Pages

January 02, 2025

A review of 2024

January to April: With my mom's declining health, long distance traveling was not in the book of 2024, so I spent most of my free time hiking local trails. There are several themed hiking trails in close proximity:

- Volcanic Panorama Trail
- Pear Trail
- Barbarossa Trail
- Ahr-Urft Trail

Lake Laach

Ahr Valley

The (many) ways of St. James always pique my interest, hence I began section-hiking the so called "German Way" over the next months until August, beginning at home and ending in Langres, Lorraine, France.














Late May my better half and I spent a vew days together in Bavarian Canada on a campground near the village of Bodenmais celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, but serious weather cut our vacay short.




June had a family trip in store for us. My siblings and I took my mom to the Dutch coast with the idea in mind recreating some childhood memories.



In July I spent a long weekend trekking along the river Fulda but again the weather was not on my side.




Finally September arrived and with it our main vacation time. My siblings took over mom duty and we traveled through France along the river Loire from source to estuary.










We circled back along the Atlantic coastline through Brittany and were rewarded with fantastic weather conditions.








In October my assignment with John Deere had expired, and I found myself temporarily between jobs. So I followed the invitation of my besties to spend a few days in the Netherlands.


On my days off in October while not on mom duty I finished the Volcano Trail, which I had commenced section-hiking a year ago.


Then I started section-hiking the Hildegard-von-Bingen Trail, a pilgrimage trail dedicated to the famous abbess.






In November my agency had already lined up another assignment for me, and I could only venture out on short day hikes, so the Bergischer trail now becomes my winter hiking project.




We celebrated year's end on the Dutch coast. Again! (Three times is a charm or so they say), and although we had stormy weather we had a good time. I did miss the 2,000 km mark by 65 km, therefor forming my new year resolution of breaking my personal record.

8 comments:

  1. Reichhaltige Erinnerungen zeigst du hier, du hast ein erlebnisreiches Jahr hinter dir. Die 65km lassen sich wohl gut verschmerzen.
    LG Werner und Loki

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Immerhin war das Jahr nicht ganz so ereignislos, wie ich es manchmal in Erinnerung habe. Denn die Bedürfnisse meiner Mutter haben schon viel Zeit gekostet... LG SonjaM

      Delete
  2. ein sehr schoener Rueckblick, alles Gute fuer 2025!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vielen Dank, das wünsche ich Euch auch! LG SonjaM

      Delete
  3. Even with "Mom duties", you've managed to pack in a lot of travel which is good for the soul - well done and it has to be a proper balance. I think that our adult kids get a bit frustrated with us as we're fiercely independent and don't really discuss the future with them. They know that they'll be ok financially but we intend to remain independent for as long as possible right where we live now!
    Every good wish to you and Roland for 2025 and enjoy plenty of "me" time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am very happy that my siblings and I are willing (and able) to share the responsibility for my Mom. Geoff, I hope that you both keep your independence for a very long time. Best wishes to you and your smarter half ;-) Cheers, SonjaM

      Delete
  4. It is hard to find a companion as good as a dog. If you love them you LOVE them.

    ReplyDelete