European Summer Road Trip 2K8 - To The Alps!

I am really excited about this just now. For many years I always wanted to drive around Europe. I was not really bothered where exactly the destination was, I just wanted to have the freedom to roam. Over the last couple of years it has become harder to justify spending hours sat in a car driving, and a fair wad of cash on fuel, with such cheap flights buzzing back and forth.

However, going on a plane is BORING, and I just wanted to do it the hard (and in this case expensive) way.

I'm not going to say when exactly we are going, as someone will probably burgle my house, but it is this summer. The reason why I am writing about it on here, is that I plan for firstly use my N95 (unless it's replacement gets released in the meantime) to document my trip, and hopefully also use my Nokia N800 Internet tablet, not only to update the world on our progress, but also rely on it to get us to our destination by using it with it's GPS software. The N95 will provide the GPS hardware via ExtGPS.

This promises to test the N95, and the N800 in quite a few areas. Firstly, communications, be it voice, sms or data. Mums will of course need to be kept informed by voice, but everyone else will suffice with an SMS or an email. The internet, on both devices will be important, for things such as weather forecasts, looking for localised information such as restaurants, shops, maybe (but hopefully not) car repair services (we are taking a Renault by the way, so it's always a thought on my mind) and the list goes on and on.

You can find our rough route here, so far we are planning on stopping in Cologne, The Black Forest, Munich, Oberammergau, Zurich, Dijon and Paris. The route is not fixed at the moment though, so is likely to change, with maybe an extra stop or two being added at some point.


The main things, technology wise, I am concerned about at the moment is the N95-1 battery life, and the GPS software for the N800. The battery life concern is nothing too serious, as we have a car charger, and also an Energi to Go, so I may just buy an extra battery just to put my mind at rest. It's just my luck for the battery in the N95 to pack up, just as we are navigating through Paris, and I have left the charger in the boot. Regarding the GPS software for the N800, I have activated the free 7 day navigation trial in the supplied Maps software. I have been testing it this week, and I must say that some of the routes it has tried to take me were just plain wrong! I have no doubt it will get me to the destination eventually, but probably adding a few hours onto our total travelling time during the road trip! Not good. I am welcome to any other suggestions that you may have, as to decent navigation software, preferably free, but I dont mind paying for it.

I am also planning to track our entire route using Nokia Sportstracker. Yes, I know it's not really designed for that purpose, but I think it will fit in quite nicely, and we will have an accurate record of exactly where we have been. Unless anyone can recommend something similar? I just have to check that it will run simultaneously with ExtGPS.

Another job for the N95 is going to be my camera. Although it will not be the main photographic equipment on this trip, I have my FujiFilm 6500fd for that, it will always be with me, unlike the 6500fd, so the N95 is just as important.

These are exciting times for me, and I just can't wait to get going. I did want to do a race to Oberammergau, by sending Laura on public transport, and me in the car, a la Top Gear style, but a stern, considerably unimpressed, look was all that suggestion got in return. Oh well, maybe next year!

So please, leave a comment with any suggestions for software/hardware that we may find useful, and I'll also need to get my hands on car mounts for both the N95 and the N800. Also recommended places to visit that aren't too far off our route, will also be greatly appreciated. Or alternatively email me steverowlands@gmail.com