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A man wakes up and goes along to get drunk. He talks foolishly, but works hard and gets paid, but passes the money on to a dependent. Every evening he comes home. As he grows old, he is lonely and dreams about different times.

The man lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. One day, he decides to walk due east, stopping at a city, then directly southwest, stopping at another city.

What city does he end up in?

Clarification:

For walking, assume he walks straight-line distances ignoring features that might make it technically impassible, i.e. bodies of water, etc

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  • $\begingroup$ Hmm. Some sort of board game? $\endgroup$
    – user1618143
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 20:09
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    $\begingroup$ No, I think I remember this one, it might be a song or book. $\endgroup$
    – Kingrames
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 20:17
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    $\begingroup$ Not sure the stated answer really works: 3.bp.blogspot.com/-QbUB3MO2fTg/U34S7PC8lmI/AAAAAAAAAwA/… $\endgroup$
    – A E
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 21:02
  • $\begingroup$ @A E - it's not a direct line, because he changes direction after 500 miles. See: i.imgur.com/ZSOkEZD.png, each leg is just a tad over 500mi $\endgroup$
    – Anne
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 21:35

1 Answer 1

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I'd say it's based on:

the song by the Proclaimers, who walked 500 miles and then walked 500 more. (Havering = talking foolishly, headline proclaims, drunk, work hard, give away money etc.)

Going east 500 miles and then south west 500 miles lands you in London, I'd say...

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  • $\begingroup$ Nicely done! This is correct $\endgroup$
    – Anne
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 20:45
  • $\begingroup$ I wasn't sure what the city between the two was. But I guess it needs a bit of license given the other restrictions. Nice puzzle! $\endgroup$
    – Dr Xorile
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 20:48
  • $\begingroup$ I was going for the city of Horsens, in Denmark - less well-known, but 500 mi directly due east of Edinburgh, and I wanted to start in Edinburgh as a clue (that's where the band is from) $\endgroup$
    – Anne
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 21:00
  • $\begingroup$ Also kudos to @Kingrames, who first had the song idea... $\endgroup$
    – Dr Xorile
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 21:02
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    $\begingroup$ I claim Victory! $\endgroup$
    – Kingrames
    Commented Aug 25, 2015 at 21:26

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