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Maybe GPS thingies are misunderstood they are actually trying to make travelling more interesting but dice would be cheaper Cheers from Patrick who has just got rid of his 1940? Bike -----Original Message----- From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Max Richards Sent: 16 September 2010 01:48 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: snap: Burke to Burke 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 --