After making the best part of cr 50M mining Low Temperature Diamonds, I decided to bite the bullet and go after the last few percent needed to reach Elite Explorer Rank. I'm currently Pioneer 96%.

I used the EDSM Route Planner, which generates a list of way points about 1,000ly apart, to set course for Colonia. I may have to take a detour to get away from the most popular route, which is probably a fairly straight line between the Bubble and the far flung outpost. I've set my first way point to Bleia Eohn YE-S b10-0 which is just under 2,000ly from my home system. I'm also going to use the links provided by outposts along the Colonia Connection Highway

When plotting a long journey, I try to avoid using any route filters on the Galaxy Map. However, I'm having an issue where it will plot a route where the first fuel star is also the last. It means I have to keep replotting or use the OBAFGKM filter, which means you miss any unusual stars. I'm currently experimenting with alternating between the two.

I scan each system I pass through and map the following:

• All Earth Like World's.
• All Ammonia World's.
• All Water World's.
• Convenient High Metal Content World's.

I made it out to the first of the waypoints I have stored from an article I read about getting to Colonia, Blu Thua AI-A c14-10 Blu Thua AI-A c14-10 - Hillary Depot where I sold my data. It forms part of the Colonia Connection Highway. It was another reasonable haul of new systems discovered was followed by Jonking all the way back to my home system - 37 jumps without Neutron boosting if I remember correctly. Just doing that gained me around cr6M and my Exploration Rank is edging ever closer to Elite.

I'm not sure about Neutron boosting. On one hand it does quadruple the jump range to over 200ly, but searching for the systems to jump to manually takes time, so I'm not sure how much time it saves. Especially so when you add in the repair time to the FSD every few jumps.

Checking Neutron Plotter gives the following results on a route to Colonia.

• Neutron Plotter: 153 Jumps set at 61% efficiency. 124 routes to set.
• Galaxy Plotter : 183 Jumps with Neutron boosting (4hrs). 417 Jumps without (9hrs).
• EDSM Waypoints: 25 waypoints at a little under 1,000ly each. 20 jumps per waypoint = ~500 jumps.
• CCH : 19 waypoints with various ports along the way.

I took my first boost from the jet of a Neutron Star today. One of the closest to my home system is Beta Sculptoris which is the second star in the system, so I had to line up the approach. All went well, but to make sure I didn't have a big insurance bill if things went badly. I took the Hauler The Mighty Hex rather than my Krait Phantom Exp Twenty Three.

Update: I've been having a wander around a little way outside the Bubble, trying a few Neutron Boosted jumps. I've done three more in Exp Twenty Three and I've landed for the night on a planet in Praea Euq CC-C d13-2

Note: When I first posted this, I searched for Praea Euq CC-C d13-2 several times without success. Today it's there and was apparently discovered sometime ago. Strange..!

I reached "Elite" as a Trader on Monday evening, thanks in part tl doing a fair bit of mining and also that brief window where I was filling a Type 9 with Tritium at 4,000t and selling it 3 jumps away for 44,000t! As I only got my Pilots Licence on 6th July this year, I was quite nice to get the email confirmation.

I've also collected enough ARX to buy a name plate set as I like my ships to proudly display their names. I might have to go back out exploring as I interrupted my last trip to gain rank.

The Expedition That Wasn't Report.

I always seem to be hit by wander lust on a Sunday, so I've set off out into the Black yet again. I imagine it will only be a short trip as I also noticed that I am close to gaining Elite Rank in Trading. I'm guessing doing a lot of Mining has helped as that always gains 100% profit, no matter what price you sell the commodities for.

I've started out in the general direction I went on the Bunny Head Expedition as there were loads of previously undiscovered systems on that route. I've selected "non-visited stars" as the route plotting condition, so I should pick up those close to my previous trip. I've already found a couple of new systems and I'm only around 50 jumps from home. Of course, I'm hoping that a good payout for Data when I get back will also help my Trade Rank.

I've discovered a couple of Water Worlds and Ammonia Planets on this trip. I even came across a Planetary Binary with a Water World and HMC planet. Once again I'm sticking to my house rule and not taking a break from piloting unless I've landed on a planet.

Update I had a change of heart and as I was only 57 jumps out from home, I decided to return and carry on mining until I get my first Elite Rank. I also spent the ARX I have collected on the Practical Name Plates, so I can now proudly display my ship names on their hull.

• Furthest System Reached: Bleia Eohn CD-C b32-2
• Distance from Home: 2,282.59 ly

Now I'm back at my home Station, I've been trying out my two different Mining Ships. I have a Python and Anaconda, both fitted out for mining. Obviously, I don't need both, but I eventually plan to refit the Anaconda as a long term exploration vessel.

I discovered today that the Anaconda build is missing the charges to split open astroid fissures. I might be able to upgrade and use a single mining laser so I don't loose another weapon hard point to mining equipment. The defensive ability is the main difference between the two ships, although having 9 rather than 6 collector limpets does speed things up. I could also swap out the extra controller for a Fighter Hanger for even more.

Bunny Head Expedition Report.

I reached my goal of a little over 5,000ly from my start system of Dromi today and jonked all the way back home again. The furthest point from Eravate was Bleia Dryiae CD-I d10-29

On my return, I took the Exploration Data 5 jumps further on, into Imperial space. Seeking all ~60M credits worth took me all the way up to Ally in one go, so I should be able to get some better missions when I want to gain rank with the Empire.

Looking at the pattern made by my route on the Galactic Map, the "Bunny Head - Get 5,000ly From Dromi Expedition". I may revisit the area around the furthest point as I went many jumps between previously discovered system's.

In all I discovered just two ELW, both never visited before, as well as about a dozen water worlds, a few less Ammonia World's, a stack of High Metal Content and far too many Icy Bodies!

• Furthest Distance From Home: 5,136.86ly
• Number of Jumps: Start: 1310 / Total: 1577 Journey: 267 jumps
• Start Distance Travelled: 59,033.44ly / Final Distance Travelled: 72,739.00ly Journey: 13,705.56ly *
• Average Distance Per Jump: 51.33

*When I first posted this, the distances didn't add up. The total distance traveled - start distance = a little over 5,000ly, which was obviously wrong. However, I had EDSM set to not report new systems discovered until after I'd docked and so that may have accounted for the difference.

Having turned towards the Core, I've now made it as far as Droju KB-O C22-0 with the goal of getting 5,000ly from the start system.

I've had one near miss after missing the breaking point when approaching a planet I wanted to map. In an attempt to slow down as quickly as possible, I passed the planet with too little room to spare, which caused an emergency drop out. Ships Hull is 98% and modules are all either 98% or 99%.

Distance from Home 3,787ly Number of jumps: 1,424 (start 1310) Journey = 114

I've made my way across to Bleae This IK-I C9-26 and the total number of jumps stands at 1385. I've found a fairly good number of Water World's and High Metal Content planets, but no Earth Like Planets.

I'm going to turn towards the Galactic Centre for the next leg of the journey as I would like to reach a distance of 5,000 before heading back to the Bubble.

Distance from Home: 1,917.49ly Number of Jumps: 1385 (Start 1310) Journey = 75)

After spending the weekend testing out my Anaconda Mining ship in a "Common" reserve LTD hotspot (and doing rather well), I feel it's time to go exploring again. I might see if I can get 5,000 from my start position which grants access to another Engineer.

My EDSM jump count before leaving stood at 1,310 so I can see how many jumps I make on this expedition. Maximum distance from starting point is currently 3,785ly. I didn't check my total distance jumped, but after this first ~450-500ly leg, it's 59,502.00ly*. I'll have to see what this trip brings before thinking of a name. I opened up the Galaxy Map and plotted a route in the general direction of the Pipe Stem & Pipe Bowl dust clouds and at a shallow angle down through the Galactic plane. I didn't get far outside the Bubble tonight as I'd already done a fairly long mining session and so, I have yet to find any undiscovered systems. Once I do, I think I'll switch over to "Economy Travel" for a while on the grounds that there may be other unclaimed systems close by.

First night spent on a tiny rocky inner world with a Gravity of 0.1g. Very bumpy though as it was hard to find a place to land even in the !medium sized Krait Phantom. It makes me wonder about the viability of an Anaconda explorer, despite the huge possible jump range after Engineering and Guardian Boost. Stopped in system Scorpius Dark Region FQ-Y C35

All these trips are starting to take their toll on Exp Twenty Three's paint work! I also want to check the estimated value of the data I collect along the way with the actual amount I receive on my return. I wish it would keep a count of how many Ice World's I've seen - must be thousands already!

*I've since used Galaxy Plotter to work out I'm 468.56ly from home. 59,502-468.56= 59033.44ly at the start of the Expedition.