Map does not match my ride at all

You'll find some reading, including some tips for example here:

• Expired EPO on a Garmin Outdoor Watch 
• Tips to Get a Faster GPS Signal on a Garmin Watch or Edge Device
• Improving the GPS Accuracy, Distance and Speed Readings of an Outdoor Watch
• What Can Cause GPS Accuracy Issues on My Fitness Device? 

Thanks for your response. I was able to check my CPE is current. This map I am seeing in my activity looks like someone else's ride. I did an out and back loop in one part of the city and the map is showing a route that is straight(ish) and many kilometers away. - 

PigletV said:

I was able to check my CPE is current.

If it is current now, does not mean it was current then.

PigletV said:

nd the map is showing a route that is straight(ish) and many kilometers away.

A long strait line line is typical in case of the missing GPS lock, where the device has the signal from only a very limited number of satellites, hence it is unable to calculate the position accurately. Before starting an outdoor activity, always wait for the GPS lock, and add some additional soak time, before you start the activity. It is described in the documents linked previously. 

I only mean straight as opposed to an out and back loop, it’s not actually straight.  It looks like a legitimate route that someone has taken, just not me.  Mine was a loop many many kilometres away from here.

if the gps had some trouble during the 1.5hr ride surely it would still have some points that were somewhat accurate?  Or at least it would follow the same rough shape, but offset?  I don’t understand how it would make up something entirely different, even if it was struggling with some accuracy. Perhaps it’s not a gps issue but rather something went wrong in the sync and my data got clobbered?

this is what the map looks like:

To be more like mine it would need to be in an entirely different location and be an oblong shape.

PigletV said:

To be more like mine it would need to be in an entirely different location and be an oblong shape.

OK, that was not entirely clear from you description. That's why asked for a link to the activity (not a screenshot), where we could perhaps detect some mismatch of the data. Anyway, seeing the details a bit clearer know, I strongly recommend contacting the Support. I did not see yet such a case, here on the forum, where data of another user would be mixed, so if it is really the case, it would be a serious problem, and should be investigated. Couldn't it be data of some your older activity?

I think I need their support too. If only I could find an email address to contact them! The support site is really not set up anything other than self service of known issues. I will Keep trying

PigletV said:

If only I could find an email address to contact them!

If you go to https://support.garmin.com, select your region, and enter your device model, you'll be presented with three ways to contact the support - phone, chat, and email. Use phone or chat if you are in hurry.

Hmmmm, I wonder if it’s different in Australia - the chat feature is unavailable but would be perfect.  I needed up finding an email address [email protected] but I’ve had no response.  Very frustrating!

The email reply may take a few days, indeed. Use the phone option, if chat is not available in AU. You could also try contacting the US headquarters, instead. In any case, please post the final resolution here. It is a rare case that I never saw reported here on the forums, so it would be interesting to know what the explanation is.