Marion County Aquaholics Paddlers Group, Inc.

 

 

Paddle Often, Paddle Safely  

 

Hi Folks

 

Currently we are back under construction, due to problems with our last web host.

 

Soon all of the web pages you were accustomed to seeing will be back up and running

 

mark

KMLS for Google Earth

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.

Another site that you might like is sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - it has boat ramps, boat wrecks, eagle nest, springs, and oodles more.  http://atoll.floridamarine.org/Quickmaps/KMZ_download.htm

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

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

Bennett's Creek 

5.2 miles