A decent area map also shows points of interest and gives information
We all have our own ways of doing things but using today's tech I find that no paper map can replicate this,
1. Pick a start point and destination, say Calais to Dubrovnik.
2 Make a router in Basecamp.
3. Check the route and tweak it to places you may wish to ride through.
4. Right click the route and fly it in Google Earth
5. When Google Earth opens select the "path" your route has produced and press the play button. There is a route slider that your can use to by pass the boring bits at the start, then you have a wonderful view of Europe from the air along your route.
6. See something off route that looks interesting. Pause and have a look, Google the place name, check Flikr, Panoramio, etc. and if it looks good change route accordingly.
7. Need a hotel? Pick a likely area and check POIs. Maybe use Booking.com to find and book. Need a campsite. Have a look at Archies super database of POIs. It has never let us down.
Last year a fly of our route section to Slovenia showed "something" in the mountains on Slovenia/Austria border over to one side of the route. Investigation showed this to be a chapel built by Russian prisoners who died building the road in the first world war. It also found Vrisic Pass leading into the Triglav National Park. Probably the best mountain pass I have ridden for years and I had never heard of it.
PS Many moons back when I completed my mountain leader training I was required to navigate to a blank area of wild country (i.e. no viable feature) using a 1:50000 OS map and compass to the nearest 10 metres. For years I have spent winter evenings with these maps visualising landscape and planning routes. These days for me software such as Memory Map, Basecamp, Google Earth on my 27" iMac do the job so much better. When travelling my MacBook Air takes top less space in a pannier than a stack of Lonely Planet guides and assorted maps and provides music, email, web and so much more.
