[Eugene Volokh, April 7, 2007 at 4:03pm] Trackbacks
Google Directions:

Go to Google Directions, and enter in the boxes Boston and London. Thanks to Haym Hirsh for the pointer.

Federal Dog:
That's why Long Wharf is always so busy.
4.7.2007 5:11pm
Le Messurier (mail):
If I were going to London, I'd take the more direct route and swim right up the Thames rather than going ashore at Le Havre. Much easier (and quicker too.
4.7.2007 5:15pm
Mithras The Prophet (mail) (www):
Boston and London? Surely you mean New York and Paris. Philistines. :)
4.7.2007 6:25pm
R Gould-Saltman (mail):
Oddly enough, while they have you swim to France, they seem to think you can drive across the Channel. . .
4.7.2007 6:33pm
Bill Poser (mail) (www):
How come it won't provide directions from San Francisco to Hong Kong?
4.7.2007 6:34pm
tjvm:
Direct link here: Link
4.7.2007 7:33pm
Sasha Volokh (mail) (www):
But remember how to travel across Norway: link.
4.7.2007 7:48pm
Le Messurier (mail):
Note also that the 3722 miles from Boston to London will take "about" 29 days and 6 hours. Now that's fast swimming. I calculate 5 and a 3rd mph. Not bad.
4.7.2007 8:05pm
Dave Wangen (mail):
"Oddly enough, while they have you swim to France, they seem to think you can drive across the Channel. . ."

I'm pretty sure that's a Ferry, actually.
4.7.2007 9:03pm
triticale (mail) (www):
Norway to Belgium, by driving thru Milwaukee.
4.7.2007 9:05pm
Truth Seeker:
"Oddly enough, while they have you swim to France, they seem to think you can drive across the Channel. . ."

I'm pretty sure that's a Ferry, actually.

Or the Chunnel?
4.7.2007 9:48pm
DaSarge (mail):
It's much the same when you type in "Boston, Lincolnshire" and "London, Ontario." The direct route is, of course, down the M5 to Lands' End in Cornwall.

So, why would the "directions" include a long detour in the wrong direction? To France? Hmmm. Methinks it was woman that wrote the directions.

By the way, did you notice that a main drag in Boston, Lincs is "John Adams Way?"
4.7.2007 10:44pm
DaSarge (mail):
Ah, the perfidious French!! It struck me that the transatlantic route followed that of the old ocean liners. However, when I put in "New York" and "Southhamption, UK," I was still routed through Le Havre.

Methinks it was a French woman, formerly employed by zee French Line, that drafted the "dierctions."

Try "Truro, Cornwall" &"St. John's." very entertaining.
4.7.2007 10:56pm
Bob Leibowitz (mail) (www):
Eugene -- Since it also performs Los Angeles to London, but not Honolulu to LAX, you should run a contest for the longest Google "drive" between only two points. I'd run it at www.Canticle4Leibowitz.com, but you will have a somewhat larger grouping! -- Bob
4.7.2007 11:32pm
Hobsonphile:
I got it to give me directions from Anchorage to London. Total mileage: 8,000 +

*is amused*
4.8.2007 2:32am
Robbie:
Methinks I've found just about as far as it goes: From Unalaska, Alaska (billed on its Web site as the 11th largest city in Alaska!), to Moscow: 11,071 miles, more than 35 days.

Ah, the things to do when I should be asleep before church in the morning...
4.8.2007 5:03am
vasi:
I can do you one better: Unalaska to Tashanta, Russia, 13,727 miles.
4.8.2007 5:47am
Helen (mail):
This is amusing only if similar map-based determinations of distance aren't constantly causing you frustration. Try entering "Clinton CT" and "Greenport NY." Yes, there's a ferry from New London, but it runs only once a day, and is expensive. However, Greenport is, technically, less than 20 miles away, even if it's convenient only if you're a fish. Nonetheless, I'm constantly having out-of-network medical claims denied because there is an in-network specialist at the hospital in Greenport.
4.8.2007 12:38pm
Barbara Skolaut (mail):
They're kidding, right?

Right?

Ye gods.
4.8.2007 9:49pm
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4.9.2007 3:01am