Check your default setting on your GPS; important driving tip

Is your GPS on its default setting? An important driving tip is to set your GPS for the area you're visiting. You could get lost like the driver in the story below.

Our bed and breakfast is 8 km (almost 5 miles) from the major highway, New Brunswick #11. Many guests now use GPS. When entering the coordinates of our location (lat.47.8652. long._65.77) it's also important to select the setting called "main roads" or "paved roads".

GPS devices often use a default setting like "use all roads". That may be sensible in metropolitan areas. In New Brunswick a GPS setting like "use paved roads" makes more sense. The story, published across Canada, of a medical student driving from Montreal, QC to Bathurst, NB shows this.

Somehow the student missed all four exits to Bathurst. The GPS directed to turn onto an old mining or logging road. The car got stuck in heavy snow. The driver was lost in woods near Miramichi with no cell phone signal, lots of snow and beautiful views.

Fortunately she had food, bedding and a positive attitude. Very fortunately the road is used as a snowmobile trail. Snowmobilers discovered her on the third day. While we're happy for her and her family we want to be sure our guests avoid that adventure.

And so adjust the settings on your GPS to suit where you're driving. Driving a car, especially in a snowy winter, means being prepared: warmth, food, light and GPS settings.  If you have any questions about how to find us on the ocean shore of the Bay of Chaleur simply use our toll-free 1.877.783.3122 or e-mail Barbara@relaxseaside.com.