rARsh!

A puzzle

Angus, John, Lee, Roy and Stanley are each in what he considers to be an unhappy relationship. Have discussed their situation with an interfering mutual friend, each is now considering splitting from their current co-habitee partner. Each one is approaching the dilemma of how exactly to handle the breakup differently.

One, for example, has decided to take the advice to just slip out, unnoticed, while another will, at least, leave his spare key behind when he depart. One even plans to leave town - by public transport, no doubt.

Each of the men has chosen a unique exit from the shared abode, a unique state of mind in which to make the break, will use a different vehicle type to transport his worldly goods and a different intended destination (either within or outside the current hometown) so that there will be five men, five exits, five moods, five vehicles and five destinations.

Men: Angus, John, Lee, Roy, Stanley
Exits: Front door, back door, window, balcony, chimney
Moods: Happy, sad, angsty, coy, manic
Vehicles: Car, taxi, bus, train, forklift truck
Destinations: Brother’s sofa, YMCA, next town, hotel, mutual “friend”’s place

Taking all this into account, how many ways are there for you to leave your lover?

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Ooh, it was soooo close

So there was less than four miles in it.

Lyle’s prediction was 54.3 miles out but Tall Andy’s just 50.7 miles, so it’s TA who gets Percy the Prediction Puffin.

Hard luck, Lyle. If it’s any consolation, a member of your household has had two of my fish while I’ve been away. Grrrr.

[Edit] That sounds a little harsh. A member of Lyle’s household is the prime suspect behind the untimely passing of two of my goldfish while I’ve been away. Grrrr. [/Edit]

Competition Entries

‘im oop nawth: 2,222 miles
Murph: 2,300 miles
Andy Bantock: 2,375 miles
The Bishop: 2,450 miles
Tall Andy: 2,495 miles
Lyle: 2,600 miles

Anyone else? Leave your guess here.

I love it when a plan comes together

The plan for the Grand Tour are coming together. The plan so far:

10th: Aaalburgh - Lyme Bay

Visit the most easterly point at Lowestoft en route

11th: Lyme Bay - Tintagel

Visit the most southerly point, The Lizard, en route

12th: Tintagel - Torchwood Town

Saves the cost of one night’s overnight accommodation

13th: Torchwood Town - Lancaster

14th: Lake District

In and around the Lake District - if fine, I’ll visit the Ravenglass & Eskdale railway.

15th: Lancaster - Skye

16th: on Skye

Visit the most westerly point, near Milovaig

17th: Skye - Inverness

18th: Inverness and parts North

Up to Dunnet Head (the most northerly point) before returning to Inverness

19th Inverness - Edinburgh

I’ll hopefully get to meet up with the elusive Croila and Wee D - although something will come up to prevent this if previous attempts at a rendezvous are any guide.

20th Edinburgh - York

I like York

21st York - Aaalburgh

There’ll be a pile of washing to do and a fortnight’s blog posts to catch up on on the 22nd before I go back to work on the 23rd.

“Plan” is overstating things a little, I admit, as this schedule will change based on the weather and/or driving conditions. I won’t be pre-booking any accommodation and the locations mentioned are only approximate.

With so much up in the air, then, I feel it’s a perfect opportunity for A COMPETITION.

Your challenge is to guess my mileage for the whole trip. Here’s the overall map.

I’ve told you my approximate route and I can give you the following pointers (the two mileage figures are the shortest and quickest routes according to http://local.live.com):

1. Aaalburgh to Lowestoft is between 37.1 and 45 miles
2. Lowestoft to The Lizard is 411.4 - 424.9 miles
3. The Lizard to Tintagel is 61.6 - 64.4 miles
4. Tintagel to Ravenglass is 401.6 - 405.6 miles
5. Ravenglass to Milovaig is 353.3 - 385.3 miles
6. Milovaig to Dunnet Head is 229.7 - 235.0 miles
7. Dunnet Head to Aaalbugh is 622.1 - 650.5 miles

Excluding my two days’ of pottering around in the Lake District and on Skye, then, my poor Sirion’s going to have its odometer increased by a minimum of 2,100 miles.

There will, of course, be a fabulous prize of some description for the closest estimate. Mileage will start and end outside Aaalburgh Town Hall, as per the map.

Put your guesses in the comments. As I’ll be offline from the 10th to the 21st, entries must be in before I arrive home.