Well, managed it this week! Comments on the route checks: Phones: I've assumed phones only count where you use the road that the pointer line touches. Hence I counted the phone in GS3411 [right] as it is on the junction, but not 3911 [right, if you mean 3913] as the phone is between two junctions on unused road. Shortest route in GS 3810, after much deliberation I make to be via the wiggly road (via 390108 SW) - but only by less than 0.5mm or so. So, the phone in 3810 isn't counted, giving 5 total. If this isn't the shortest route, I'd have put 6. Gradients: Due to the shortest route, I've not counted the 2 gradients in 3810 so answer is 6. (If this isn't the shortest route,I'd have put 8). [I couldn't measure any significant difference so a combination of 5/6 or 6/8 was acceptable] Whites: There's an extra white in 3714 at the end - but I assume this is included to fool you if you miss the white in 3712? The first white is very close to the gridline but I think it starts in 4216, just.
Just for interest, I solved it like this:
1) assumed grid refs, assumed the columns had to stay in order but rotate like a fruit machine.
2) from first 2 columns, you could match them up by assuming that 434 in first column would match low number=high number-low number in second column - i.e. 192 - similarly, match 343 with 907, the rest seemed to match fairly well too without huge jumps in the numbers. This gave the Easting Grid Lines. I guessed it would start from the 40's, plumped for the first 43.
3) 4th digit always 1, 5th from 0-7. so Northing Grid line ranges from 10 to 17, with 17 only used once. from the Eastings (34-43) you could draw a rectangle on the map that contained the route.
4) Since there was a lot of previous route at the top, you could  see that GL 17 could only really be used with GL37, GL38 or GL45 (which wasn't available) - I had to try a few, and use 5) below to get a good fit. (I've been trying to keep the previous routes plotted, even after the event for the ones I couldn't work out, as it helps with things like this!)
5) You could also see, from the previous route (RC14) that there was only a narrow corridor available near the start, so the GL's had to be in the 15-16 range more or less. A bit of judicious fiddling and experimenting found a possible set of grid squares that would produce a route that *could* work, i.e. not double back on itself, cross previous route etc. it started 4315, 4316, 4215, 4215, 4115, 3915, 4213, 4112 etc.
6) Having found some likely grid squares, I had to find references that would plot - I looked for squares that had hardly any possible roads in them (having got a good idea of the route from the order the grid squares were used) - looked at 3915 and 4213. points 398150 and 422132 looked as if they might be on route, and I found an '82' in the 3rd column and '02' in the 6th to fit this. Started plotting some of the surrounding points and they all seemed to be plotting on roads which was a good sign. I'd expected it to all be on junctions, but it wasn't - I suppose you'd have had to use halves then, which would make it less neat. [Phew, but it could have been easier! - see below]
It didn't all go as swimmingly as this sounds, there were a lot of false starts, but you could at least gradually get there. I only hope the shortest route bit is right = I'll have to wait till next week to find out now! [first to answer, 10/10]   Ian Buxton

Easiest so far? Good fun. Was it your intention that the moving numbers print out as the first line? I didn't notice until I'd finished, would have been even easier! What did the postal people get? [Just the first part of the route card - the best i could do] Hope you don't feel too disgruntled by the recent drop off in returns (ie almost none!). I think someone suggested that perhaps the competition is too long, and they may be right. I certainly think I would have given up on any of the last few route cards fairly quickly if I hadn't worked them out quickly. If you want to do 20 route cards, how about 2 shorter competitions, one at the start of the summer and one at the end, perhaps aimed at different experience levels? I think the main problem is that solving these clues can take up a huge amount of time if you don't click fairly quickly, and most of us have other things to do as well! All that said, I've enjoyed taking part and will do so next year.
Sneaky bits: 1) I've ignored the telephone in 3913 because it's off the route. 3) on the border between 4216 and 4316 11) 3714, just in case....
There are a couple of very close shortest route decisions. From 400128 to 397123, I've gone via the white (You could do a sneaky double back through Dinnington and avoid the white, but I think its very slightly longer). From 393106 to 388107 I've avoided Higher Chillington (and 2 gradient arrows and a telephone), again it's only fractionally longer...[see above][10/10]   Jeremy Rodgers

Two possible routes thru 3810 and 3910 affecting RC 1 and 2 - my choice of shortest route does NOT include >> and T in 3810 but very little in it. RC 1 does include T in 3411.  [10/10]  Dave Bell

Very difficult to decide on shortest route in GS3910, 3810. I chose the lower route, but if you meant the alternative then the answers to RC 1 and 2 are 5 and 6 respectively. [10/10] Bridget Lewis

Could find out which GS's the MRs were in, but couldn't get the third figures in Eastings and Northings to match. But have had a shot at it anyway.  [I also had a long letter from Don, with lots of encouragement and ideas, but as a postal entrant, I haven't had time to retype it for this page. Much appreciated nonetheless]  Don Clarke

Good Route Card. Took some thinking about. [10/10] Ted Manktelow

Don't give up, it keeps my brain active tho' football' not my scene! This one taxed me a bit!!  Carol Moulton

I found each route card too time consuming and was having difficulty in fitting them in in one week. The summer is naturally a busy time for me personally and so I have had to give up. Shame really because it was a good idea - maybe a shorter version would be more manageable! Thanks for all your hard work and all the best for the rest of the competition.  Chris Faul

I now think this is a good section. Hhahaha, no internet nerd though irrespective as to what you have heard. [10/10]   Pete James

One I could do at last. Hooray! Comments on answers:- From 393107 to 388107 you can go either via 389102 or via 390110. If you go the former route, the answers given are correct, if the latter, then answer 1 is 6, and answer 2 is 6, as you miss one phone and two gradient arrows. I have blown the map up so that this bit occupies a full A4 sheet, and I still measure them as virtually identical, with the distance depending upon whether you use the side or the middle of the roads. Answer 3 could be in square 4316, as the left hand side of the road joins in this square, but the majority joins in 4216. [see comments above]
Found the matching up of the 1st and 2nd digits of each half quite easy, but the third digit was difficult. I had to write the order of visiting squares on the map first, until I found that numbers 6, 7 and 19 were limited in where they could go, so that fixed the third digits.
Please don't stop providing the RC's, as I have still to catch up with the others after missing quite a few, and won't have chance to do this if you stop. I have not worried too much about missing some because I knew that I could catch up later, but if you cancel them I'll be left at a disadvantage. Thanks a lot.  Matthew Atkinson

In GS3810 and 3910, two possible routes of equal length. If not via Higher Chillington but via GR390110 then 5 phones and 6 gradient arrows.  [see comments above] I suppose I should have done something clever with the animated gifs. Sliding strips of paper up and down was easier. Needed to accurately plot the previous two sections to cut down on the options for this one. [10/10] Keith Norman

No entry this week too busy setting up my own computer and getting internet connected. Please note my new email address at the top. At last I can drink my own coffee and not my friends.  Alan Crabtree

Long time no communicate. What with hols,work and an inability to grasp what its all about I haven't been submitting any answers.  I'm not very confident about this one either. Having been doing these Table Top Rallies for the past 12 years and not having got anywhere near the top half of any of them I'm begining to think I will never grasp the ideas. Perhaps the grey matter is getting to old for all this high powered technology and I'm missing the simple plotting exercises. [Hey, welcome back. Don't give up now, you started so well] Dave Keetley

Sorry no email this week - on holiday so sending answers by post - hope that's OK.  Gillian Goodlass