As much of a godsend that GPS it to travel, it is not without it quirks and flat out stupid directions. It can get me through city traffic pretty much without a hitch, but when the roads get sparse, you would be surprised what it tries to send you onto!!

I use two maps. One is Map Quest, the other is a subscription service called Smart RV Route. I needed something that understood I was pulling an RV and did not want to go through residential areas, through a city, or gravel roads in the country!! It is also used by truckers. Sometimes I check my route on both to see what they come up with.

Well…what can I say. Both have been a disappointment! I have one misdirect that took place right off a bridge on a route into a small city.  I was told to make a left and continue. I turned there, and the road went NOWHERE!  Dead End!  Back up the RV!! No easy feat!! And you couldn’t see it ahead of time to make a decision because it was right off the bridge..🙄

On my way to the Indian Crossing Recreation Area, I was told to exit the four lane road to the left, cross the opposite lanes and follow this narrow road to the campground. I stopped at the road’s entrance when a sign said “Campers” with an arrow pointing BACK the way I came. Too late! I couldn’t back up into the highway!! And truck with a trailer with wood was behind me and he waved me on. So I went, and the road got narrower and narrower! I came out to what was a large Fish Hatchery! I drove a 1/2 block further (with the GPS urging me on…it must know something I didn’t know!) and the road then turned into a two lane fire-lane type road!! OK…Stop! Sheet! What the heck! I’m not driving on THAT!

The man with the trailer, whose name is Chris, came up to the truck and explained that the GPS does this all the time. That’s why he followed me. {He lives farther up the highway and saw me turn off.}  It’s an old way there, but the bridge is out. (As if I’d attempt that road with my RV anyway!!)  He gave me the directions back into town, where I saw the signs to Indian Creek .(Wonderful road all the way by the way!! And I had blindly driven right past it, and the GPS never said..”hey, you can go this way, too!”  ) So he helped direct me as I backed it up,(seemed like a 1/4 mile!!)  turned it around and finally drove out. He followed and went the other way. 

Following me, he had no idea if I was a man or woman, because you can’t see in the truck with the RV. He kept a respectful distance. I never felt threatened. He was just genuinely a nice person who went out of his way to help another RVer following GPS misdirections!! And BOTH my systems gave me the same wrong directions!!!

So what happens when I later leave the campground for Lake Fausse Pointe SP? It sent me left, which looks good on the map, and within a mile it  turns into gravel!! That must be the end of the road through the woods from the Fish Hatchery! Thank goodness there was a side road to back into. Here we Go Again! ( I’m getting good at backing it up and turning it around!!)

I ran into this before. Louisiana has a ton of roads that get rougher and smaller as you get closer to the coast line, and wildlife refuges. By looking at the map, you really can’t tell. I guess I’ll have to do the Map Quest  look with natural terrain. Always learning!!

let’s hope that’s the last of these GPS misdirect stories!! 🤞😬