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!!
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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
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