Are Maps Liars?

I just did over 1200 miles in about 20 hours. I used Google Maps and Apple Maps. And though they were the same path, I find my journey was not exactly what the map apps indicated.

I am a subscriber to AllTrails – great app – use this app – wish I was on the trails more to use this app more. However, I realize AllTrails also has limitations and can be wrong.

• They don’t always mark traffic hindrances (wrecks, trees down, bad weather detours) … they are learning and they are updating regularly, but still sometimes miss things. ((there was no speed trap icon where that cop was waiting!!!!! And no, I didn’t get pulled over))
• When they give time to cross the expanse, they don’t factor in rest stops, gas, food breaks, etc. Google Maps said 18+ hours – but it ended up more like 21. AllTrails gives a span, but still, little time allotted for gawking, snacking, or taking care of nature calls.
• If my phone dies, I don’t have access. It must be hardwired, blue tooth doesn’t work. On AllTrails, I have to pay for a subscription to use it off line – and out in the woods, it gets offline a lot.
• There are legs/parts of the journey where I am drained, tired and groggy -and this can be dangerous.

There are more, but you get the gist.

Today, I ended the 1200+ mile trip. I hit bad weather (30 mph in heavy rain) – hit tired legs of the journey (2AM is still a tough hour, maybe wasn’t in college years, but college years are way long ago) – and hit need to stop for gas. Oh yeah, the Subaru goes longer on a tank than the FJ, but even the Subaru needed gas stops.

This is like our life journey. It often takes longer than what we plan. We don’t always consider the distractions, the road blocks, the ‘squirrels’ in life that delay, distract, and often delight. But even then, it still impacts our journeys plan.

Don’t give up. Stay the course. And enjoy the trek – there are beautiful moments even in a draining trek.

Are Maps Liars? Not really. But nothing can give us the fullness of what life has for us. Just keep doing one step in front of the others and enjoy.

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Lastly, when I head back, my wife will be with me. I think trips shared are better. And Google Maps can’t work that in their algorithm.