it seems that even if i abuse the water pickup bug i can't bring enough water to win without looping. if only i could skip the reflection the first time around.
Ok, lore reason (for now at least):
You know you don't have the materials to make it to the coordinates at your current pace, you go to the shimmer to try and scavenge for materials like food or water
(ps, it literally already says this as you approach the craft)
Even if not, then "You feel a strange compulsion to go toward the shimmer", reasoning solved, moving on