy of Warren Hastings in 1774-5 to establish trading relations and became a good chum of the Teshu Lama. He also introduced the potato into Tibet, apparently. It would be good to retrace his route up through Bhutan - now probably a 4-lane highway.
With best regards,
Neil.

[Simon Harby]

Your ancestor must have been quite an adventurer... Do you have much information about his life and achievements? It must have been a hard but very exciting time back then.
I wish you all the best in your intention to re-trace his steps... following an interesting storey makes it so much more interesting... For me, Burma came more "alive" having read Andrew Marshalls book called the trouser people, in this he traces the steps of Sir George Scott 1880'ish- who united a lot of Burma through regular footy machtes agagainst the locals! (he drew the line on soccer versus the Wa head hunters as he thought they may get carried away and not understand the off-side rule!)

Simon

[This message has been edited by Simon Harby (edited 14 October 2004).]

[NHamilton]

Quite a bit of info actually - his letters and reports were collected 100 years later by one Clement Markham and published in a book together with those of another chap called Manning who was there a few years later. There is also a lot of guff on the Web. His name was George Bogle. Unfortunately he died not long after returning from his second trip, Hastings fell out of favour and the diplomatic benefits were lost.
Burma is fascinating and, the present regime aside, seems a charming and relatively original place largely untouched by Western influences - paradoxically a direct result of the isolating effect of that very regime, I guess.
Neil.

[tosborn2]

Does anyone out there have Garmin Mapsource routes of the trails in the Spanish Pyrenees (Med side)? Am going down there in August and don't know the area.:confused1: