So I recently came across, thanks to a mate on his RTW a website that tracks your trip by GPS file. There are dozens out there so I thought why not see what others are using to track their whereabouts as they galavant around the world!

Fess-up, let others know how you track your trips?


To get the ball rolling, I'll share our experience. We have been using Google Maps for most of our planning and it's ok. But it really is annoying when it goes to the next page. There is (or was) no way to see all your way points on one map, until I found EveryTrail (EveryTrail - Travel Community, iPhone Guides for Sightseeing, Hiking, Walking Tours and more) It allows you to upload gpx files, and many other GPS data files. What I found was that from Google Maps I could download a .kml file and upload it into EveryTrail and hey presto, there is my whole map, with the overview and all my waypoints should I wish to display/share them. What a beauty!!

You can check it out on our website here.

It's what I've been looking for since the invention of sliced bread, oh and best of all it's free. I even downloaded the Google Android App onto my tablet and it's tracking our every move. Gotta love big-brother.

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net

I was looking at getting on of these: http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=101

I met this guy in spain: Glen Burmeister is fundraising for Mind - The Mental Health Charity and he was using it it track his trip

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http://mudandknobblies.co.uk
http://www.justgiving.com/FMFox

I have used Spotwalla which is better than SPOT's own live tracker site IMO.

SpotWalla - Home

but Spot Adventures | SpotAdventures is good for after a trip. (looks very much the same as Every Trail above) and I don't think you need a SPOT to use it.

Hey Turbo,
That's interesting but I have tried to upload a kml file but it does not accept!
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks and have a great trip! I will follow your updates.

If your objective is to track your position on a day by day basis, for the purpose of enabling others to know where you are, Google Latitude is a simple and free solution.

Whenever you log into Google Latitude (from a computer, or from a cell phone), it makes a note of your location. GPS is not used, instead, the location is determined (typically within about 100 meters accuracy) from either the internet service provider (ISP) or from the cell phone towers.

You can then give friends permission to observe your most recent position using the same application. All that is needed is that both you and the friend have a Google mail account (gmail account).

You can set Google Latitude up to keep a log of your position reports - which you alone can view - but so far as your friends are concerned, they get to see your most recent position report (with a time stamp) and that is all.

The service is totally free, except for whatever it costs you to access the internet (typically not much) or to access the Google Latitude application via a cell phone (that can be costly if you are roaming, because the cell phone downloads data).

Michael

So first of all you need an account in EveryTrail, and you must have exported the .kml file from your google maps page. Save the .kml file to your computer for upload later to EveryTrail.

1. Login to EveryTrail account an go to create trip.
2. On the page Step 1 - Choose GPS tracks. Go to option D: "Draw your trip".
3. On the right there are 3 tabs, select "+upload track".
4. In the popup window, browse to your saved .kml file and click on Upload.

That's it. Depending on the size and number of waypoints, lines etc, it may take a while to upload, just be patient. Once it's uploaded you will see all your routes, lines, waypoints listed, select or unselect as you wish then save the map and you're done!

Don't forget to share your new EveryTrail map.

PS you can also share photos.

Here is one we made from our adventure in 2008-2009 from Sydney to Oslo.

Sydney to Oslo by Riding2up

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net

I use Spot Satellite Messenger, great little gadget.

Nordkapp 2011 - Motorcycling trip - Spot | SpotAdventures

Also can link into your own website.

Nordkapp 2011 | OVERLAND BY 1200GS ADVENTURE

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For a simple inexpensive motorcycle specific tracking app and website check out mototrackTOUR on the Android market - for more info see mototrackTOUR - the new app for motorcyclists - ridewithtech.com. No internet connection is required to record routes/tracks, only when you upload to the website which is perfect for showing your family/friends where you have ridden that day.

I recently tried out two tracking apps for Android, MyTracks aced GPS Tracker.

My Tracks is produced by Google themselves. It will track your location, give various speed and altitude readings if you want, and doesn't need a mobile connection to work. BUT, the data is only stored on your phone, you have to upload it manually to Google, for anyone else to see, although once it's there you can do all sorts of fancy things including Google Earth flyovers.

GPS Tracker is an independently produced app which ties in with Instamapper. You'll need an account with them, but it is free. GPS Tracker will give you almost no useable data on your phone. BUT what it will do if you have a cellphone signal is upload your position in real-time to the Instamapper servers, which can then be used to give your location on a map either accessed through their website, or easily embedded on your own.

Both of them have surprisingly accurate tracks on a recent day's off-roading round the Chilterns tying in very nicely with the tracks from a dedicated Garmin unit. You find strange wanderings when the phone is still, this us down to it using GSM signals to triangulate, but when it's moving they seem to stabilise being accurate down to a couple of metres.

So it's really a question of what you want. Do you want something you can replay, export to various computer programs and back into a GPS device, but which doesn't need constant GSM coverage? Or do you want to leave a breadcrumb trail for your friends and family back home and are travelling in an area where mobile phones are common?

The good news: they will both run simultaneously, and in conjunction with a sat-nav app, so you can have your cake and eat it.

The bad news: you will have to accept the limitations that come with smartphone use. Poor battery life, possible fragility, lack of rugged mounting solutions. But smartphones will only get better, smarter and hopefully less power hungry, and in the mean time, you can always wire in a 12v socket.

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