Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning
Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11 Apr 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Worcester, UK
Posts: 61
Route Planning Software & How Much Detail

Hi All,

Just wondered if any one has used or developed any software, either full applications or excel templates or the like that help with route planning i.e. juggling climate, visa and shipping requirements to work out where you should be and when?

I am planning a RTW for Autumn 2004 and am looking for a way to avoid spending weeks cutting and pasting climate data from websites. Also, how much detail to most people go into when planning a route and how far ahead do you think it is useful to plan?

Cheers Andy.

P.S. If you are reading this and have not yet supported Chris Scott's PayPal fund for the search for missing travellers in Algeria, do it now. It could have been any of us...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 13 Apr 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Posts: 456
Hmm. I’m a web developer and I’ve been toying with a similar idea for an online project. Tell me what you have in mind I would appreciate a user’s practical perspective.

------------------
A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.
__________________
A.B.
OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 13 Apr 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Worcester, UK
Posts: 61
Hiya,

I'm also a s/w developer, freelance, working with .NET mainly.

Initially, I had in mind a quick and dirty excel template where you enter the continents and countries (rows) and months (cols) it downloads the climate info and colours it (red for hot blue for cold etc like a thermal map). I was going to download the climate info by web-scraping. Once I'd got this working, I'd then perhaps extend it to include visa deadlines and shipping time etc.

It struck me that ideally it's kind of a combination of MS Project and MS Excel. If there was something like this available, either online (best because you could use it on the road when your initial planning gets blown out of the water by closed borders / wars / whatever) or as office templates...or even a shareware app I'm sure lots of people on HU would benefit from it.

If you have a similar idea or need perhaps we could do something together, two heads being better than one etc?

Keep in touch, Andy.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 14 Apr 2003
Grant Johnson's Avatar
HU Founder
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 7,216
Sounds like a great idea for an addition to HU! If you guys want to develop it, I - and I'm sure many others as you say - would love to have it available for use on the road.

We have a robust MySQL db available, and with php, should be able to make such an app work well. BUT we don't have the time, or expertise - we have already had to hire someone to do a couple of database apps for us which we hope to release soon, and more to come.

Climate info can be obtained from MS Encarta and on-line at the CIA website.

Please let me know if any of you are interested in working further on this - just email me.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.

------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.

------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 22 Apr 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 48
Hi,
I travelled Lagos, Nigeria to Dublin, Ireland last summer with a friend who was based in Lagos (I'm based in Dublin) and we used an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of all our information. It wasn't anything as sophisticated as what you guys are considering (automatic download of climate information etc.) It was essentially a large electronic notebook, but was very useful all the same, principally because it allowed my friend and I to share information about the trip and to see what information we had gathered between us, thus preventing us wasting time finding information the other had already sourced.
We tried mailing the file back and forth, but this had problems, because our two copies would get be updated at either end and then have to be merged. Instead I found a freebie website and simply put the file up on their server so it could be accessed by both of us. If one of us needed to add information we would download it, edit it and upload it onto the site again. Sounds like a pain, but it worked well.
It was good to know that all our information about the trip was in one place, and not scattered across sheets of paper in a file somewhere, or under the bed, which the dog was planning to eat! ;-)

We kept the following information (among other things) in it:
Contact details for Irish embassies abroad
Climate information
Running record of actual and estimated spending
Itinerary of all equipment and luggage that we brought.
Spare part information
Vaccination information
To-do list
Shipping info and shippers' contact details
Route waypoints.

On the road, I could always access the website where the Excel sheet was stored, if I needed to. Instead I copied the relevent information (like embassy phone numbers) onto a handheld device, so that I'd have the really important information with me at all times and didn't have to rely on getting to an Internet café.
If you think our spreadsheet would be useful to you or you'd like some input into
what your application should offer, drop me a mail.
Talk to you later,
Ken.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:41.