While testing out a self-guided walking tour app for Tokyo the other day, I tested its mapping feature which launches google maps.  I asked for directions to the next attraction on the tour while sitting in my Santa Monica apartment.  Instead of giving me the error message that I expected, Google Maps advised it could not give me walking directions.  But then it gave me 52 iPhone pages of directions from my apartment to the next site in Tokyo and estimated it would take approximately 35 days and 3 hours with traffic for me to reach the next attraction. 

After driving a few days north to Vancouver, on page 14, I was instructed to: “Drive 282 feet then kayak across the Pacific Ocean.”  Once I reached Oahu, there would be a bit more driving until I made a left onto Kalakaua Ave and drove .1 miles.  Once again, I would need to  kayak across the Pacific until I reached Japan.

Apparently, Google Maps isn’t familiar with air travel.  When I tried to get directions from Santa Monica to Singapore in another city walks app, Google Maps said it wasn’t possible.

Google maps’ confidence in my kayaking skills has led me to up the number of bicep and tricep curls I do at the gym so I’ll be ready if someone gives me a kayak and says: “paddle across the Pacific, Tokyo awaits. . .”