Working on a TD resource

[bakerjw]

Last June when I rode the TD (rode, not raced although I averaged over 100 a day), I was somewhat prepared for what I was doing, but not quite as well as I should have been. There were several gaps in the preparation and gaffes along the way that could have made the difference for me to stay on the route longer than I did.

Most of us use the "official" GPS route. I did and it was pretty idiot proof. I had it in the GPS and in my phone as well as paper maps from the ACA.

One other thing that I did do was to load up waypoints into my GPS for services along the route. Things like gas stations, hotels, grocery stores, camp grounds, pharmacies, etc... Having things like this on cue cards is good, but sometimes it is more valuable to zoom out on the GPS and see what is nearby or to get an idea of what is ahead. That gas station that is 3 miles off to one side of the route might make a difference especially when dead tired and somewhat confused. I know that when I rolled into Whitefish late in the afternoon, I couldn't handle trying to find my hotel on Google maps.

I'm going to post an interactive map on my appalachianbketrails.org website with the "official" GPS route as well as the waypoints that I added early on. There is a mechanism where you can click on a point and add a waypoint with a description. I have to dust off the code as I've not been updating the site much here lately.

Is this of interest or value?

[bakerjw]

I updated some of my code to utilize the 2016 GPX file as well as some of the waypoints that I managed to get entered prior to my departure last year. They can be seen here.
 
http://www.appalachianbiketrails.org/openlayers_Bing_TD2016.php

[bikelite]

Thanks Bakerjw!!!!!

[Kalle]

Thank you bakerjw,
Looks like a great resource.
Any specific areas that you want help with adding waypoints to?
Is there a way to download the waypoints for storing on the  gps?
Best regards, Kalle

[bakerjw]

I don't have a program in place to generate an GPX file. Yet... I will likely add a field to the underlying database that I'm using to identify landmarks i.e. campground, gas station, store, pharmacy, motel, etc... and the create a page where one can select the items that they want and then generate the GPX file.

The way that I got most of the points is to use Google or Bing maps, identify a location and use the coordinates supplied by their products. it might not be 100% accurate, but it will get you into the ballpark.

As for specific areas, it is whatever people want it to be. I'll be adding more places as I can but if you want to assist, send me a PM and I'll send a bit clearer instructions.
John