Centenary Bookings

[Tony Griffiths]

When I drove from Cambridge to Guildtown a couple of years ago, I wanted to avoid the A1 at all costs, though it was hard to do as it followed the obvious route north. However, a couple of evenings dabbling with Google maps, zoomed in, revealed many bits of the old Great North Rd, which I was able to follow in almost splendid isolation whilst I could see the new road, flooded with traffic, just a few hundred yards away. I noted the route I researched in a Word document and then printed it out 'Large print edition' so it was easy to refer to as I drove. Google street view also gives the opportunity to 'rehearse' the various junctions you may encounter on any given route, so you know what to keep an eye out for. 'Turn left 100yds after the Fox and Hounds which will be on you right' That sort of thing..

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Oh, and one other thing. If you can get hold of any OS maps from say the 1940s or 50s, they predate many of the more modern roads that we are often directed towards. The earlier maps reveal what were the main routes much more clearly and are often better roads for our cars now as they have been superceded...

Just like the old A11 that follows the M11. Amusingly, in a vain attempt to stop people using it, sections were given B route numbers - but the road is so wide it's simple to follow and not end up in a dead end at Piddling in the Marsh.

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It's a Garmin Montana which I load from a programme called "Tracklogs" , the originating company of which went bust a couple of years ago, but I had paid a lot of money for the OS maps and it works well.

For not a lot of money - £25 or so a year, you get get 1:25000 and 1:50000 OS maps, along with several others, from the Ordnance Survey.

I can plot a route on these, and download to the Garmin's 1:50000 contents.

The OS's route planning is a bit clunky, not as good as Tracklogs.

But the OS will work on your phone, and display both sets of maps and can be used as the satnav, anyway.   As, probably, could your tablet, though I haven't tried that.

I believe other programmes are available, some said to be better than the OS, but I am used to the OS formats.

Thanks for that - most interesting. I have a Motorcycle Garmin (an expensive but superb toy) that might take that system. I don't know if it still applies, but at one time - should you have been unfortunate enough to fling the bike down the road and grind the one fitted into dust - Garmin would replace it with a new one for just £120 .