[Paddlewise] eTrex

I bought the Garmin eTrex GPS over the weekend and
really like it.  One question for those of you using
it....Is the data cable really useful for anything? 
Yes, I know that I would need it to download the new
software from Garmin, and that I could use it to
download waypoints from the Mapsource CDs.    

I understand the data cable's necessity with a GPS
with map capabilities, but don't see a real compelling
use with the eTrex. Am I missing something?  I figure
I can just manually enter in waypoints when I'm
actually there, or from the long/lat numbers from a
website like http://www.maptech.com/.  Are there other
sources of (free)data out there that would make it
worthwhile?  

On a paddling note, I took a paddling skills class
last weekend, and I learned a lot.  Bob Denton (whom I
had the pleasure of paddling with a couple of weeks
ago) will be happy to know that I put the paddle float
he recommended to good use and can now pretty easily
do a paddlefloat self rescue.

As we were finishing the paddle and heading to the
boat ramp, Bob suggested I try my first wet exit to
see if I could get back in the boat.  I had a hand
pump but no paddle float. After many ugly attempts I
finally made it back into the boat.  I'm not sure if
the cheers from the kids on the boat ramp were for me,
or Bob's numerous rolls.    

Steve
West Palm Beach, Florida

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