My journey around 366km radius rocky moon (travel log)

[Kris]

Day 12: (not many pics today)

Spoiler

Dark again (and really dark). Same location (same cliff ahead) as last days ending:

As i drove ahead, arrived to this. Not perfect place to drive in dark (and in the shadows means no darkness adjustment from game):

Was very happy i got out of it.Steep little cliffs like these, plus added darkness, is not a place for SRV:

Thankfuly after that it was more flat. At one point arrived to another mountains, this time drove along it:

After that was again more flatter road. One point noticed this mountain, and i knew i arrived to last crater before the big one:

Climbed on top of it to this view. Pic is not perfect, little bit too dark, but last crater before the big one. Again notice the crater little cliff at the center:
(and deceided to end today here)

End of day 12 surface map:

Day 12 was 90km (total is 927km). Next day should hopefuly both break 1000km point and reach big crater. But don't know what roads will bring - at surface map it should be easy, but it doesn't always tell full tale.

 

[Jazzlvraz]

You said "not many pics", but, as in other days, what pics they are! You're doing an excellent job in bringing us along on your voyage; thank you.

 

[Pyrotiger]

Epic stuff. Well done.

 

[Samroski]

Do you use thrust a lot in the low gravity? Skimming over rough areas? What is the driving experience like? How frequently do you need to use repair? Are you collecting materials?

Best of luck with your journey!

 

[Kris]

Yeah using thrust a lot (but rarely go at full speed). SRV can really fly in 0.04G. It's been mostly learning experience, and i think i have gotten better at it as i have progressed. And if anyone is asking i'm KB and Mouse player (tried HOTAS, didn't like it, for me KB and mouse felt more natural).

Use of repairs is about 2-3 per session (and one session is usually ~1hr or so, some days little bit longer). Don't know if that is too much or not (SRV can handle jumps very good, but little rocks even at minimum speed are worse enemies). I let it usually drop to the ~25% mark before using (depending on terrain, if there is a chance of fall i don't let it go this low). And yes collecting materials - not everything, but as i feel (some rocks i miss, some i take). Don't know if anyone has done research but edge of the craters are great places for material rocks, and one day found a little crater that was full of Mesosiderite (not on the edge, but mostly at the center of crater).

Worst things have been getting nearly stuck, happened to me 2 times already. Just wish there would be some sort of emergency super thrust. But luckly all situations have ended well.

 

[Kris]

Day 13:

Spoiler

Todays start is at nighttime, next target is crater cliff at the center:

Arrived to it. Impressive:
(and realised i have seen quite the collection of crater cliffs - don't know what the correct terminology is here - in this trip, all great looking)
(little SRV for scale)

Out of the crater, and continuing my drive. As you can see typical road - some pumpy road, some flatter parts:

After some drive noticed mountains far ahead (maybe crater rim?):
(and they were indeed very far ahead, pic can give false impression)

But finally arrived at the top (as i said took much longer than i guessed). But still not at the crater:

But finally arrived at the crater. Big enough to not fit into one image:
(Deceided to end today here, i certainly want to see this crater in daylight. Havent deceided if i will drive inside, or continue to up north)

Day 13 ending surface map:

Day 13 was 90km (total is 1017km). Big part of the journey is done, can't wait to see what is ahead.

 

[irongut]

(and realised i have seen quite the collection of crater cliffs - don't know what the correct terminology is here - in this trip, all great looking)

I call them crater nipples.

 

[Kris]

I call them crater nipples.

In this trip i have seen many great nip....no, sounds a "little" strange

 

[Alec Turner]

I call them crater nipples.

Yup, me too ... or crater mounds when I'm in polite company.

Nice going so far Kris ... that crater ahead of you looks like a big one tho, hope you get some light for that!

 

[Codger]

They are definitely nipples.

 

[Kris]

Day 14:

Spoiler

Daytime again at todays strating location (that was expected today, i'm starting to learn this moons daylight cycles). Was worth the wait i think. Interesting little light blue spots:

Drove down to the crater. Some closeup:
(is this ice?)

And from little bit higher:
(wish we had something to take soil samples)

Out of the crater, and it seems some mountains ahead:

Not very steep, but highly rolling terrain. Little bit different that was before the crater (then it was flatter with more clearer mountains). Some steeper parts:

And look ahead, deceided to end here:
(SRV at the top of the little cliff)

End of day 14 surface map:

Day 14 was 80km (total is 1097km). According to my calculations i have 56km to go to equator.

 

[Jazzlvraz]

Did you happen to notice a change in tyre-sound when you were on the patches that might be ice? On my icy moon, there were places that didn't appear different, but the sound changed; I hypothesised that might've been shifting from the constant tyre-"squeal" of ice to the near-silence of rock.

 

[Kris]

Sadly didn't pay attention to the sound at that point. But will keep in mind when i reach near North pole (looking at surface map might be something similar).

 

[Nick Sticks]

Nice landscape shots.
Good going Kris.

 

[Kris]

Day 15:

Spoiler

Beginning of the day was rolling terrain. Like this:
(not easiest to drive)

Then noticed something shiny at far distance. Mirage? Drove closer and found this. First sign of civilization. 7555ly from Sol, and far from big travel roads:
(to be safe approached first with my image probe)
(only cargo canisters, nothing to scan - didnt take anything)

Then after some drive noticed mountains in distance:

Traveled closer. Took the right path shown in pic:

Then at very suddenly got to this sight. Amazing, this pic doesn't do it a justice. I was without words:

As i was nearly down after that little descent took this pic, gives better idea of cliffs around me:
(leftside of my view down)

As i took this pic i was still at southern hemisphere:

And this pic in northern hemisphere:
(i name these Gates of Equator - if bad name, sorry this is my moon )

After driving though the "gates", i was surrounded by steep mountains. Best way forward is through that little opening ahead:

After grossing that opening arrived to narrow passageway between cliffs:

It was narrow, but nearly out:

Out. And looks like canyons ahead:

Another just wow. As i have said many times - pic doesn't do it a justice. And it was very sudden drop - without SRV scanner at good range i would be down right now (but thankfully at my position cliff seems a little less steep):
(and deceided to end here)

End of day 15 surface map:

Day 15 was 90km (total is 1187km). This moon just keeps surprising.

 

[Jazzlvraz]

Wow...and wow. I need to find myself another moon to circumnavigate.

Oh, and wow.

 

[ratdeath]

Awesome journey

 

[Alec Turner]

Out of rep today but wow, you're hitting some seriously cool terrain and taking some terrific photos!

 

[Kris]

Day 16:

Spoiler

Today was dark again. Starting location (to compare to yesterdays daylight pic):

Next descended and drove ahead over a little cliff opening:
(need to descent further between cliffs, and then is ascent again)
(one note - starting from this i started to use SRV lights at max, previously all pics were with half light setting)

It was narrow pathway, but after ascent arrived to this. No surprise - another cliffs and craters:
(looking west - liked this shot with planet in the sky over cliffs)

And this pic is basicly taken at the same spot as last, but turned my SRV to face north (where i'm heading):

As seen from previous pic - need to do some descending. Descent in progress:
(gradiant was at times 45-55 degrees with some tips near 60, SRV can handle steepness quite good - but i was careful too, progressed slowly)

Next after descent continued along the valley, and over little opening ahead. Arrived to this:
(after taking this pic continued along the "S" shaped canyon. Up ahead is north, so it was right were i'm heading)

You can see this pics location in the last picture (at the top of that "S" shaped pathway). Canyon continued to the right, but as north was up ahead deceided to just go north and start climbing over the hill:

At the top it was just another canyon ahead:

Grossed it, and arrived to this impressive cliff:
(and good spot the call it a day)

End of day 16 surface map position:

Day 16 was 40km (total is 1227km). Mountains take time.

 

[Kris]

Day 17: (has it really been that many days already)

Spoiler

Its nighttime. After some drive arrived to this:
(heading straight ahead through the opening between mountains)

After some ascent it was time to descent again:
(pic was taken halfway of descent, it was much more steeper than it first appeared; and love this pic - impressive mountains)

After that it was a drive through the valley. North was priority:

After some ascent came little bit of flat. And then another deep crater, lucky there was easier path just rightside (out of pic):
(like i said wanted to get towards north - i had enough climbing in last few days)

It started to get much more flatter. Still some cliffs ahead like this pic, but these were between more flatter parts:
(what i have learned is you can't always trust what you see in SRV cockpit view - in this case i was driving along quite good road, visiblity was good, scanner range which i have 1 below max showed just normal, i was at max speed to use that good road, and deceided to jump as you can really fly in this 0.04G - the moment i jumped road in front and under me disappeared, and i was jumping into descent. Luckly it was no huge descent, and SRV can handle landings quite good. This pic is taken in the position where i landed - and as i said, the moment i jumped it was just flat road ahead)

But it was good to drive in flatter parts of the moon:

And decided to end here as i arrived to valley between mountains:

End of day 17 surface map. Next targets are 2 craters ahead:
(plan is to end next day at the craters)

Day 17 was 70km (total is 1297km).