Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus utilizes a removeable wheel journaled to one end of an extensible handle. The wheel is provided with a plurality of equally spaced reflectors or protrusions on one lateral surface thereof. A pick up device, mounted to an adjacent end of the handle, sensing the position of each reflector or protrusion, sending a pulse-like signal to a counting device feeding a memory bank. A converting unit operates a digital display unit such that the digital display will signal the number of turns which the wheel takes when moved along, in contact with the surface of the ground contacting the wheel perimeter.