Just for information.   For the Western states I have found the very best
paper map atlas' are sold by these guys..

 http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/

  I've found some really great adventures using their Benchmark Road and
Recreation Atlas'     It's my practice, when traveling as a tourist, to
peruse the map atlas when camped to see if I can find any interesting
routes or variations.

   The Benchmark series has lots and lots of accurate information.  The
Terrain maps are particularly well done.   The organization of the Atlas is
much more user friendly than the DeLorme Atlas' though I use those, too.
The Benchmarks, they don't seem, unlike the Delorme ones, to always have
you located on the edge or in the corner of a page.

  I find it tedious (with Delorme atlas')  to have to page back and forth
over a bunch of pages (or in the case of the Death Valley area, to page
through three different BOOKS of maps to see just a few miles of road) to
see an area  that may 'land' on a couple of atlas pages.

  My Android navigation app is more than adequate.  Came with my phone.
Mine seems to keep a map ok when I lose cell coverage and it still shows my
vehicle or bicycle location.  It's proven amazingly 'smart' in the cities I
have been driving in, cluelessly...mostly San Diego, Portland and
Seattle.   I got lost (took the wrong exit) at freeway speeds recently and
it had me do an intricate 360 around and over some complex ramps and
construction sites in downtown Bellevue Wa. without a hitch...  I no longer
even bother to 'get directions' to anyplace and write them down.....I just
say the street address into my phone and it shows me the structure in
street view, and then accuratly directs me right there.  It's been spot-on
so far, every time.  I do often print out a paper route sheet from my
regular computer if I have access to that, and use that as a backup.

   I've found you can count on most libraries to have public WiFi that is
connectible, even after hours. Most people know where their town's library
is located.   Interstate rest areas often have connectivity.   I have heard
(urban myth?) that there can be cyber predators hanging out there, scarfing
up your cyber information for resale to other crooks.  Interstates seem to
attract some scumbags...I find Interstate driving  unappetizing and I avoid
it whenever possible.

On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 4:13 AM, george jannini <georgejoann@gmail.com>wrote:

> >> Don't even get me started on POI...<<
>
>    Ayup- map & POI info is only as good as the map provider furnishes to
> the unit's manufacturer.
>