Google just made Google Earth available for the Mac! Woo hoo!

I started putting together a list of waypoints for the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway. Does anyone already have an existing set of waypoints and/or tracklogs from the area?

Is anyone interested in doing a little geocaching while there in May?

 

There are a couple Dragon themed caches up there. . . I keep meaning to find them but keep telling myself that I should wait so that I have something to look forward to. ..

I don't think I have track logs saved, but I can tell you that GPS reception while motoring is spotty due to the steep terrain, especially when the trees have leaves. Don't expect it to always show you on the road. . . .

 

There are actually quite a few caches around the Dragon.

My new external antenna for my Streetpilot 2610 should arrive tomorrow, and I'm hoping that will help with reception. I have no need for the GPS while actually _on_ the Dragon, however. Frankly, I turned the radio and GPS off while I was down there a couple of weeks ago. The V1 stayed on, of course, but I'd put that pretty far down on the "things to react to" list.

I wonder if it would be feasible to throw together some kind of poker run, but with geocaches instead of cards? I don't even know how that would work, but there are enough caches there, I think, to plan a drive around. Maybe a hike, bike, drive event? :-)

 

I don't have any problems while on the dragon or nearby with GPS reception. Takes awhile to get it in the area but once you have it I dont lose it.

-josh

 

Omg Mac Google Earth??? Yea!

 

Beware, blalor! Those that toss off such suggestions end up planning them! And when you DO plan your Poker Geocache Rally, you may want to limit the number of participants. It is tough to accommodate huge numbers...an exercise in extreme crowd control skills. If you are serious about planning such an event, you may want to do so in conjunction with a club.

I love my 2610 and mine works fine at the Dragon, occasionally losing contact on 28 between Fontana Village and Robbinsville, and in parts of the Cherohala Skyway.

Good luck with this and see you in May!

 

All good suggestions. I don't yet know how I'll combine driving and geocaches for a group. Maybe more of a scavenger hunt? Hrm...

I just got my antenna today. My 2610 gets lousy reception where it's mounted, but even in my garage, plopping the antenna on the dash got me a full lock, and quickly.

 

Where do you mount your Garmin? I have mine on the far left (imagine that) edge of the dash, over the little vent. Its antenna is right by the windshield and gets good GPS exposure.

 

Look at the link; it's an image of my mounting location. It's attached to a Panavise bracket. It's kind of low with a limited view of the sky, but it's easy to use with one hand on the shifter and it doesn't needlessly distract me.

 

I have my magellan in the same spot. You just need to add an external antenna ... run up through the headliner and out back where external XM antennas go. Works great!

 

I just mounted my antenna on the dash:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blalor/85680615/
It's pretty discrete. I know it would get the best reception on the roof, but the cable wasn't long enough. I think this will work well enough.

 

I'd be interested to see if anyone at the Dragon has a TomTom. I've had my eyes on the 300 for awhile now but havne't see one mounted in a MINI (except for that tiny pic on their site).

 

I will have the iPAQ PDA version of Tom-Tom Nav. Should look very similar to the Tom-Tom GO in graphics/user interface, etc.

 

cool

 

I know Wagnbat has some sort of TomTom GPS, not sure of the model though. I'm also pretty sure he's going to be going down to the dragon this year.