Going to: Normandy, Brittany, Loire, Dordogne, Albi/Carcassone, and Provence in that order.

We will have a car with GPS and a Palm Pilot

Now I need to know what maps I need as I have conflicting notes even after looking on the internet.

I have:
Normany 512
Brittany 230

I will order Dordogne #329 if we go to St. Cirq would this be enough?

So please can someone help me with Provence?..I think my notes say #113. Is this correct?

Also do I need Loire if we are only going to Chenonceaux from Brittany?..If so which one?

Do we need a map for Carcassone, Albi route?

Thanks for all your help.

"We will have a car with GPS and a Palm Pilot

Now I need to know what maps I need"

None. Just get the Michelin software maps and forget about lugging dead trees around.

Hi lois,

Just in case something goes wrong with your electronic devices (which is why I had the reduction tables and a slide rule on my boat) you will want Michelin map 344 and 338 for Carcassone to Albi and no. 337 to supplement 329.

I don't think you need 337 like Ira suggested, since you will not be traveling west of Cahors. You plan on going from Sarlat to Figeac, then west along the Lot as far as Cahors, then south to Albi. #329 & #338 will cover that section.

From Albi to Carcassone, you will need #338 (above), and #344.

From Carcassone to Provence, you will need #334 (above), and #339.

In Provence, all you need is the #113. You do not need the two 300 series maps that cover this same area in Provence.

That's a total of 5 maps. Don't skimp on maps. You can purchase them in France, and throw them away once you don't need them any more if you are worried about the weight. These 5 maps weight 1 pound, and are 10 X 4 1/2 X 1. I take a yellow magic marker to mark each route we plan to take, and circle sites/villages in red where we plan to stop.

Also, get map #317 for the Loire. I don't have this map, so I don't know if it covers every chateau you "might" want to visit if you get an un-anticipated urge to see more than just Villendry, Chenonceaux, and Chambord.

Stu Dudley

Why not just get the Michelin Road Atlas?

You need only one of France, a Michelin and another detailed one for where you will be spending the most days.

Rob..I am still smiling over the vision of me lugging a dead tree!!!

Actually, The PDA is my husband's toy. I don't trust it. We had a GPS in the motorhome and something always happened...at the wrong time. That's why I want the maps.

You say I can buy them in France. Well my question is..can I buy Dordogne for example while I am in Brittany?..in other words do places sell an assortment?

Thanks everyone.

Of course equipment can fail. But how much insurance do you need to carry? For mission-critical gear, reduction tables and a slide rule isn't overkill. (I always carry VFR charts, even flying on an instrument flight plan.) But for me, I don't feel backing up a GPS (especially a vehicular one) is necessary. I figure I can always buy a map if the PDA blows up.

It is entirely a matter of personal preference, and I don't criticize anyone else's, just as I ignore criticism of mine.

Paper maps are such a joy to handle, to draw circles and routes on, to hear crinkle.

>I don't think you need 337 ... since you will not be traveling west of Cahors.<

I recomend 337 because it is a 1.5K:1 which provides more detail than 329 (1.75K:1) for the region from Montignac S to Monpazier and from Le Bugue East to St Céré.

There are roads on it that are not shown on 329.

>>>I recomend 337 because it is a 1.5K:1 which provides more detail than 329 (1.75K:1) for the region from Montignac S to Monpazier and from Le Bugue East to St Céré.

There are roads on it that are not shown on 329.<<<

Granted that the 150,000 scale allows a little less squinting. I was not aware that any of the 300 series maps had different roads shown for overlapping areas. I just spent about 15 minutes comparing the 337 vs 329 and so far have not found any difference in marked roads.

Stu Dudley

>>>> Well my question is..can I buy Dordogne for example while I am in Brittany?..in other words do places sell an assortment?<<<

Yes, but since you will be in the Dordogne and Provence for over a week each, I would by them here & mark your planned driving routes in the peace & comfort of your own house.

Stu Dudley

Agreed,

You can also familiarize yourself with the maps.

I have found it useful to use www.viamichelin.com to zoom in on places where the road goes through towns.

You can see the traffic circles and where the main road makes turns.

Print these out to help navigate.

(I know, I could do the same with my pocket PC.)

I take used maps with routes highlighted home and put them in our scrapbook with trip photos and other memorabilia. It's useful to be able to look back and see just where we went.

Thanks so much ... I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't found you all.

I will buy the Provence and Dordogne maps asap.

I like the idea of highlighting the route. My major problem is the person I live with..who wants to wait till we get there.

He really has such great faith in my ability to do this whole thing...however, he is starting to ask who Stu is...who is Ira...and who is this Rob with the PDA...Underhill, who is that?..See I mention your names all the time.

Thanks..till the next time. Wouldn't it be fun to meet all of you sometime.

Hi lois,

>I like the idea of highlighting the route. My major problem is the person I live with..who wants to wait till we get there.<

In which case, you drive and let him navigate.