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Well, Max. Patrick and other cynics, GPS devices are getting more and more sophisticated every day <g> However, the drivers aren't ... We lag behind. But you have to update maps which is why we bought a new one. The maps were going to cost $100, and we would have to pay that every year or so to keep up to date, whereas our new one, another brand, has FREE renewable maps, up to four times a year. Only cost $60 more. Much more betterer. And my apologies for my spelling: 'dieing' for 'dying' - Damn. I feel the poem needs some oomph, but don't know where or how, so comments are still appreciated. Andrew On 16 September 2010 08:47, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > My wife's new Peugeot came with a GPS, which when switched on showed her > how > to begin at the Champs Elysees and navigate anywhere in Europe including > Man Island. > She had it exchanged for an Aussie GPS, which proceeded to take us into > South Australia OK, but told 'Goolwa', took us off the main signposted road > into the bush, while I protested and my wife said Trust it, and its chosen > route died at a farm gate. > Only last weekend I drove her in it up into the Dandenong Ranges to > Kalorama. > The GPS suggested we turn off the main road into the old steep narrow > winding road. I refused. She would have gone that way and ended up at some > cliff edge where reversing and returning was scary. > > Max who still prefers maps. > > > > On 16/09/10 1:56 AM, "Patrick McManus" <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > > Gosh the horror of placing one's life in the hands of a GPS thingy!! > > Beware P > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On > > Behalf Of andrew burke > > Sent: 15 September 2010 09:59 > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: snap: Burke to Burke > > > > Because we're leaving the city > > next week, my wife bought > > a GPS to find our way. As the till > > rang up our purchase, I thought > > of Robert O'Hara Burke dieing at > > dried-up Cooper's Creek, unable to get > > back to what passed for civilisation > > in Terra Australis 1860. > > Now we read *Instructions To Begin* > > at our pinewood kitchen table > > instead of a sad 'Sorry' note > > stuck in a tree, at a camp > > recently deserted, our civilised route > > spelt out by a prerecorded voice - > > *Turn left ... Take the third exit ...* > > It could've been handy for Burke > > back then when there were > > no highways, no roadside diners. > > > > * > > * > > A little history for you:* > > > > 2010 is the 150th anniversary of the *Burke & Wills Expedition*. The > > expedition was originally called the * Victorian Exploring Expedition* > and > > its aim was to cross the continent of Australia from Melbourne on the > south > > coast to the north coast, which at the time was uninhabited by the > migaloo > > (white-fella). No one had done this before, and to the Victorian > colonists > > the centre of the continent was unknown, unmapped and unexplored. > > The expedition was organised by the Royal Society of > > Victoria< > http://www.burkeandwills.net.au/Royal_Society/Royal_Society_of_Vict > > oria.htm>and > > it became the first to cross the continent. Three men traveled 5,000 > > kilometres from Melbourne to the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria and > then > > back to the Depôt Camp at Cooper Creek. Seven men died in the attempt, > > including the leader, Robert O'Hara Burke and the third in command > William > > John Wills. Only one man, John King, survived to return to Melbourne. > > > > PS: It is anachronistic to call it Terra Australis in 1860, but it sounds > > good! > > > > Andrew > > http://hispirits.blogspot.com/ > > 'Mother Waits for Father Late' republished available at > > http://www.picaropress.com/ > > http://www.qlrs.com/poem.asp?id=766 > > http://frankshome.org/AndrewBurke.html > > -- > -- Andrew http://hispirits.blogspot.com/ 'Mother Waits for Father Late' republished available at http://www.picaropress.com/ http://www.qlrs.com/poem.asp?id=766 http://frankshome.org/AndrewBurke.html