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24 Jun 09

Satmap Story

Not taking PROPER maps?

This was the reaction when I stopped at my first Youth Hostel on my recent 1,300 mile cycle ride across the UK. Indeed, no maps just my trusty Satmap Active 10. I was cycling from Cornwall to the Orkney Islands, beyond John O'Groats in Scotland, using as many minor roads and cycle paths as I could, to raise £2,500 for two charities working in Africa.

I've been using the Satmap for over two years and have seen it develop from a good, but unstable, product to the best GPS that I have ever used.

I set out planning my trip before the Satmap route planning software was launched so I used the Fugawi UK package and loaded the route onto my Active 10 as a GPX file. With 20 days worth of routes stored I headed off.

Cornwall was recovering from an exceptionally heavy storm and I used the Active 10's 'Edit" function to modify my planned route to avoid the roads closed by flooding. When I wanted to be inspired, I flicked through the screens to see how much height and how far I had come in a day.  If I wanted a reality check I would click onto the Route Profile to see how many more hills I still had to climb, or how far my "blue dot" was up a long hill!

Starting at Britain's most southerly point at The Lizard I pedaled down to Land's End and Cape Cornwall before turning east and heading into Devon. Somerset was dry and the strong south-west wind pushed me up Cheddar Gorge. A mopped-capped lady who made my Cheddar roll gave me a £5 donation - strangers can be so kind.

I travelled over both the Clifton and Seven bridges and just kissed Wales, cycling up the truly stunning Wye Valley. Passing Britain's only Salt mine in Northwich I resisted the temptation to visit the Museum of Salt. I crossed the Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal and the dark satanic mills of Blackburn before climbing to 1,300 foot in the Trough of Bowland near Lancaster. There were some real hills in Cumbria around Shap.  I avoided A-roads as much as I could, too noisy and too much traffic, instead heading for canal towpaths, old railways and minor roads - it was a pleasure passing along Britain's by-ways.

Crossing into Scotland at Greta, the Scots had turned their weather machine against me as for four days I struggled with strong headwinds, heavy rain, or both. My route took me out over the Islands of Arran and Mull, which included a 60 mile race against the clock between two ferries. From Tobermoray (Balamory for those with under fives) it was a short boat hop and cycle to reach Britain's most Westerly mainland point at Ardnamurchan, and then the wettest coldest 70 miles I've ever pedaled to get to Fort William. I stopped at three tea-shops to put on dry clothes. Throughout all this rain the yellow line on my Active 10 map screen on my handlebars continued to point the way.

Fort William to Inverness was a 70 mile stretch.  With the wind (and lots of rain) behind me I flew along. And then, something truly remarkable happened, the sun came out for the next six days!

Next on the list of extremities was Cape Wrath, the only problem was I needed to catch a small ferry and then cross a large Firing Range. My arrival coincided with a big military Live-Firing Exercise so John the ferryman got me across the Kyle of Durness and told me to pedal quickly.  I was heading for an isolated and haunted cottage (Bothy) on a beach. I set the Goto function to a POI and pedaled off into the sunset.  After an hour of hard cycling I arrived at the isolated cottage. Recalling my Scout training, I collected driftwood and donned ALL my clothes for the night ahead.  I was woken by the Bothy's ghost (a mouse!) at 4am and set off.  Pedaling past the magnificent deer, to reach the lighthouse and travel the 11 miles back to the ferry. As I waited on the shore the RAF jets screamed overhead and started bombing the nearby (thankfully uninhabited) island.

Turning East into the growing wind I headed past some stunning beaches ticking off Dunnet Head and Duncansby Head before arriving at John O'Groats. I confess JOG had seen better days, the hotel was closed and there were no less than four competing End-to-End books to sign. I pressed onwards, by ferry to Orkney and in a cloudless sky, following wind and in the company of one of the numerous End-to-Enders I met en-route, arrived in Kirkwall.

According to my Active 10, I had covered some 1,304 miles and 103,000 feet (4 Everests!) and six ferries (with no punctures and one broken chain), after stepping off the train in Cornwall.

Arriving back on the mainland from a late running ferry from Orkney I had only 20 minutes to cover the three miles to the station to catch my train home. Not a problem, I quickly set a route on the 1:50,000 map on my Active 10, made sure that I was first off the ferry and pedaled like fury to beat the taxis bringing the rest of the passengers. When I followed my route I turned right and the taxis went straight on, so I was delighted to reach Thurso Station ahead of the taxis and before the train.

Was it enjoyable? Yes.  So many highlights, most touching was little old Nora on the Orkneys who thrust £5 in my hand after hearing me explain what I was doing.

To read more about my trip, see the 200+ photos, maps, donate or even fly along my track then read my blog: dontstoptillorkney.blogspot.com.

Apart from my bike the Active 10 was the most useful piece of kit I carried, I never got lost, and rarely took a wrong turning or had to retrace my steps. It constantly kept a record of my actual route, ascents and speeds, giving me a real boost to know I had completed 10%, 25%, 50% and then 75% of the daily target of 70 miles each day.

The Satmap team has been superb, they listened when the unit did not deliver the reliability I needed, and have added on many of the features that I suggested (the blue arrow showing you where you were going). It is not just a product delivered by a faceless international supplier but a responsive organisation that listens to their customers and shares their enjoyment of this exciting and dynamic world.

By Richard Young

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