Directions from South Dakota to Sydney please!
Credit to Pat Wellner for bringing this to my attention! On a recent search for directions from his home in South Dakota USA to Sydney, an interesting instruction came up on Google Maps. For each major oceanic crossing, instead of saying “fly” or “sail” or “swim”, Google instructed Pat to kayak across the Pacific Ocean!
Gmaps - kayak across the Pacific Ocean thanks
Now the “data conspiracist” in me suggests that perhaps Google KNOWS that Pat is a kayaker, and is simply pandering to his ways. And obviously, when I try the link myself, Google knows I love to paddle also. But could it be that the crazy people at Google HQ are in fact kayak fans themselves? I’d like to think so. 😉
Try it yourself: Google Maps directions – USA to SYDNEY
Same thing happened to me this summer when I Googled directions from Juneau, AK to Laie, HI 🙂
Nice! How I miss Alaska, was just reliving my paddling time there when you commented as a matter of fact!
Your theory about the Google folk being kayak sympathetic has some basis. One of their head honchos bought a kayak from your mates at SHK some years ago. He keeps it in his boatshed in Powderhulk Bay which is part of your favourite paddling environment (that is after the Hawkesbury!), Middle Harbour. Congrats on your weekend effort.
Old Salty
That is funny.
A similar thing happens on Sigalert
http://geekhiker.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/friday-sillyness-trust-the-mapmaker/