Escapees March-April 2019 Vol 40 Issue 5

When arriving at a park, I’m almost always given a site map showing where my site is located, as well as other park facilities such as recreation, bathhouse and laundry. Like many RVers, national and state parks are a draw. From scenic drives to trailheads to historic trails, public park maps are a must in finding my way around. If I decide to go outside the park on an urban adventure, the visitor center will have detailed city maps, helping me navigate to top attractions. In the city, I might want to use the metro or bus system. A public transportation map is key. More along the tech trail, as a traveler, I am never far from my smartphone’s weather map. And, if inclined, I use a geocaching It turns out that maps are a big part of our lives, online and in print. Map reading skills are a given for many, but for others who rely on modern technology, it’s an important tool that’s been overlooked. There’s logic and art when it comes to reading a map. Knowing a few basic fundamentals when presented with a paper map can make all the difference in getting to where you want to go. Logically, many maps use a grid system of letters and numbers to pinpoint a particular location. An index alphabetically lists the names of cities and towns on the map followed by a letter/number code. Letters are usually on the top of the map, running left to right. Numbers are on the left side, running top to bottom. On a larger map, you may find the letters/numbers on all four sides. To find the indexed town at C3, simply find C on the top and move your finger down until you come to 3 on the side. You’ll land in square C3 where you’ll find the name you are searching for. As for the art, everyone reads a map in his or her own way. I appreciate the compass rose image to identify the direction, but for navigational purposes, I prefer to rotate the map in the direction I’m traveling. This helps me to quickly see right and left turns and exits. I also use a colored pen liberally, marking stops and landmarks.     The key or legend is a listing of mean- map to find the cache.     ingful symbols. These may include various colored and drawn lines and images representing road size and surface, bridges, ferry lines, toll roads, rest stops

                                                       And while I carry plenty of paper maps, I wouldn’t dream of hitting the road without my traveling companion, that tiny lady with a big voice that has definite ideas about where we’re going. (with or without facilities), places of interest, campgrounds, pet parks, etc. Equally important is the scale. This is the measuring line that tells you how many miles per inch. Note that this varies widely, depending on the map size among other things. Don’t be like me, looking for a restaurant that’s only an inch away, but took two hours to get to (sorry, Rick and Marie). In that same vein, the text size of a place name identifies its size, usually by population, in the hierarchy of the map’s towns and cities. Larger font equals a larger municipality. Colors also play a part. Typically, blue represents water. Green is a natural area, park, golf course, etc. Yellow is urban areas. Brown is national and state parks, historic sites and deserts. Black and/or red are roads and their prominence. Ferry terminals and routes are quick and easily identified by looking for the dotted lines from one landmass, over water to another.     At their essence, maps are used to get us from one place to another. As RVers know them, that might mean directions to dinner, to the evening’s bonfire or traveling across the country. Organization and idea generation can be a result of mind mapping. Start-ups may use a project map to plan and track their business goals. Earl Nightingale is famously quoted as saying, "All you need is the plan, the roadmap and the courage to press on to your destination." While Mr. Nightingale, a preeminent motivational speaker of his time, was surely referring to life’s general successes, I tend to think of life on the road as a destination in and of itself.

                                                                                                                                                                       

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   