KML to GPS

The Sea Otter Classic is a big bike event in California. I wanted to preride the mountain bike course. In partnership with Motion Based they have cool maps and a Google Earth downloadable KMZ file so you can see the route in Google Earth. Here's the steps I took to get that data into my GPS so I could follow the route easily.

• Download the KMZ
• Load it into Google Earth
• Save as KML
• Use this KML to GPX converter to get some GPX (do it online or download the java app). I did mine online.
• Now use gpsbabel to convert this into something smaller.
  
  gpsbabel -r -i gpx -f MTB\ XC.gpx -x simplify,count=50 -o kml -F sml.kml
• Load that into Google Earth, does it look o.k.? Tweak values until it does, then export to your GPS device (mine's a Garmin Fore Trex 201)
  
  gpsbabel -r -i gpx -f MTB\ XC.gpx -x simplify,count=50 -o garmin -F /dev/cu.KeySerial1
• Now it should show up as a route on your GPS device.

I'm still bringing a printed MAP just in case!