GPS Blues

I have had a Garmin eMap (OK really a couple of eMaps) for years. They are in many ways suboptimal for motorcycling. Not waterproof. Apparently not shockproof (witness the two that have died). But they are cheap and they do work for me.
If one is patient an eMap can be obtained on eBay for around $50. I say patient because some fools bid these units up to $125+ on a regular basis. This time it took nearly four months to get one.

My third one is on it's way to me as I type. And why not? I already have the memory cards, mapping software, cables, the RAM mount, and experience with the unit to offset its limitations. I might as well buy one and use it up and then get another. And when it dies its only a $50 used gizmo. Can $600 GPSs really provide $550 more hapiness?

One good thing about the eMap (good being in the eyes of the beholder - me) is that it has no routing capability. You can't ask an eMap how to get someplace. The main job of the eMap is to tell you where you are and to remember where you've been. Sure I download routes crafted on a PC into the eMap and the eMap may indicate when I have to turn (if I'm very lucky). But that's not really what it's for.
The eMap can tell me my speed, miles left to travel, elevation above sea level, travel time, and a bunch of other useful information.

What I really like is that is up to me to read the information and integrate it. The gizmo does not think for me nor does it substitute for my judgement and experience. Since it can't route me where I want to go I still have to pay attention and have a mental image of what I'm doing. No chance of surrendering to the device. It's radio to the fancy GPS's TV.

I enjoy pulling the track logs off the eMap onto a PC and viewing the information in the context of a map. I like it's ability to save waypoints (the location of that forest service campground or intersection). But its a multitool, not a CNC mill.

I find it relaxing to plug the old beater laptop into the Powerlet socket on the Harley at the end of the day and review the eMap's carefully saved track logs.
I think there is time and a place for a high end GPS. But it is probably not on my vacation riding or weekend day trips. For the Iron Butt rider or business traveller a fancy unit would probably be an indispensible tool. For me, well, I'm excited that my next eMap is winding its way through the UPS system to my door. I look forward to reviewing my riding at the end of the day with a good map program, a bag of munchies, and my eMap.