I went on a short trip today. I wanted to see how much CR/hour I could make exploring, without relying on the Road2Riches website. I must say, the trip is a lot more fun this way, but I estimate but a meagre 8-15% of the CR/hour I could generate using Road2Riches.

I initially plotted a course to WREGEIA WO-Z D13-76, then at ~500LY from the bubble I started going up a couple hundred LY, to get more new discoveries. I assumed (probably rightly so) commanders fly and plan their routes along the 'horizontal' plane far more than they do vertically. I then continued onwards a couple hundred LY, deviated a bit and finally reached the Eight Burst Nebula @ CD-39 6137. Realizing I would already have enough funds to sponsor pilgrimage requirements if I used the Road2Riches website to go back into the bubble, I plotted the following course back after loitering around the nebula a bit.

After a great and long distraction caused by the 'Raxxla thread' on the frontier forums, I regained my senses and realized my priorities. Preparations for the Great Pilgrimage. There's still a frac-ton of raw materials, components and data I need for engineering, tech broker and synthesis requirements. I want a good supply of higher-end synthesis charges before I embark on the Great Pilgrimage, so I don't have to waste time during. I also need to unlock and upgrade mods to satisfy the 'Asp - 65LY Shuffle' build. The aim is to be self-sufficient and focused during my travels to make bank.

blueprint only = bold

synthesis only = italic

tech broker blueprint unlock = normal

MATS

• Arsenic x 8
• Chromium x 16
• Molybdenum x 28
• Polonium x 20
• Selenium x 25
• Technetium x 15
• Tungsten x 2
• Vanadium x 81
• Yttrium x 14
• Zincx 9
• Zirconium x 18

COMPONENTS

• Basic Conductors x 43
• Chemical Manipulators x 1
• Conductive Ceramics x 76
• Energy Grid Assembly x 10
• Focus Crystals x 24
• Grid Resistors x 2
• Guardian Module Blueprint Segment x 3
• Guardian Power Cell x 45
• Guardian Power Conduit x 46
• Guardian Technology Component x 21
• HN Shock Mount x 8
• Heatsink Interlink x 6
• Heat Conduction Wiring x 43
• Heat Exchangers x 33
• Heat Resistant Ceramics x 15
• Military Grade Alloys x 5
• Pharmaceutical Isolators x 5
• Phase Alloys x 18
• Polymer Capacitors x 2
• Proto Heat Radiators x 8
• Proto Light Alloys x 77
• Proto Radiolic Alloys x 75

DATA

• Abnormal Compact Emissions Data x 5
• Cracked Industrial Firmware x 5
• Datamined Wake Exceptions x 2
• Pattern Alpha Obelisk Data x 20
• Pattern Epsilon Obelisk Data x 21
• Security Firmware Patch x 1

These are the colors I'll be using on my massive pilgrimage. They radiate tranquility and confidence. If you like them, consider changing the file _C:\Users\AppData\Local\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Graphics\GraphicsConfigurationOverride.xml to:

https://pastebin.com/azzhxKTT

The Great Pilgrimage

edit: Note that this is an older version of the Pilgrimage. The up to date route is available here.

I've planned a profitable 80-waypoint solo research pilgrimage, in spiral fashion towards the galactic core, with an estimated 10,000 body-scans along the way. If the pilgrimage is successfully completed and the data delivered, it should net me a couple billion credits, elite exploration status, some reputation in the exploration and/or EDSM+EGO communities, plenty of new research for the different factions and dozens of improved relations with the factions.

Uncertainty

Unfortunately, since the journey will span over many months and many sectors, I can't fully rely on the planned waypoints or routes. Things can change! Permits can arise, accidental fuel shortage can happen and other sudden security risks or dangers may pop up. The worst thing that could happen, aside from a destroyed ship, is getting stuck somewhere and having to reroute through a greater number of systems.

I've therefore decided to aim for a build with surplus range, a big enough fuel tank and the means to be self-sufficient during travels.

Preparations

Having compiled the list of waypoints (classified until explored) and made projections of the routes between them, I've ascertained that I will be travelling for a total of 440 hours. Since I won't be travelling 4 hours daily, I estimate this pilgrimage will have a duration of a full Earth year. I should prioritize self-sufficiency, speed and range above all else. There's no room for offensive or defensive modules. I will have to trust that any contacts made during my travels will be peaceful, since I won't have cargo other than materials locked in their special compartments and I'm purely a research vessel.

In order to fit my ship, it appears I have plenty of work to do with engineers Farseer and Cheung guardian tech brokers to get guardian tech. I just hope this doesn't take a year of preparations too...

• Unlock Guardian Frame Shift Drive Booster by collecting (1x Guardian Module Blueprint Segment, 21x Guardian Power Cell, 21x Guardian Technology Component, 24x Focus Crystals, 8x HN Shock Mount) and handing the items over to one of the tech brokers @ Shinrarta Dezhra, EZ Aquarii, LHS 20 or LTT1349
• Get the rank 5 Long Range Detailed Surface Scanner modification by seducing one of the engineers and supplying him/her with (1 x Abnormal Compact Emissions Data, 1 x Niobium, 1 x Polymer Capacitors)
• Get the rank 5 Increased Range FSD modification and the Mass Manager experimental mod as well (5x Disrupted Wake Echoes, 3x Galvanising Alloys, 1x Hyperspace Trajectories, 1x Datamined Wake Exceptions, 1x Chemical Manipulators, 1x Arsenic)
• Try to farm close to a full hold of materials so you can synthesize premium SRV fuel/repair, AFM/heatsink ammo and FSD injections on the fly for a long while, reducing potential risk during landing/take-off needed for gathering during the pilgrimage.

Synthesis mats

SRV REPAIR

• 2 Vanadium - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 2183K)
• 2 Chromium - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 2180K)
• 1 Zinc - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 692K)
• 1 Tungsten - standard, asteroids and planets (melting: 3695K)
• 1 Tellurium - rare, planets (melting: 722K)

SRV PREMIUM FUEL

• 1 Sulphur - very common, asteroids and planets (melting: 338K)
• 1 Arsenic - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 887K)
• 1 Mercury - standard, planets (melting: 234K)
• 1 Technetium - rare, planets (melting: 2430K)

FSD INJECTION

• 3 Niobium - standard, asteroids and planets (melting: 2750K)
• 1 Arsenic - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 887K)
• 1 Polonium - rare, planets (melting: 527K)
• 1 Yttrium - rare, planets (melting: 1799K)

AFM REFILL

• 6 Vanadium - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 2183K)
• 4 Chromium - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 2180K)
• 2 Zinc - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 692K)
• 2 Zirconium - common, asteroids and planets (melting: 2128K)
• 1 Ruthenium - rare, planets (melting: 2607K)
• 1 Tellurium - rare, planets (melting: 722K)

Afterthought

• Experiment with neutron stars, white dwarfs, FSD injection and synthesis material collection in a throwaway ship.
• Find out if changing ships keeps the exploration data safe in stored ship or if it is transferred to the active ship and still at risk.