Today’s post is 1950 words, 23 photos, a 9 minute read. Enjoy!
Hi everyone,
This week I’ll look back at some of my favorites posts from 2024, review my 2024 resolutions, and share what I resolve to do in the coming year.
Let’s get started with the Resolutions.
Resolution Results from 2024
Last year at this time, I resolved to take 2 million or more steps in 2024. I’m very happy to report that I far exceeded my goal by taking 2,690,780. I’m sure this is the result of preparing for Walking the Herriot Way and the many steps I took during our four day walk in the Yorkshire Dales. Looking back, I took over 20,000 three days of the walk and one day over 30,000 steps. I took most of these steps wearing a knee brace and then having arthroscopy knee surgery in August. So yeah, for the first time in a few years I met my step goal.
My first book, Farm Boy, was published in March 2024. Another yeah! However, I pledged last year that I would hand over the manuscript of my second book, You’re in the Army Now, to my editor and begin work on my third book, excerpts from my 475 blog posts. Neither of these things happened. Life got in the way of the release of the second book, I’m now aiming for publication this spring. I have to admit to writers block on the last chapter of the book. I’m told, it happens. When the time is right, the words will flow.
Last year, I vowed to travel more in 2024. That did happen. My Traveling Partner and I spent some of February and most of March traveling to Rome, Sicily, and Ghana. The last week of April and the first week of May were spent in Scotland and England with four of those days Walking the Herriot Way in the Yorkshire Dales. We spent the month of July in a Door County Wisconsin farmhouse with family and friends from around the country. We made three trips to North Dakota, two to check on my aging mother, and the last for her funeral. Not a happy time, but necessary all the same. I spent nearly a week with my photography friends exploring the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin. You’ll see some of the photos in a coming post. I call that a resolution met.
Resolutions for 2025
I’m going to stretch my step goal for 2025 to 2.2 million steps. We are signed up to do another walk in England in the spring plus with my knee in better shape. Now I have to get the rest of my body into shape! I have high hopes I can make this goal.
If I get over writers block, the second book will be published early in 2025 and I’ll begin work on book three with the goal of having it to my editor by the end of 2025. Most of the words have been written already so it’s a matter of choosing the passages and photos to go with them.
Finally, I vow to continue traveling as long as I can before my body and mind wear out. I’m a fan of writer Anne Lamott. She has a series of articles that appear in the Washington Post on the topic of aging. They are a fun read for those of us that have reached “senior” status. I have four trips planned for 2025 (so far!). That doesn’t include any camping trips in the area. If I get all these trips completed I should reach my goal.
What are your resolutions and goals for 2025!
Reflections from 2024
The Trail to Rome
The Sunday Angelus
Every Sunday at precisely 12 Noon, Pope Francis comes to the window of the Papal apartments to give a brief message and blessing to all pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. After attending English Mass and a stop for a caffe americano and a pastry we got in the security check line for entry into Vatican City, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. We’d heard that the Pope had been sick and might not deliver the Angelus. We asked a couple of police officers before getting in line, they said he was sick but maybe it might happen. A typical Italian response, maybe, maybe not.
When we cleared security and entered the Square on the beautiful sunny, but cool day, there was a large crowd waiting for the Pope to appear. At about 5 minutes to 12, the window opened and a strip of purple cloth was unfurled from the window of the Papal apartments. 
At 12 Noon the Pope approached the window, a cheer went up as he greeted the crowd of several thousand, by saying: “Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!” His message was all in Italian. The English version was posted on the Vatican website vatican.va. He talked about the Transfiguration of Jesus and keeping one’s eye of the light of Jesus.
He went on to acknowledge that the day prior, February 24, 2024, was the second anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine. He pleaded for the end of the war and aggression and prayed for a lasting peace. He also asked the audience to join him in praying for the people, especially the children, of Palestine who were suffering from the ravages of war. He greeted some of the groups of pilgrims in attendance and conferred his blessing on the crowd.
He finished by saying: “I wish you a happy Sunday. Please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Arrivederci.” It was an honor to have the opportunity to be in his presence and hear his words of comfort. It wouldn’t be the last time we saw the Pope during our stay in Rome.
Pompeii
Rosario led us on a two-hour walk through the excavated sites in the park. We hit the highlights, if you wanted to see everything, it would take 3 days. One of first sites freed from the deposits of the eruption was the Large Theatre. It was said to be built around 70 BC in the Roman style. It could hold up to 5,000 spectators. There was a stage and a small arena. I have to say it’s well preserved for being over two thousand years old.
Sicily
The triangle shaped island of Sicily, located off the toe of Italy’s boot, at nearly 10,000 square miles (25,800 km²) is similar in size to the U.S. states of Massachusetts or New Hampshire. Nearly five million people live on the island, most of them in towns and cities along the 1000 mile (1600 km) coastline. Palermo, on the northwestern part of the island, is the regional capital and largest city in Sicily with a population in the metro area of about 850,000. Mount Etna, an active volcano, is the island’s most famous landmark and cultural symbol. During this series you’ll read a lot about Mount Etna. Here’s the first photo taken from the bus window during our ride from Catania to Taormina
After a good nights rest, a hot shower, my Traveling Partner and I were off to breakfast at the hotel. The first thing we noticed was the great view of Mount Etna. We chose a table for two by the window so we could enjoy the scene while enjoying our breakfast. I have to say that the breakfast buffet offered by the Hotel Continental is by far the best I’ve ever experienced. The friendly attendants quickly brought a pot of fresh coffee and invited us to the buffet that was laden with fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, sausage, bacon, cheese, cold cuts, and even a dessert or two just in case you weren’t full. It was like that every morning of our stay
Ghana
We arrived on time in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. As soon as we deplaned, the heat hit us like a ton of bricks. We breezed through the new international terminal in what I thought was record time. When I was in Ghana in 2016, the old terminal was chaos on steroids, hard to tell where to go. This time, our first stop was at the health officer who checked to make sure we had a yellow fever vaccination, then immigration for a visa check, picked up our bags and quickly cleared customs. At baggage claim, we saw this sign with the word “Akwaaba” that means welcome, a word that we heard often in Ghana. There were no lines and no hassles until we exited the terminal. 
The Makola Market
Our first stop was the Makola Market in Accra, the largest traditional market in Ghana and all of West Africa. The market is huge with what seemed like thousands of vendors, most of them women. They sold just about anything a person would need from car parts, coffins and household goods to vegetables, fruit, dried and fresh fish, meat, rice, and flour are only examples. As we walked through the uneven, narrow aisles, we were inundated with the sights, smells (sweat, fish, spices, and disinfectants), and sounds in the market. In some areas, preachers were preaching in the tribal language (usually Twi) so loud I thought my eardrums would burst. In others, religious songs were being blasting over a loud speaker. Sometimes these sounds overlapped! There were some people moving around while others were calling out to us to look at their wares and buy from them. Here is some of what we saw.
Koforidua Bead Market
One morning after breakfast, we stopped by the Koforidua Bead Market. This traditional market has been in existence for over 200 years selling beads made of glass, clay, wood, and other materials. Also sold are things such as cloth and leather bags and purses, fans, brass and wood carvings, jewelry, and more.
When we pulled up to the market, we noticed how quiet it was, not many customers. Apparently, there are times this market is very busy and crowded. The vendors perked up when they saw us, ready to invite us into their booths to look at their wares. My Traveling Partner and I decided to scope out the market before making any purchases. Here’s what it looked like.
The Traditional Dance Troupe
We heard the drum beats and saw the sweaty dancers form a circle around the caller and drummers. There were a few spectators including the Chief and some of the elders from the community.
The dancers were energetic, moving their feet in the red dirt to the beat of the drum and the rattle-like instrument made from a gourd. The dancers moved their bodies at times shaking all over, bending low, and making hand gestures. I assume all movements and words have meaning that totally escape this outsider. I should mention, about two-thirds of the people living the Volta Region of Ghana are of Ewe (pronounced eh-weh) ethnicity. Click on this linkto learn a bit more about this ethnic group.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The Edinburgh Castle sits at the top of the Royal Mile. It’s one of the most iconic sites in Edinburgh and is certainly worth seeing. Before leaving home, I purchased tickets for a timed entry. I was glad I did because there were very few tickets available during the time we’d be in Edinburgh.
Wigtown, Scotland
While our goal for the day was to spend some time hiking in the Galloway Forest Park, it would have to wait for another day due to the continuing rain. Fortunately, we had an indoor plan B – a visit to Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town. With a population of less than 1000 people, Wigtown is home to several (12 to be exact) new and used bookshops and a well-attended annual book festival that began in 1999.
Walking the Herriot Way
We arrived at the Butt House in Keld, Yorkshire Dales, where we would lodge for the next five nights. Chris and Jacqui are the proprietors of this six-room bed and breakfast.
That’s enough for today. To see more check all the articles I posted in 2024. There is something for everyone.
Next week, join for a tour around the Driftless Area of Minnesota and Wisconsin
Until then, happy travels!
Tom
PS: Click here for a link to the post about my book “Farm Boy.” Contact me if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Thanks to all have plunked down your hard earned dollars and read the book. TM