We all know about satellite navigation systems and how much easier they make getting from A to B. But they do have their limitations, anyone who has used one for any length of time can tell you that. Trying to send you the wrong way down one way streets, sending you the really complicated route down little single track country roads because this route is 14 foot shorter than using the main road. And of course for us country folk it’s even worse as whoever it is that collects the map data for all of the Sat-Nav manufacturers does not include house names only numbers and in the country one post code covers up to a square mile (or so it seems). What we need is something to add to the Sat-Nav to make it a bit more people friendly. Something that makes it easier for us to recognise the destination even if we have never been there before.
Enter Google Maps, I know your thinking “What?” well it’s not actually Google maps more a thing called “Street View” which is a part of Google maps & incredibly useful.
Imagine you need to get “little Johnny” to a certain club in Chatham for his Origami black belt test. You have it’s address but there is no house number just the name of the club. As we all know it’s always the last mile that is the most difficult and it’s here that the
Sat-Nav is most likely to send you wrong. The answer?
Just do a route map in Google Maps using the post codes. Then go to the destination and zoom in keep zooming in on the last part of the route until the scale in the bottom right of the screen shows 100m and then click on and hold the “little man” and the drag and drop him onto the street by the destination. Remember it is the green coloured circle that shows where he is going not actually the little man.
The view will suddenly shift and show you the actual street view of your destination.
But do remember that the pictures are taken from a Google Van so some private roads and areas you cannot go down because the van was not allowed.It takes a little time to master the controls for moving about but using this method you can finish off your journey virtually. Actually looking at buildings and seeing the area and local landmarks. You can also zoom in on signs on buildings and gates etc. You can even find your destination and then check out the local parking. “oh just across the road and up the hill there is a public car park”. It is amazing because when you actually do the journey you will find you recognise the area from you virtual exploration.