Anyone here using this attractively presented service at
http://www.walkingworld.com/ please?
Although I subscribed a year ago (just renewed), I've only recently
started using it properly. But for both of the two walks I've done
recently my estimates for the actual walking distances were
significantly higher than given:
17th April: Walk ID 537, Bletchingley - Godstone - Brewer Street -
Bletchingley
Estimate given = 5.5; Actual measured = 7.5 = +36%
1st April: Walk ID: 3160, Groombridge - Gillridge - Harrison's Rocks
Estimate given = 8.0; Actual measured = 9.0 = +12%
From my file of 100 or so previous walks, I think my 'Actuals' are
fairly accurate. I download my Garmin GPS 12 track to the PC and use
Alan Murphy's excellent GPS Utility to plot and print it. Distance is
one of the outputs.
On yesterday's walk I went slightly wrong at one stage, but, from
visual inspection, my overall distance should have been about equal,
possibly marginally *less*. So the difference of 2 miles is
surprisingly high.
There was complete continuity of satellite signal throughout the walk,
which produced 387 trackpoints. Even the handy MemoryMap route
provided by WalkingWorld, which has only 18 points connected by
straight lines, reports 6.1 miles.
A mere two walks hardly warrants firm conclusions, so any other
feedback would be appreciated please. I've also naturally emailed the
site provider for comments. I'm wondering whether I need to apply a
significant adjustment for all future walks considered. Having
promised my wife Janet a "five and a half mile walk" yesterday, my
reliability is under question <g>.
--
Terry, West Sussex, UK