Vagabundos del mar travel buddies calendar

[Morninghill]

Planning our first trip to Mexico this Fall, probably Laredo to Chapala. We will be traveling in a 40' coach with toad. We do have the Church book. On Google Earth it looks like virtually the whole trip is on a 4 lane divided highway.

This first trip is to explore the Chapala area and San Miguel,de Allende as possible snowbird or relocation options. We hope future trips will just be exploring.

It would be reassuring to cross the border and travel all or most of the way with one or more others with experience. The Vagabundos del Mar travel buddies calendar looks like one good option.

Comments, suggestions?

Thanks
Mike and Molly

[briansue]

I know there is a way to download partial Google Maps by area or region or whatever. But is there a way to download whole states or countries as I can with these other mapping programs? So if I wanted to download all of Mexico to keep forever in my computer is there a way to do it with Google Maps. Then all route planning etc. could be done offline.

Quite a few years ago I created a tutorial for MS S&T which can still be found at . . . http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/electronics/gps_streets_trips.php . . . I have since added to and improved that tutorial. But since S&T is no more it is moot. Maybe what is needed for some of these newer programs is some kind of tutorial like that. Some of the major functions of S&T - totally offline - can create and name routes to save them forever - many people who use S&T have created add ons and help as it was once the most popular and most used mapping program - extensive support - lots of tips and tricks.

I get what you are saying and why but I am not to the point where I understand how to get Google Maps downloaded to may computer to work offline. I think some of the planning you show can be done with these other map programs but I have not used them enough to figure out how. I need to find the time to sit down and spend a couple days delving into this newer stuff so I can get it straight in my head. I am still floundering with all this stuff. I think all of these programs - Google Earth - Microsoft Maps - MapFactor Navigator - and there could be others - all use Open Street Maps as their base map. New roads show up on Open Street Maps first and then shortly after they show up on all the others - even Garmin. Unfortunately I don't know if there is a way to work on a download of Open Street Maps either. There does seem to be a way to create routes in Open Street Maps so that others can use them but there again I haven't taken the time to figure it out. Primarily I want to be able to work on any map any time anywhere I need to have a map without having the internet when it is not available. That would be my primary concern - total map use without going online.

[briansue]

Clear as mud, eh?

Nope. I still don't get it. I probably need a much more detailed tutorial or to take the time to work on it before I understand it. You still have to get online to use Google Maps. I do not post these maps here for people to use as they travel. The idea is you have your maps and you look at your map and also my map to figure out the best route for you. I suppose if you wanted you could take the picture from this forum and do a Copy & Paste to save the map. We do use a Garmin and I can also use Basecamp but I don't. Don't really need it. I create routes as we go. I don't think I would use anyone else's specific route without completely checking it to make sure it went exactly where I wanted to go and how I wanted to go. Same with any GPS - Garmin or whatever - I would never just follow a route create by the device without looking the entire route over first. So you can use any of these programs with maps that work offline to create a route just by giving it TO/FROM points and let it calculate the route. You can put in waypoints to force the route you want to take. My point being I show my suggested route - - the route I would take - but in no way do I suggest that is the best route or that anyone should take it without first spending time with their own maps to make sure they are going where and how they want to go. So easy enough to look at what I post and then check it on whatever map you want to use and do whatever you need to do to create your own personal route. I need to work more with these new programs to learn more about ways to use them. I am still using S&T because I have an in-dash computer with it built in and a 15 inch computer screen to use as our GPS as we travel. Someday I will find a better way. I have the new MS Maps in this computer also but my brain is tuned in to S&T so that is what I use.

[bighatnohorse]

Perhaps I'm trying to improperly explain a concept.
Google Maps cannot download a map. You can only download points on a map with Google.
Those points are then imported into one's mapping software.

And I already have a map of Mexico in my Garmin GPS - which I have also loaded onto my Laptop. And I access it with Garmin's free BaseCamp software(yuk!) Once the map points are imported into BaseCamp then those points can be optimized for travel. That parts easy to do.
But I digress.

The maps that you posted in this topic can only be reached online.
And a user would be at effort to capture and use your very useful information.


Here is the beginning of your travel itinerary in Google Maps which can/could be shared by all: briansue travel map

A reader would simply Export (download) the "map" directions to a KML/KMZ file on their computer.
Click the three dots to get the google export menu at their website:

Remember, they don't download the map, only the map points.
Garmin, and probably others, can use KMZ file much like S&T could use GPX files.

Clear as mud, eh?

[briansue]

google my maps

Maybe I need a tutorial. It does not appear that I can just download a map of all of Mexico and then work on it offline. Maybe I am missing something. It appears you have to go online to create a map and then be online to use the map.

With the others I posted I can download all of the US or state by state for each US state. Then I have it any time I want it without going online. I do not see this option with Google. Can you explain how anyone can download all the maps to have available offline?

We find ourselves without internet or reliable internet many places we travel. We cannot rely on being able to go online. With the maps I mention we can do a couple downloads and we are done with the internet until we do an update. I want to be able to look at anywhere I might want to travel at any time without having to go online. Can this be done with Google? I can't see it. It may be possible to do the things you mention with the maps I mention but I haven't gotten there yet. I have been using S&T for so many years I am tuned into it and find it difficult to leave. I am just starting to learn some things about these other ones but none come close to the good old S&T. I guess we won't get many bells and whistles unless we pay for them. I would gladly pay MS for new versions of S&T each year if they would start offering it again. Still best in my opinion.

[bighatnohorse]

briansue wrote:

adapt to Google Maps

Is there now a way to download Google Maps?

Yes there is.
I have not yet prepared a complete step-by-step "how to" yet.
None the less, here is a basic sketch.

Firstly, Google for: google my maps
(This feature is not available from Google's standard menu options.)
Click "Create a Map"
Enter a few places, note that each place has a "Add to map" menu feature. Go ahead and add each one.
After it's added to the map and appears in the left column - you can click on the place and it will bring up that spot on the map.
Look closely at that spot's menu box and there is a "wishbone arrow" icon - hover over it to see: "Direction to here"
Then click it. That creates a new "layer"
After you've created that new layer you will see "Add Destination" - from there you can add more waypoints/destinations.

At the top of the left menu look for the three dots:

Click the three dots for a drop down menu - select: Export to KML

The KML file will default to a KMZ file which can be shared OFF LINE and exported directly into a Garmin GPS unit via Basecamp.

There is definitely a learning curve.
Once learned, it is fast, accurate and current.

[Tequila]

I will be leading a commercial caravan for Vagabundos del Mar, crossing at laredo on Oct 15th. You may be able to tag onto it as far as Guanajuato for a small fee, After that it heads for Mexico City so you would have to make your own way from there onwards

[briansue]

Another free download mapping app or program is Navigator by MapFactor - which also uses Open Street Maps and can be used offline in handheld devices. I have it in my Android but have not tried it in my PC. Maybe someone else has it in a PC and can tell how to use it. I have it in the phone but rarely use it so haven't spent much time figuring out how to use it. Using this you can also download maps for almost anywhere in the world and have them available to use offline.


http://navigatorfree.mapfactor.com/en/

[briansue]

adapt to Google Maps

Is there now a way to download Google Maps? I can't find a way. I am not interested in having to do maps online. I want offline maps stored completely in my computer. Online maps are useless if I can't get online. I think Google Maps also gets their maps from Open Street Maps but not sure. Many of today's maps come from Open Street Maps. Is there really a difference?

I just looked at the website for your Google maps link - I assume this means you can plan a route and then others can somehow pick up that same route from the link? But still requires going online and using Google Maps online? Is that what you are asking me to do? Not sure.

We do not have a landline or way to access internet other than Verizon - WiFi is way to inconsistent to count on. We pay for our data so we do not waste data. Going online unnecessarily costs money. We are already using over a GB per day without spending more time online and using more data. I see no reason to use online maps when I can do it offline.

I just fooled around with the Microsoft maps a little and there is a way to share routes but I can't figure out how to do it - requires programs/apps I don't have and don't use. It is easy enough to look at the maps I post to figure out the routes and then create your own routes.

I used to be able to create a route in Streets & Trips and email it to anyone else who has S&T but since they quit making it and updating it after 2013 it seems there are getting to be too many new roads not on there anymore so S&T is slowly fading away to the point of not being very useful in that way these days. I still use it but need to use other maps to find where new roads are. I can't find any mapping that does what S&T once did. Such a shame they gave up on it. Too many free maps out in the world these days. Problem is they all have limited functionality. S&T was/is capable of doing so much more. But it costs money and with all the free maps no one buys it so MS dropped it. Oh well.....

[bighatnohorse]

@briansue
It would be a great big favor if you were to adapt to Google Maps - it's possible to make the map trip available in a VERY useful shared way. It is a short learning curve, can be shared and exported to a KML file for downloading to Garmin (and others) GPS units:
Example: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1y0hJFV70UyPpDC3wzZw2HzuuMfk&usp=sharing

[briansue]

Here's another Jocotepec map. It shows two routes. You do not want to take the one through town with an RV but you can take it with a car. It takes you on a rough cobblestone road (they all are) that has some serious dips and can be very muddy - also low overhanging tree branches. Take the libramiento around town with an RV and then to/from the Chapala area with a car on the back road.

This is from the Microsoft map download. You can download maps from all over the world as you need them. They get their maps from Open Street Maps and you can update them often. You can put in a starting point and a destination point and the program will offer two or three optional routes from which to choose. This gives you maps to use when you cannot get online as they are all loaded in your computer. I am still learning to use this program. I think there could be a way to create maps and routes and then save them for future reference as I have been able to do with the old Microsoft Streets & Trips.


https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/windows-maps/9wzdncrdtbvb


I have tried to make this clickable to larger size.

[briansue]

We like BrianSue's route, but it's a longer drive time

I put in the route including San Miguel de Allende (SMA) because the original post mentioned that as one of the places of interest. There are other possible routes depending on what you want to see and do.

No way should you even consider driving an RV with a toad straight through - we think 300 miles is the max we want to do in Mexico - we try to plan our route to stay closer to about 200 mile days. We do not want to be exhausted when we arrive at our stop and we do not want to have to setup for the night after dark. Never drive at night in Mexico - in the dark. There are many things on the road in Mexico - cows - horses - goats - pigs - and they have speed bumps called "topes" (tow - pays) everywhere - as well as dips in the road called "vados" (vah - dows) - you won't see at night until you hit them. People who drive to/from Chapala in a car have a very different driving experience than RVers.

I did a quick computer mapping from Jocotepec (Roca Azul) to Pharr and got 737 miles - to Laredo 715 miles. A stop in SMA would obviously add more but it gives you at least an overnight stopping place - with another stop along that route. Places to stay can be problematic in Mexico. From Nogales to Jocotepec is 1052 miles by my computer. Again - it all depends on where you start and where you want to go along the way.

Here is another very good but somewhat dated website . . . http://www.ontheroadin.com/ . . . where you can find lots of info and they sell invaluable road logs which are well worth the price. We first downloaded their logs maybe 10 years ago and have purchased updated logs. We printed them out and have a binder notebook we keep open as we travel. Co-pilot (navigator) makes notes on these logs as we go so we have additional info.

On the Church Book website . . . http://www.rollinghomes.com/ . . . they also have some road logs as well as a section where there are updates to their book. Updates can be useful as things do change in Mexico.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

moisheh wrote:
Do people from the west Coast take that route or do they take Hwy.15???

Moisheh

We do, south bound. We HATE the 1-5 and try very hard to avoid doing it twice in one season! We turn east as soon as possible and head to Utah and Texas. We love Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and have friends in Albuqureque and San Antonio to visit; I 84 from Portland IF the weather/road reports for the high areas (Pendleton etc) are promising, OR East from Salem, again depending on reports, OR east from Mt Shasta and through Susanville, OR at last resort keep heading south (again, the southern part of the I 5 is not one of our favourite routes).

[Morninghill]

More details - we are in East Texas now, but will be headed to Wa state next month, staying until August. Then a visit to Iowa. Open after that. We said Laredo crossing as we see that recommended and it shortens the Mexico part of the drive to Chapala.

Have been reading the Chapala forum, seems several people make shopping runs to US, most seem to cross at Pharr. They report traveling on Sundays, in a car, routinely make the drive in 11 to 12 hours. We have their trip logs.

If we end up coming down the West coast, guess we would cross at Nogales, come down 15. For a first trip, would be longer on Mexican highways, not as appealing as the East coast. (My anxiety is showing.)

We like BrianSue's route, but it's a longer drive time. Would suit us better as the return route to the border, let us explore a little. Includes San Miguel de Allende which we are also considering. For our first trip we will be able to use the bypass they show around Jocotopec as we hope to stay at Roca Azul.

We also appreciate the offer of the Columbia crossing and a two day trip. Will pm.

Thanks to all. Additional comments are welcome and appreciated.

Mike and Molly

[briansue]

Do people from the west Coast take that route or do they take Hwy.15???

They said they planned to cross at Laredo so I showed how we go if we cross there.

We used to cross at Nogales and may again someday but we are not fond of that route and the condition of the road in recent years has been one reason. Since the sort of reversal in fuel prices it is cheaper for us to put on miles in the US than in Mexico so it is closer to the central mountain areas we enjoy to head over to Laredo and down that way. It depends on where you want to go and where you are coming from and any number of other factors. If we were going directly to Chapala or any west coast beach area we would probably take 15.