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Blog: AquaholicsUnanimous

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Google Earth KMLs

Marion County Aquaholics Paddlers Group, Inc.

Hi Paddlers,

Have you ever used Google Earth?
·       If you have then you might be knowledgeable in the use of KMLs.
·       If not - Well you might just get a kick out of this and have some fun.

This is a new service that we are offering ? KMLs that show GPS tracks
of recent paddles.  As future paddles occur more of these files will be available.

First if you don?t have Goggle Earth installed on your machine, then you
will have to go to the site and have the software installed.  These files
only work in Google Earth ? not Google Maps, or Yahoo or MapQuest.
This is free software that can be obtained at: http://earth.google.com/ ,
the current version is Google Earth 5.0. When you download Google
might have some other software that you can Check or Uncheck ?
that?s up to you. i.e. Google Chrome.

Once Google Earth is installed on your machine.  Then save the
following KMLs to a location on your hard drive, which is easy for
you to find and remember.  You might consider making a folder in
My Documents and name that folder Google_Earth_KMLs.  Then
as new files are created in the future, it will be easy for you to
remember where you saved previous files and keep them all together.

After you have saved the file to your hard drive, the easiest thing to do
is navigate to the folder and then just double click on the file.  Google
Earth will open and then zoom into the location of the KML.  On the left
of the screen is the Sidebar.  This is where you Check or uncheck the
various KMLS you have under Places.  The KML you just double clicked
will be in 
Places> Temporary Places.  Suggest that you drag it from that
location to My Places, immediately above Temporary Places.  That way
next time you open Google Earth the file will be readily found.

You can search on the web and find all kinds of KMLs and KMZs for your enjoyment,
Google Earth Gallery, http://www.google.com/gadgets/directory?synd
=earth&cat=featured&preview=on
  dealing with weather, ball fields,
global warming, earthquakes, etc.

Enjoy!!


 


Above is a screenshot of Google Earth with the Hillsbourgh Rv KML.  You can readily
see the GPS track in blue. Sidebar is on the left, and on the right is zoom-in/out, compass
and tilt controls; when your cursor gets near they activate.


KML Files
click on the orange link to download this file, a window will pop-up, save the file to your desired location for example:  My Documents > Goggle_Earth_KMLs


Bennet's Creek
            5.2 miles      Bennetts Creek

Crystal River   
            6.1 miles     Crystal Rv Hunter Springs out & back 11/15/2008
                                        In this example of a previous route, you will see where we doubled back when we went
                                         to Twin Sisters Spring and to Kayaks and Beyond dock (just off of SR 44), we also
                                         visited a small spring (hidden by trees) on the north side of a small island. Future paddles
                                         may/will be different paths. 

Econ River
             7.9 miles
        
Econ River SR 419 to Snowhill Rd

Juniper
Springs
           6.8 miles
       Juniper Springs Canoe Launch to SR 19 
                                           (GPS missed first 1/2 mile of trip so that is missing, trip is at least that much longer)
           5.2 miles       SR 19 east to Lake George and to Blue Creek Lodge Rd Boat Ramp
        
Hillsbourgh River
            7.6 miles      US 301 (John B Sargeant Sr Memorial Pk) to Trout Creek Park 

Ocklawaha River
          10.2 miles       Ocklawaha River Rays Wayside to Gores Landing
             9.0 miles        Ocklawaha River Gores Landing to Eureka (CR316) 
             2.3 miles        Ocklawaha River  Silver RV mouth to CR314

Peace River
         4.6 miles       Peace River Crews Park to Pioneer Park   09/14/2008 


Santa Fe River
          9.8 miles       Santa Fe River US27 to SR 47 

St. Marks River
                6.6 miles         St. Marks River: River Rise to Newport


Suwannee River
           8.0 miles      Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park to Holton Creek River Camp     
         14.3 miles      Suwannee Rv Holton Creek RC to Suwannee River State Park
         15.4 miles      Suwannee Rv Suwannee River State Park to Dowling Park River Camp
                              (Dowling Pk RC was closed - we stayed at Advent Christian Village, opposite side of river)
         18.1 miles      Dowling Park RC to Peacock Slough River Camp
         11.1 miles      Peacock Slough RC to Adams Tract River Camp
           9.6 miles      Adams Tract RC to Branford Springs

Wakulla River
            6.5 miles       Wakulla Rv CR 61 BR to Riverside Cafe

Weeki Wachee River
            7.5 miles      Weeki Wachee State Park launch to Bayport BR - w/places  11/14/2009

Withlacoochee River
          7.6 miles     Silver Lake Rec Area to Nobleton Launch
          9.3 miles      CR 581 BR to SR 200 BR

Yankeetown Spoils  example of possible paddle
            8.0 miles      Spoil Islands around Yankeetown




KMLs and KMZs that you might find useful

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website has all kinds: boat ramps (mostly saltwater), springs, paddling rivers, eagle nests, charts, and tons more: http://atoll.floridamarine.org/Quickmaps/KMZ_download.htm 
I just don't know what you might like, so go to site and check it all out for yourself - you'll like it.

South Carolina Paddling sites   This has rivers and ramps (download this zip file and then open the kml to where ever you save them.

Weather Radar sites  http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/kmzgenerator.php  At this site you can download all kinds of radar info for the country, from a single radar site to a geographic area.  Amounts, static images and loops.  I use this when on wildfires and when Hurricanes threaten to see what is out there.

To pull down Topographic Maps see this website - follow the instructions and walla you're doing it.   http://www.gelib.com/usgs-topographic-maps.html









Marion County Aquaholics Paddling Group, Inc.