Map it out – Ramblings In Ireland
Although I have Google Earth on my PC I haven’t used it to try to plot maps. My main use has been to look for places using the ‘street view’ so that I can picture the place before I set off to find it. Before my holiday to Ireland I used Google Earth’s ‘drive the route’ function so that I could see the route I would need to take between the guest house and the airport on the last day. Sitting in front of my PC watching the street zoom into view and the buildings whizzing by I got car sick.
When I saw the Writing Challenge from WordPress to use and embed a Google Maps image I thought it was a great idea. What better way to show people the route that I took on my holiday. The map below shows our driving route rather than the walking routes. The pins are places that we stayed or points of interest. It’s a bit of a standing joke between me and anyone who’s ever had me try to direct them that I’m incapable of reading a map. I am, however, capable of looking at the places that we visited, in my diary, and joining the dots.
After creating that map I wanted to add some pictures for you to enjoy. Following the Google Maps instructions I uploaded my pictures to picassa web albums and tagged all the locations there. You can see this web album and another map showing where the pictures were taken by clicking on the image below.
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| Ramblings In Ireland |
I was very glad that Erica included links to the guides for this challenge as I wouldn’t have had a clue how to go about it otherwise. My challenge now is to work out how I can plot walking routes that don’t include roads. I had a look using the satellite image but many routes are hidden by woodland. It will be interesting to try it next time I am out walking.
What do you use Google Earth or Google Maps for?
Are you a good map reader or are they all printed the wrong way up?
IT numpty though I am I will certainly try this…thanks for the tip!
Hi Helen. Seriously if I can do this anyone can. I just followed the instructions – does exactly what it says on the tin. Happy New Year by the way – must catch up!!
“I am, however, capable of looking at the places that we visited, in my diary, and joining the dots.”
You are hilarious.
Love this. Wish I’d had it when I was reading the book. Great tool. (I should make one for “Through the Fog” so folks can follow my hero around Ireland.)
I am glad I keep you amused Joel.
This is really easy to do. If someone as technically incompetent as me can do it for you it will be a synch. I think it would be excellent for your story.
If you find out how to get the one with pictures to embed then please let me know.
Forgot to say – No velociraptors were harmed during the making of this post.!
I am seriously impressed with your map and the gallery that is attached to it. I shall be sitting out this particular challenge due to being “technologically challenged”. But maybe one day, I can make something as lovely as this. Here’s hoping.
You have my deepest sympathies on the technically challenged front. I can hardly ever make things work the way I want them. Simple things like getting pictures to be where I want them and without words up the side or in the middle take me hours.
The map was a bit like playing dot to dot. I pinned the places then joined up the dots. I nearly fell over when I copied the code in and it worked first time. I couldn’t get the one with pictures to embed but I am please with what I have done.
I wish you the very best of luck with your attempts and thank you for commenting.
Impressive. I’m so technically (maps included) challenged.
You should see what some of the others who accepted this challenge did. Mine was just a dot to dot picture in comparison.
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Well, I did it….very amateurish…but it gave me the confidence to try to improve.
http://asurfeitofpalfreys.wordpress.com/
Thanks to you!
I think it looks great. I did another one for my walking blog here http://blogs.angloinfo.com/looped-walks/2013/01/10/map-it-out-looped-walks/ It spilled over the page a bit covering the calendar but I think it looks OK. Practice makes perfect.
Thanks for linking me
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I like this post
Your ramblings in Ireland were actually just south of where I was in Dingle. I’ve been using Google maps a lot lately for my new book. For historical and mythological sake, most of my story takes place in the parts of Ireland I’d never been to, with the exception of Dublin. Eventually, I’ll be putting Google Earth on my laptop (but it’s rather old, and I’m trying to baby it 
)
I fell in love with the Irish countryside and have always enjoyed a love of the culture. So I’ve felt kind of blind trying to write about my characters “ramblings” through parts of Ireland I’ve never seen. I want to much to describe more of the landscape, but I figure, I’ll write the story first, then, if we don’t have a new computer yet, go ahead with the Google Earth and hope for the best. lol! Then I’ll experience their journey virtually and blend it with my own experiences there.
Dingle is a lovely place. I went there in a previous trip to Ireland but was not lucky enough to see the dolphin.
Florida is a long way from Ireland so using a lovely app like Google Earth is ideal for exploring landscapes.
Dublin is one of my favourite cities. I used to catch the ferry over with my friends when I was younger. It was really popular for Hen nights at that time – probably still is.
I know what you mean about falling in love with the Irish countryside – it is difficult not to.
Good luck with your writing