For my computer related toys see my hardware and software page.
Garmin Etrex Legend GPS
This has come in handy quite a number of times when in strange cities trying to
figure out where you are. It only has the major routes in its map database
but then I print out a detailed map of my destination from the major routes
using MS Streets and Trips and use that to navigate the last few kms.
Once I was driving west out of a small town in B.C.'s Rockies where I had stayed the night. As I'm continueing my journey I realize I'm seeing the sign to my right. Which implies I'm heading east. I fire up the GPS, wait the 10 or 20 seconds and realize that I'm currently traveling north and a bit east. But only for 10 or 20 kms whereupon I'll be heading west again.
CB (Citizen's Band) radio. I
drive at least once or twice or mroe a year in Canada's Rockies. The
weather on the route can change significantly during your journey especially
between September and June inclusive. And occasionally in July or August.
Or be a lot different up high in the mountain passes than down in the cities in
the valleys.
Once it was cloudy and reasonably warm in Kelowna maybe 10 C. It started to gently rain about twenty minutes out. Another hour and several thousand feet higher and there was six inches of snow on the ground. I was reduced to going 50 km per hour on the four lane divided. Visibility was about 200 metres.
Then suddenly I see a black shape crossing the concrete barricades of the median into my lane. I start slowing down and getting a bit concerned. Ok quite a bit concerned. As I get closer I realize it's a snow plow truck making a U-turn. And not a gasoline filled tractor trailer about to cremate me.
Once I got over the pass and on the Coqihalla the downhill section just to the west of Hope there was a car slip siding along trying to get up the hill, a tractor trailer hard against the concrete barriers, and two tractor trailers jackknifed. The RCMP had blocked the road a bit lower down. For the next hundred kms or so there were a hundred or more tractor trailers parked for the night on the side of the road. Clearly they had gotten the word that the roads were terrible and had parked themselves until the morning.
The truckers use the CB radio to keep themselves company as well as warn others of any traffic conditions or radar traps.
It also has a weather radio receiver built in with the alert. Trouble is this only works in major cities in Canada so is of limited use while driving.
FRS hand held radio.
Great for several vehicles who are traveling together to keep in contact.
Or for juvenile family members to play with.
Icom IC-R5
- Compact Wideband Handheld Receiver Interesting listening to RCMP
and others especially while driving. Helps to keep me a little more alert.
I have a mag mount antennae while I'm driving for a greater range.
Tape Recorder While I'm
driving I can record something that occurs to me and put it in my Palm later.
Radar Detector
Enough said.
Analog Cell phone with external
antennae The external antennae will give you that extra boost when out in
rural areas so you can make a call. Digital cell phones are fine for urban
areas but not out in the boonies.
Lots of spare AA
and AAA batteries.
Triple Cigarette Lighter Socket
to plug the above toys in while I'm driving. Takes me about a minute to
turn everything off and put things away before I can get out of the car.
<smile>
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