MM Road Map

[V1GiLaNtE]

Based on Taylor's PTO dilema and some suggestions about going out and exploring it sparked my creative juices to start what I'm calling the "MM Road Map".

I use Google Maps heavily for documenting 4wd trips, motorcycle rides, and life's grand adventures. So it occured to me that we should start a collaborative map for MMer's to document roads, points of interest, etc. as part of the greater journey of being an enthusiast. 

I personally have a map I call "Life Map" which documents anything and everything I've visited and thought was note worthy (food, coffee, temples, lodging, etc.) It's been really fun to use that as a reference when people are traveling and need suggestions.

Below is the link to the "MM Road Map". 

MM Road Map

Some guidance:

• Use Orange for car/motorcycles under the "Drives" layer
  
• Use Blue for 4x4 under the "4x4" layer
  
• Use the other layers "Points of Interest" and "Food & Beverage" for the obvious reasons
  
• Make sure to DRAW a line for the route. It appears Google Maps limits the number of layers to 10
  

Here are a few personal examples of mine:

Motorcycle Routes 

Life Map 

Budapest Trip


As a way to utilize these maps here is the system I have used for a long time:

1) Download the "maps.me" app

2) Export the MM Road map via Google to a KML/KMZ file. These files are GPS files which are easily digestible by most GPS's. 


3) Download the map and email it to yourself



4) I'm not 100% about Android, but for iPhone you can open the KML/KMZ file with maps.me and it will have the entire route there for you to follow



5) Walah!

[*insertusernamehere*]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes I love this and I'm all for it. I have one that I'll add later on today. Driving road, looking forward to seeing what everyone else has to share. Now that I have a bike I'm definitely interested. I'd also like to spend some time outside this year so this is bueno. Fantastic thread!

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[Evan]

We drove the whole blue ridge parkway last summer. Highly recommended. Lots of great things to do and see as you drive down. I believe the tail of the dragon is pretty close too.

[Jake]

Oh this is a fantastic idea. I like the "life map" in particular, I should look at how that's set up and do the same for myself. Much easier than the whole "oh yeah there's this place near such and such but I can't quite remember it" game.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Oh this is a fantastic idea. I like the "life map" in particular, I should look at how that's set up and do the same for myself. Much easier than the whole "oh yeah there's this place near such and such but I can't quite remember it" game.

It's pretty straight forward Jake. I just create various layers (as you can see in the map). If I like something enough I just go and add it so that I can remember it later. I love sharing it with people when they need advice on places. Plus, it's really fun to go back and look at the map holistically and see all the cool places I've visited even if it's just around the corner from the house!

[Sijray21]

very cool idea. i'll try and add some cool points of interest that i've been to that i would recommend.

[rherold9]

This is sweet. Great idea! This should be very useful

[ScottyB]

this is fantastic. i love maps, and hunting down driving roads with fun attractions (breweries, diners, waterfalls, campgrounds) but never take the time to mark it all. looking forward to poring over this later.

[Apoc]

I have a bunch of maps I've collected over the years, but it looks like I somehow lost most of my east coast "drive" maps. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0...sp=sharing

[ScottyB]

actually its telling me we have reached the layer limit on the MM map. do we need to make a second map?

[Apoc]

Oh man... I just found my motorcycle map from Lost River State Park over that way. This pre-date google maps. 

[V1GiLaNtE]

actually its telling me we have reached the layer limit on the MM map.  do we need to make a second map?

I reached that too Scotty. What I figured out is you just need to draw a route over the road within a single layer and it should work.

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I have a bunch of maps I've collected over the years, but it looks like I somehow lost most of my east coast "drive" maps. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0...sp=sharing

That's awesome!!

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Oh man... I just found my motorcycle map from Lost River State Park over that way. This pre-date google maps. 

Added to the MM Map. 

[.RJ]

Oh man... I just found my motorcycle map from Lost River State Park over that way. This pre-date google maps. 

I remember when I used to tape a post-it to the tank for route directions on the motorcycle.

[Senor_Taylor]

This is a neat idea!

[ScottyB]

added a few more in NC. planning a big NC/GA/SC driving tour in the spring in which i will hopefully wear the shoulders of these crappy hankooks completely bald so i can be rid of them. this map will be invaluable.

sorry for the goofball names (Rattler, Diamondback, etc), i'm just calling them by what seems to be popular/recognizable right now by all the tourist people.

[V1GiLaNtE]

added a few more in NC.  planning a big NC/GA/SC driving tour in the spring in which i will hopefully wear the shoulders of these crappy hankooks completely bald so i can be rid of them.  this map will be invaluable.

sorry for the goofball names (Rattler, Diamondback, etc), i'm just calling them by what seems to be popular/recognizable right now by all the tourist people.

Bike friendly?

[ScottyB]

they're probably the MOST popular with riders. The "Big 6" 2-wheel routes in NC seem to be:

• NC 143 Cherohala Skyway
• NC 209 Gambler
• NC 421 The Snake
• NC 28 Moonshiner
• NC 129 The Dragon
• NC 226A Diamondback

I'll add these and a couple other big routes in GA, TN, and VA