Pacific Coast Highway Captured and Posted via Cell

[Willyh]

My wife and I are driving from Denver to Los Angeles then driving up the Pacific Coast Highway until we hit southern Oregon or 8 days...whichever comes first.

As a way to allow friends and family throughout the country to take the trip with us virtually, I'll be posting messages and pictures several times a day via my cell phone. Aside from my camera and camcorder the cell phone is the only other technology we're taking and will allow me to post near real-time pictures.

If anyone is interested in seeing our progress feel free to check in (with us) here. We depart Thursday September 20th.

I hope it's ok to post the site here. I think it'll be an interesting experiment meshing our love for road trips and technology.

BTW, I want to thank RoadTripAmerica.com for assisting us with the trip. We received lots of useful tips and helpful comments from the forums. [Here is the original planning thread....]

See you on the road!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Aside from my camera and camcorder the cell phone is the only other technology we're taking and will allow me to post near real-time pictures. ...Immediately after I snap a picture or take a video it will be posted on this site. Mere seconds after the picture has been taken you can see it.

Um, I don't really think this will be possible -- but I look forward to whatever you find out there. What data network are you envisioning to exist along your route that would enable such a feat?

Mark

[Willyh]

Um, I don't really think this will be possible -- but I look forward to whatever you find out there. What data network are you envisioning to exist along your route that would enable such a feat?

Mark

I'm using a BlackJack on AT&T G3. AT&T has coverage coverage from Denver to LA. There are a few dead spots along the way though, but it shouldn't be a big deal. California has full AT&T coverage throughout the entire state, which is really where I want to post most of my pictures.

Blogger has a mobile posting feature that allows you to send pictures and text via either MMS or email from your cell. You email the picture to a specified email address. The sending address is already registered and once the message/picture is received the blogger service knows what site to post to. I posted a few test pictures and text last week when we were hiking and they posted in under a minute.

It's pretty neat technology.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I'm using a BlackJack on AT&T G3. AT&T has coverage coverage from Denver to LA.

This might true if you stay within three miles of the Interstate highway at all times, but I thought your route was on two-lane in a few places?

California has full AT&T coverage throughout the entire state, which is really where I want to post most of my pictures.

Who told you this? I agree that the marketing folks "believe this" but no field representatives would make such a boast. Again, if you stay within 10 miles of a interstate highway in California you might be able to secure sufficient bandwidth to get a carrier signal, but there is ~ 60%+++ of the state with ZERO cellular coverage of any kind. Pacific Coast highway has some dead spots -- and I am really, really looking forward to seeing what you find when you are actually on the road!

Blogger has a mobile posting feature that allows you to send pictures and text via either MMS or email from your cell. You email the picture to a specified email address. The sending address is already registered and once the message/picture is received the blogger service knows what site to post to.

Hmm, yeah I was familiar with this feature -- and so it will be very interesting to see what you see out there.

I posted a few test pictures and text last week when we were hiking and they posted in under a minute.

How close to the Denver node were you?

Enjoy the trip -- no matter what happens with the technology!

Mark

[PNW Judy]

What happened to the camping idea? :-)

Well, I think it's very cool that you're posting "instant" photos on your blog. It seems to be working so far. I wasn't aware of being able to do this so I'll have to check it out.

I look forward to checking out your trip's progress. And all your unplanned, serendipitous discoveries. That's the perfect road-trip, imho. Just get in and go wherever the car takes ya!

[UKCraig]

Fantastic idea - I like it a lot! There's nothing more fascinating than being able to follow someones progress as they're out there on the road. I say that as someone who is just in the process of putting a report online from my recent trip. It's just not interesting unless it's current... I like your updates!

[lhuff]

I love the phone pictures as you go. Y'all look like you're having a good time.

I managed to post about my trip within a reasonable time, but my pictures still aren't up. (Note to self - must stop being lazy and finish that project).

[Mark Sedenquist]

Hmmm, it does appear to be working. But I am still skeptical.

It is too bad, they didn't look at our dining recommendation for Green River, Utah: Ray's Tavern

Mark

[Willyh]

We arrived back home in Denver Sunday, 09/30/07, around 3:30pm our time. It was a wonderful experience. My wife, who was NOT a road trip person, has had an epiphany. Now she loves road trips and can't wait for the next one.

We stayed in Monterey longer than we anticipated, but that's fine. It's all part of the adventure. And although we camped only one night, we picked a beautiful spot along the beach on Moro Beach. Judy, you're right, the camping sort of fell by the way side. But hey, that's fine too...again, it's all part of the adventure :)

I think my favorite part of the trip was Monterey. An absolutely beautiful city. Cannery Row was a mix of shops and kitsch...but it was still fun to see.

We had a few cell dead spots along the way. Mark, you called it. Big Sur was one. As was most part of the Nevada desert. But we were only without cell signal for about 10% of the trip.

This definitely has been the highlight of our summer (or summer's end) and turned into one of the best vacations my wife and I have EVER taken. Check out this amazing journey here

Thanks
Willy

[Mark Sedenquist]

We had a few cell dead spots along the way. Mark, you called it. Big Sur was one. As was most part of the Nevada desert. But we were only without cell signal for about 10% of the trip.

I am truly stunned that you found as much coverage as you did. It has only been about five years since I made my last western survey (for cell coverage) and I found consistent usable coverage was only about 15% from paved highways (and less than 1% for gravel roads more than 25 miles from an interstate highway).

Coverage inside Yosemite -- really blew me away. I hope you finally took my advice about where to eat in Green River, Utah?

Excellent job.

Mark