The Joy of Algorithms.

[rhythmaning]

I've just asked Google the distance from the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of the Scottish mainland.

Google tells me it is 803 miles, which I believe, and that it would take me 11 days to walk it, which I don't.

I think Google would have me walking 24 hours a day, at 3 miles an hour.

This shows how poorly Google knows me. My average walking speed is over for miles an hour...

(I have no intention of walking the length on mainland Britain, but was curious to see the distance. I've been reading about Richard Long, who walked thirty three miles a day for thirty three days from Lizard to Dunnet Head, a distance of 1089 miles. Presumably he didn't have Google to pick the shorter route for him. I doubt I could manage thirty three miles a day; I reckon 25 might be doable, at 3mph, perhaps. Over a month. )

Comments

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I think it would take me about 55 days.

Around town I can probably walk at 4 miles an hour. I don't know. I don't think I've measured my pace. I'm not sure I could keep up that pace 8 hours a day straight. I'd envisage a more leisurely strolling pace of 3 miles an hour for six hours a day. 8 -11am then 2-5pm. I'd probably find I could do better than this but I wouldn't want to break myself. That works out as 45 days of walkking. I'd also build in ten rest days. For resting or sight seeing.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I only know my pace because of the marathon training I did in the spring. I can get up to 5mph, but generally - when I'm not rushing - 4. And I think I could keep it up for eight hours. Though yes, I reckon 3mph is more reasonable.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'd like my dinner and a nice pint to be dependent on keeping up 4 mph.

Nor for that matter would I like the decision about whether to have a third pint to depend on having to keep up 4 mph the morning after.

I'm also a bit sceptical about the ability of my own body to keep up a faster pace for longer.

By checking googlemaps I see that my walking pace on the way to work is 3.176 miles per hour and I think I could keep that up for some time. That's over pretty flat ground with good going but does involve stopping for traffic lights.