I posted something similar to this in the thread about computer solutions to the Traveling Salesman problem. If you don't know, the Traveling Salesman problem is about finding the "least miles" route that connects various given destinations. It's analogous to rally route planning.
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Uncle Hud posted: <snipped> I have my own method, based on a strategy Ignacio reveals elsewhere on this site -- or maybe his blog .....
.... and, after much searching,
here is Ignacio's version.
My version, with acknowledgements to
Iggy and Jim Owen:
1) This year, the BMR issued pre-packaged GPX and CSV files of the bonus locations. I use Excel to manipulate and trim the CSV files to bonus locations within my riding range before loading them into Google Maps.
2) Each category of bonus is a separate layer on Google Maps, and each layer has a distinct color/shape. This becomes important as you start to plan a route and need to place an emphasis on the high-point locations.
3) This year, the BMR has time-limited bonus locations, too, so they have their own layer/color/shape.
4a) Look at the map and
select a collection of high-value locations that are geographically close. Using Google's routing algorithm, start at your home and, one by one, add those high-value locations. If a low-value location ends up within a few miles of the high-value route, add it.
4b) After you add each location, check the Google Maps estimate for total miles and travel time on the route.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS, and add at least 15 minutes per bonus stop to take the picture and email it. I also add 30 minutes per 200 miles for gas stops, bathroom, coffee, checking the weather, etc.
5) Now comes the artistic part of route planning: How close is that low-value bonus? You need to understand that stopping for the bonus photo will cost you at least 10 minutes. Add those 10 minutes to the extra travel time needed to get there, and you begin to evaluate whether it's worth 40 minutes and a gallon of gas to bag a 0.76-point bonus.
6) In the past, I built a small spreadsheet with latitude, longitude, bonus code, bonus name, and miles/minutes/ETA from this location to the next location. The last elements are for QC control. If it looks weird, check the Lat/Lon in the paper Bonus Listing that you are carrying in the topbox. (<---- Important.) If you're running behind schedule, you can decide which locations to drop.
7) It really helps to know when the sun sets on each day, because the temps will drop, sometimes quickly and sometimes sharply.
8) This year, I'll probably still use a printed spreadsheet to keep the time windows clipped to my FJR dashboard. For example, I think I'll try to bag both the NC and AL Bubbler Center bonii. They're about 8 hours apart in travel time, and the time windows are about 8 hours apart. If I get significantly off schedule, it would be nice to realize that before riding an extra 2 hours and arriving too late.
9)
KNOW YOUR LIMITS! Go beyond them, and -- at the very least -- you will experience
Hud's Four Elements of Outdoor Discomfort: cold, wet, hungry, and tired.
