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August 21, 2008
Spinning the Globe
Ok, I've been hinting on this blog in various posts I've been up to something. And, things have not been slowing down enough for me to write. So, let me at least explain in general terms what I've been up to and how Google Earth will be involved.
A few years ago, my wife Karen and I bought a sailboat and took our kids sailing around the Caribbean (see Google Earth visualization of that trip). My wife and I thought cruising and exploring by sailboat was such a great idea, we planned to do it again when our kids moved out for college. In fact, we decided we would sell our house, buy a new boat, and live and sail around the world for five years. Guess what? Our kids (who are twins) are starting college right now. And we just bought a new sailboat! I had to sail it from the Bahamas last week, that's why I had Mickey writing blog posts, the boat doesn't have satellite communications - yet.
Using Google Earth these past three years has only intensified our plans for the trip. First, to help us explore places we want to go. Of course, we want people to be able to see the places we go and will post Google Earth maps of our route and destinations. Since for three years I've been writing about the multitudes of different ways Google Earth can be used, plans have been made for some really cool Google Earth content coming from our circumnavigation. Real-time tracking, using Google Earth for nautical charts, geotagging photos, GPS tracks when we go ashore, aerial photography, and more (see a test run here). In the coming weeks, I will be sharing more about what is planned in those areas.
For five years, we will be geo-blogging our trip and leveraging Google Earth and many other tools to share our experiences. In addition to Google Earth Blog, there will be a new blog dedicated to the trip. The plan is to continue Google Earth Blog - although, I will get some help to keep the daily flow going. We won't be departing until sometime next year (originally it was going to be November 2009, but we may move that up a bit). We're very excited about this trip, and I'm also excited to share with you the plans I've been cooking up to leverage Google Earth to make following our trip an experience in itself!
Posted by FrankTaylor at August 21, 2008 8:45 AM
Comments
Posted by: Jason at August 21, 2008 9:30 AM
I just wanted to thank you for all the great information you have put on gearthblog. It is my #1 site for GE information. Have you seen the clip on the Microsoft Sphere? Is this the future of globes? It is and interesting tool.
Here is the link: http://research.microsoft.com/~benko/projects/sphere/
Posted by: shippyj at August 21, 2008 9:52 AM
I am so friggin jealous. I'll be living vicariously through you for the next five years.
Posted by: Mark at August 21, 2008 10:03 AM
WOW:D that's a realy cool idea but five years!?
thats really long but if i could do such thing i did it right away i
wish you the best for your trip
Posted by: Earnst at August 21, 2008 10:43 AM
Congratulations Frank!
That is very cool! It is nice to see people living the dream. Very inspiring!
Posted by: Greg Rose at August 21, 2008 12:02 PM
Fantastic Frank! Kudos on pursuing your dream. Can't wait to see what you do with Google Earth & Blogging on the open seas!
Posted by: MattyT at August 21, 2008 12:31 PM
Hi Frank and many thanks for creating and updating GEBlog... Its the #1 site i open every morning!!!
I would like to wish you and Karen all the best for the "mother of all trip" I`ll be following your blog, and hope you some day anchor up in Tromsø. I`ll be your personally guide in my town....
Posted by: Arnfinn Paulsen at August 21, 2008 4:58 PM
Congratulations Frank! I hope you have a really great trip! Can't wait to read your new blog.
Posted by: Jacob at August 22, 2008 8:38 AM
Even in the world of Google Earth, there is a time when you just need to go and see things in person. ;-)
Posted by: Michael Jones at August 22, 2008 2:06 PM
This is really exciting news - and the prospect of a few years of juicy "Where's Frank?" teaching material.
Looking forward to hearing more about the plans, and the new blog!
Noel
Posted by: Noel Jenkins at August 22, 2008 3:40 PM
That sounds fantastic, Frank. Imagine if Columbus had a Google Earth -- the irony being, he'd have actually made it to the orient.
Posted by: Daniel at August 22, 2008 10:03 PM
Cool news, Frank. I'm not sure I'd take a boat, but I'm jealous just the same. :)
Posted by: Avi at August 22, 2008 11:49 PM
It's great hearing from so many of you both by E-mail and the comments here. My goal is to inspire people to think about ways to explore the real Earth while also remaining connected and enhance and sharing our experiences with Where 2.0 technologies.
Posted by: Frank Taylor at August 23, 2008 7:33 AM
I just found your blog, I was looking for information about Google Earth. Imagine my surprise to find a fellow sailor! You're a few years ahead of my hubby and I (our daughter is in high school). We hope to be able to at least cruise the Inside Passage and to Mexico when she's in college.
I'd love to link to you when you cast off or start on the sailing aspect of you next blog. My readers would love to follow along. Please let me know the address and I'll add you to my blogroll.
Congrats on the boat...I'm drooling! I guess I'll have to look at what you have about Google Earth now :D
Posted by: Debbie at August 24, 2008 11:53 AM
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Very cool! I'm a daily reader of your blog and also a wannabe cruiser (though more of the "lead mine" than "just as happy floating upside down" type), so I'm looking forward to keeping up with your circumnavigation via the blog. Are you going to have a separate sailing blog that links from this one?
Jason