Greetings travellers.
With the introduction of portals, traveling afar has become easy, yet I’m inspired by our resident CSFD member @zsigmond, who among others has warped off; not just across the galaxy but through several more beyond, in his quest to see what’s out there.
Inspiration is a powerful force and I’ve decided I too will now warp-travel as a retired traveller should, although not so grand an enterprise.
I intend to use the Pilgrim Star Path plotter and indeed become a pilgrim of the famed planet for no other reason than it is a destination. Long distance warping is a bit old fashioned in this time of portals but what’s the destination without the adventurous journey to get there? At least I don’t have a caravan on the back 
With zero experience using the PSP plotter, this will indeed be an adventure.
Later on, once a location for a ETARC HUB is decided on, I may use this method to head there…
GOT TO START SOMEWHERE…
My current location is in the middle of Alpha Quadrant, a very long way from my home-base over on the far side of Beta Quadrant.
However, on a galactic scale, I’m not actually too far from the Pilgrim Star.
This odd positioning is due to black hole interactions. I teleport home for harvests and to use my local portal.
GETTING EQUIPPED TO GO THE DISTANCE.
I’ll be travelling using an S-class freighter: The Brazen Pioneer.
Although not fully equipped yet, it has a good range, giving me an optimum range of just under 1000ly per warp-cell.
Cargo space is mainly utilised for product manufacture and warp-cell storage. There are ten additional storage containers on board, containing bulk samples of most required resources.
In the docking bay there are six starships, each modified to make the most of its useability
A red split-wing S-class (named Scorcher), is my main exploration vehicle and is equipped for in-system travel and light warfare.
A white tall-wing S-class (named Apostle), is set up mainly for local and interstellar runs, exploring & also to accompany me on teleport jaunts home for harvests, (because it looks cool parked outside 
).
I prefer the S-class ships for exploration as they have the best side vision.
There are two unmodified A-class 48 bay haulers; one for for transporting trade goods…
and the other for fuel collection and storage.
For home defence and pirate hunting, I have a red A-class fighter, heavily equipped for combat with a large storage capacity carrying extra shielding for in-flight combat maintenance.
Lastly, is a medium-sized, A class explorer craft with asymmetrical vertical wings that I’ve had for a long time. It is equipped as an all-rounder and has on-board the makings of exocraft geobays. Should I plan on setting up and using an exocraft, then this is my go-to craft.
At a personal level, my multitool is a mix of all techs all recently rearranged to make the most out of each bonus. My suit is a similar story and setup to make the most out of bonuses. At present, individual biome shielding is not equipped but can be added if I feel the need. Like everything there is always room for improvement and adjustments.
And that’s it. that’s my equipment (which is a lot more than when NMS first arrived).
Time to set off.
THE PLAN.
At each warp-cycle conclusion, when the freighter requires refuelling, (at an optimum point 4500-5000LY from starting point), I’ll explore and do some detailed recon and missions to break up the journey. I’ll also return via teleporter to conduct harvests at home and possibly use my local portal.
Then I’ll set off again. If things go to plan and I don’t end up 10’s of 1000s of light years off course, I should make it in about 120 jumps.
With no time-period to use as a guide, these instalments will simply be an accounting of finds, progress and events as they happen (with some theories thrown in).
Won’t be a story; just a record for the ETARC Citizen Scientists Division.
Those so inclined, can check progress via the excellent Pilgrim Star Path app.
https://pahefu.github.io/pilgrimstarpath/
Using the Custom Destinations option, you can input multiple coordinates as I post them and follow progress; (it is tiny but with multiple points you can see progression, which is kinda cool).
Watch this space…
