I also meant to add, downloading off-line Google maps is the way to go. No GPS or maps necessary (as long as your phone battery is charged). The off-line map won't take up data and you can still add saved locations and notes and have everything in one place on your phone.

magsrose Thank you for your kind words. Yes I had to cancel the trip, but I am hoping to be able to do it next year.:tu:

I only recently discovered that I could plot my driving route on Google maps, and then save it to my phone. This is a wonderful feature in Google maps, and as you say, one can download it and use it offline, thus not using any data at all..

jpie Thank you. I did buy Michelin paper maps for this trip, because firstly I am used to navigating using paper maps (took a 4 week road trip around Spain in 2003, before GPS, and relied solely on paper maps), and secondly, I was concerned that data reception might be patchy in some areas. However, I only very recently (like 2 weeks before departure) discovered I could save Google routes to my phone and download these to use offline. This is indeed a very useful tool for road trips!

geetika Thank you! Yes, my knee is swollen, inflammed and painful. MRI shows loose bodies in the joint and when these get lodged in certain places, my knee locks up and the pain is quite bad. Originally surgery was planned for the 19th, but I decided to go for conservative means first mainly because my muscles are atrophied, and also because at my age the blood supply to the joint, and in particular to the meniscii, is not good. So doing intensive physio to hope build up muscles at the very least so that if I do need surgery, be it repairs or partial or total replacement, my recovery will be a better one.

Best wishes for a swift recovery BooFit, my mother suffered from a torn meniscus several times and I have seen firsthand how it can incapacitate you. Take care and get well soon 👍