"About Our Maps"
I get asked a lot: "Which came first,
the website, the definition of a River Rat, or our maps?" The website
was first, the definition was second, and the maps came last. For those
familiar with the local area, Mr. Weedy
at Head of Island, LA is the guy that challenged me to make a map. At the
time, he had Head of Island Grocery,
which is now Weedy's Sports Bar and Grill {cool place}. So, if it were not
for Mr. Weedy, my map making style
might never had started......so blame him!
From the beginning, I'd like to think my
style of making maps was different. I have an ex-wife and numerous
former girlfriends that are FAST to say that I am not all that smart. I
got confused on our waterways, as do
many others. I'd know how to get to a place by water, but not by road (and
vice versa). I could easily get turned
around and "temporarily disoriented".
I wanted my maps to be like those they give
you when you go into .......Disney Land. You can easily get around
and find where everything was. From the beginning, that is what I wanted
for our waterways. I am not knocking other
maps and navigational charts. I buy (and collect) them all and use them
for references. I hoped our maps would be a snap
shot photograph of our waterways at that time (kind of like a high school year
book of sorts). There are lots of other maps,
generic in nature. They show the waterways, but not where to eat, launch
your boat, live music, get gas, etc. I can easily
see a huge change from my first map to what things are now.
Regrettably, my maps have never taken off
like I would like. Mainly, because it is just me. No big marketing
program.
No big budget for advertising. No big hype and no big deal. "Just
Me" and "Just Us" (the people that visit the site).
So, here I go, sharing some of my thoughts about all of our maps.
P.S. A very, very
sincere "Thank You" to all those that have advertised on all the previous maps.
Sounds like a cliché' to say
"I couldn't have done it without them"....but it's true. Their advertising
dollars is what funded the project. So, if you like
our maps, please remember to thank those that you see on them. You might
not think so, but it means a lot to them and shows
their advertising dollars were not wasted. Thanks!
1. Lake Maurepas (our
first map)
Released June, 2003
This one started it all. This one was so far back, we are
STILL having trouble locating the image. (Coming Soon). Kind of
embarrassing for me to look at. (Somewhat
like your Mom breaking out your first grade coloring book after you have
finished high school, baby pictures, etc.)
So, for those that collect stuff, here you go. Primitive by today's
standards. Normally my maps have 80 advertising
spots on them. I think maybe we filled up 16 spots on this one. So
low budget we couldn't afford do it in full color.
(Images Coming Soon)
2. Lake Maurepas (includes Tickfaw) Released October. 2003
Lake Maurepas with an expanded view of Tickfaw River. Well, at least we
filled this one up with all advertising blocks
sold. Somewhat of an improvement over our first map attempt. This
map showed folks on both sides of Lake Maurepas
what was available on the other side. Horrible timing releasing this map
(October, when boating season was over).
My first map that Crazy Charlie was on (and he was a big help), as was "Shot"
Watkins.
3. Pre-Hurricane Katrina Map of Lake Pontchartrain Released April, 2005
Our pre-Hurricane Katrina map of Lake
Pontchartrain. The reverse side has a downscaled view of Lake Maurepas.
Our
first map in full color. However, we had a color shift (using parchment
map colored paper). The blue water was NOT
as blue as we wanted (color shift). Started making some friends and had a
lot of help: The Coast Guard, LA Dept of
W & F, 5 parish Sheriff's Offices River Patrols, and many more. Started
using GPS (at the urging of my friends with
West Marine (Baton Rouge). Lots and lots of useful boater's information on
this one and the start of things to come.
The goal for my second map was so people on the Tickfaw would know what is on
the other side of Lake Maurpeas. The goal
of this map was for folks on Lake Pontchartrain to know what we had on Lake
Maurepas and tributaries (and vice-versa).
I had HUGE expectations for this map and was (perhaps) my slowest seller.
The marketing wall that I have continued to
hit again, again, and again. I am (to this day) very proud of this map.
We lost so many places around Lake Pontchartrain
after Hurricane Katrina and this map is one of the few public records showing
they ever existed (i.e. Vera's Rat Nest, Slidell,
The Chicken Drop, Jaeger's, Glockner's, Campy's, and so many others).
......gone forever.
We pay tribute to these places on our
first ever map of Lake Maurepas / Lake Pontchartrain in 2010. We also
remember
my friend, "Crazy Charlie." Watch for this map.
4. False River / Old River Released July, 2005
By now, I hope you notice ALL OF OUR MAPS
have two sides (where nobody else's do). It was my friends at
West Marine that suggested I try a map of False River. On my own, I
decided to add Old River to the other side.
Lots of history with this one. This was the most fun map I had made (to
date). The first map I did on a satin kind
of glossy paper. Also, not available in a folded version. We
remembered places on False River that are now gone
and how False River has changed. I remember an old timer telling me that
if you drank a beer at ever stop around
False River (back in he day) you would have almost finished a case. He
said that today, you'd hardly bust a six pack!
Another map that I thought would do much better than it did. Still, no
regrets. As with all of my maps, I had a blast
making them and also made a lot of new friends.
5. Lake Maurepas Useful Boater's Map Released June 2007
My son, Jonathan, passed away in 2006.
This map was dedicated to him, as all of maps have been since then.
I had said this would be my last map. I think a lot of that was guilt that
I stayed busy making maps and wished
I had spent more time with him. Crazy Charlie was the one that told me I
can't look at it that way. He told me
Jonathan was on the other side, watching me, and wanting me to have fun.
Charlie said that I was getting improving
at making maps and I should keep doing it, especially if it made me happy.
People have noticed, that since dedicating my
maps to Jonathan, that all of my future maps went to another level (much
better). This is my best selling map, by far.
Not bragging, but it has out sold all of my other maps COMBINED.
6. 911 EMS Responders Version
(I provide this map FREE to those that look out for
us on the water).
The Coast Guard, La. Dept. of W & F, All Parish
Sheriffs Office River Patrols, EMS Units, 911 Centers, etc.
If you are a member of one of these organizations and
do not have this map, contact me at
rob@riverratrob.com
7. Our First-Ever Double-Sided Satellite Map. (A LOT of people still haven't seen this one, yet!)
One side is our first-ever
attempt at satellite mapping (Lake Maurepas). It shows all of the places
on
the water in 2008! This map differs from the Useful Boaters Map of 2007 in
that it does not show idle
zones, parish lines, distances, etc. Satellite mapping is looking at
things in a totally different perspective,
similar to aerial photography. Beautiful to look at and a REAL attention
getter. (A lot of people STILL do
not even know this map exists), primarily due to my poor marketing skills.
The other side is a first-ever
(we use those words a lot) satellite image of the waterways in south Louisiana
AND south Mississippi. This side gives a perspective about all of the
waterways and their proximity. I bent
over backwards working with Bass Pro on this one; something I will never do
again. I'll just leave it at that.
8. Lake Verret / Belle River / Surrounding Waterways
Lake Verret, Belle River, etc.,
Now, this was a fun map to make. The two maps I have enjoyed making
the most would be this map and the False River / Old River Map. If you are
not from the area, this is
a difficult area (at best) to learn. Super easy to get lost, REALLY LOST!
What can I say? Great people
and not as busy as the Lake Maurepas / Diversion Canal area. I predict a
housing explosion will occur down
there, when the economy picks back up. If you have never been to this area
and would like to see something
new and cool and different, give it a try.
Our new maps we are busy working on for 2010! Saving the best for last.
A first-ever map of Lake
Maurepas AND Lake Pontchartrain. One side is a beautiful satellite image
and the other side is a useful boaters map showing everything for
both lakes. (and yes, we included
a latitude / longitude grid on the useful boaters side!
Contact us at rob@riverratrob.com if you'd like to advertise and help sponsor this project!
Our second project is a map of the most
used part of The Atchafalaya Spillway. The same format as our
Lake Maurepas / lake Pontchartrain Map. One side is a cool satellite image
and the other side is a useful
boater's map. This the area east and north of Lake Verret / Lake Palourde
expanded.
(you can see these lakes on the lower right edge of the map).
