Monday, August 28, 2006

Weird Georgia On My Mind: Google Earth and Flickr Maps

Little did I know when we moved to Atlanta that we would be moving to a state chock full of strange museums, roadside attractions and other cultural eccentricities.  Just my kind of state!

Spending many hours (ask my wife) I have accumulated hundreds of places on Google Earth that meet the criteria to make them worth a future visit.



Some we hit during our Summer Roadtrip (pictures), like the RV/MH Heritage Foundation with its huge collection of historic travel trailers, Carhenge, and the historic Blue Swallow Motel on Rt. 66, amongst other places.  If it weren't for Google Earth and my compulsive collecting, I don't think we would have known about or thought of visiting these places.

While amassing the growing collection of Google Earth sites, I was pleased to see a large collection of places in Georgia or in nearby states.  



Already we made the trek to the Georgia Guidestones in Elberton, GA.  This week, it may be a trip to The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison, GA.  Eventually, we hope to go to the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum, Leslie, GA.



Just unveiled this evening on FlickrBlog is a newly added geotagged photos on a map feature.  I found it while editing some pictures, and it is great!  I like the intuitive interface -- it is very easy to add my pictures to the map.  I don't like the map itself; it's modeled on Google Map but just not as slick and the imagery doesn't have the resolution that Google has.  So, I now have started adding roadtrip pictures to my map. I am curious to see if Google Earth/Google Map has a project that is similar, because I'd love that.

And in a triumph, I have even converted my wife to the pursuit of weirdness.  I came home to have her tell me that she recorded a local PBS show about Joni Mabe and Everything Elvis.  Now if I can get her to break into abandoned buildings and let me fly this thing...



... I don't know what else I could ask for.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Anyone who wants my collection of Google Earth sites (in .kml format), just leave a comment.

6 comments:

Idle Crank said...

I'm with you Rob, she really should let you fly that thing. I mean, just think of the stories you'll be able to tell the grandkids or even better, at family get togethers.

Mr. Kimberly said...

It will take a trip to New Zealand to ride the Fly By Wire, which is where that picture comes from. I think there is an American one as well,but have yet to find it.

Amber Rhea said...

Dude. Podcast already.

I'm just saying.

Mr. Kimberly said...

RE: Podcasting...

Yeah, I know. It's just a matter of getting it together.

sk0rp10 said...

Could you send me the kml? I'm hunting a treasure ...

Mr. Kimberly said...

The following link from my google map page...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217750504247775940807.00000111c19bb47dd73ea&msa=0&ll=36.244273,-96.943359&spn=40.322417,79.013672

...should allow you to download the KML...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?authuser=0&vps=2&ie=UTF8&msa=0&output=nl&msid=217750504247775940807.00000111c19bb47dd73ea