If you don’t mind, indulge me in something that’s slightly off-topic.

I’ve always loved maps—especially paper maps. Even in an age of GPS and sat nav, I still keep a North Carolina Gazetteer in my car.

I love the detail, the elevation lines, and the fact that a Gazetteer doesn’t need a charge.

So, while this post has little to do with QRP, POTA, or SOTA, it has everything to do with navigation.

The Modern Navigation Revolution

There’s no denying that tools like Google Maps have revolutionized the way we travel. I use Google Maps regularly:

• For long trips
• When I’m traveling to a new address or exploring an unfamiliar town
• When I’m finding local hot spots—like that BBQ joint everyone’s raving about during an overnight stay
• And, of course, for POTA parks and SOTA trailheads.

But here’s the thing: as a rule, I don’t use GPS for hometown travel. Lately, though, it’s been a necessity. In western North Carolina, the post-Hurricane Helene landscape is filled with washed-out bridges and detours. Traffic jams are frequent. Google Maps’ live traffic updates and re-routing have been lifesavers, so I’ve been using it daily.

The Trade-Off: Are We Losing Navigation Skills?

As amazing as GPS tools are, I can’t help but wonder if they’re eroding our ability to store directions in our heads.

That’s why, as I teach my daughters to drive, I don’t allow them to use GPS around town. They need to learn the roads and build that mental map. Some of their friends (and even a few adults I know) rely so heavily on navigation apps that they can’t find their way across town without them.

(Golly, this is starting to sound like an 80-meter rant, isn’t it? Ha!)

Maybe this is on my mind because we’re on a family trip to the North Carolina coast. Out here, I’ve been deliberately trying to navigate in my head rather than defaulting to Google Maps. There’s no traffic, and we’re on no schedule, so it’s the perfect time to rely on the sat nav between my ears.

I’ve always felt uncomfortable when I don’t “understand” the layout of a place—the proverbial lay of the land. So I enjoy the challenge of piecing it together mentally.

The Genius of “Similar ETA”

That said, there’s one feature I love about navigation tools like Google Maps: Similar ETA.

You know what I mean. You’re driving along, and Google Maps suggests an alternate route, labeled “Similar ETA” or “2-3 Minutes Slower.”

I have a rule: if I’ve never taken that road before, I take it.

It’s brilliant.

I remember once driving back from Philadelphia with my buddy Mark, who was visiting from Australia. We were on a familiar two-lane highway when Google Maps started offering alternate routes, each only adding a few minutes. With Mark’s enthusiastic approval, we took almost every one.

And wow—what a treat! On one route, we passed a convoy of Amish families in horse-drawn carriages. On another, we crossed a beautiful covered bridge. Mark was elated—two quintessential American sights checked off his bucket list.

Even at home, Google Maps’ “Similar ETA” feature has taught me a few surprising shortcuts. I’ve realized that some routes I thought were long detours are, in fact, efficient alternatives when a main road is jammed.

The Takeaway

So what’s the point of all this?

Honestly, it’s just something on my mind this morning, and I thought I’d share it. Maybe there are others out there who, like me, get a little thrill out of exploring “Similar ETA” routes.

I’d also encourage you to turn off GPS navigation when you don’t really need it. Navigation is a skill—one that’s easy to lose if we don’t use it regularly.

Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about understanding the big-picture layout of a place. Paper maps offer that wide-angle view of the world around us, and the mental maps we build reinforce it.

Off to the Ferry…

In an hour or so, we’re heading to a ferry terminal. I’ve already mapped the route in my head. Here’s hoping there’s good signage so I don’t have to cave and use GPS like a big, fat hypocrite!

72,
Thomas (K4SWL)