Open-source Mapping on Garmin

Small section of OSM map

Availability of open-source map data has been eroding sales of Garmin’s proprietary maps for some time now, and in this short post I’m going to share my approach for getting several countries worth of routable maps onto my handheld device and my laptop.

GPSMap 66s Mini-Review

Most of the major bugs with Garmin’s latest instalment in the popular GPSMap series have been ironed out, so I’m sharing my thoughts after living and travelling with the device for a month. Spoiler alert: there are still some – ahem – Undocumented Features spoiling an otherwise great outdoor GPS.

Another Way?

Title image: Conundrum

As 2019 draws to a close I’ve arrived at a crossroads in my photography efforts, failing to produce any satisfactory images despite owning two interchangeable lens systems, a high-end compact, and living in one of the most picturesque locations in…

Garmin 3D Speed & Distance Test

Garmin Fenix 5+ in front of some trees

Not really sure if you should be using the 3D Speed or 3D Distance activity settings on your Garmin fitness watch? Me neither. But I’ve been spending quite a bit of time in the mountains recently, and with so much geography at my disposal felt it might be time for a little controlled experiment.

End2End Mountain Bike Race

Small image showing some mountain bikers at the start of a race

A couple of photos and some light reflection on my first ever formal mountain bike race, this year’s End2End challenge on the Isle of Man. This one’s been on my radar for quite a while now, but I’ve always found an excuse to duck out. Not any more.

First Lap of the Island

Map of Isle of Man showing an outline of the ride taken

Another box ticked, another itch scratched: ride around the Isle of Man in one go. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, and seeing as it wasn’t a race I took plenty of photos along the way. One or two of them may feature a bike …

Travelling Light(er)

Photo of an iPhone XS next to a Garmin Fēnix 5 Plus

In the never ending quest to reduce the size of my travelling kit I’ve found two new solutions, two reasons to leave the laptop at home more often: a keyboard that lets me type well using my phone, and an app that lets me plan hikes or runs for use with my Garmin fitness watch.

Automotive Graveyard

I was reminded today that I hadn’t actually published any of the derelict car pictures which make up some of the category’s clickable headers, so here are my favourite 20 images from a neglected and forgotten car collection somewhere in East Anglia.

Garmin Fenix 5 Plus

A selection of Garmin Fenix 5 Plus fitness watches

By no means an in-depth review, this is a page of my experiences after two weeks with Garmin’s new fitness wearable, the Fēnix 5 Plus. I take a look at the device’s performance with particular emphasis on heart rate monitor and GPS, and touch on some of the other observations while walking, hiking, running, and cycling using this £749 premium wearable.

Longest Day, Longest Ride

The LDLR is a charity 24 hour endurance mountain bike race held annually around the time of the Summer Solstice, and as it’s just up the road from us I thought I’d drop in and snap a few pics with my trusty, dusty DSLR.