Hi everyone,
Welcome to 2026! I sincerely wish you all good health and prosperity in this new year. This week, I’ll reflect back on 2025 and how I did on the resolutions I made last year at this time. Then I’ll make a few public resolutions for the coming year. Stay tuned to see if I make it.
Thanks for the views and comments on my three post series on our visit to Birmingham. If you missed those, click here, here, and here.
Let’s get started with the Resolutions.
Resolution Results from 2025
Last year, I resolved to take at least 2.2 million steps. According to my Apple watch, I took 2,687,130 steps in 2025. Hot-diggity dog, I made it! Not bad for an old feller. Our late April, early May 50 mile walk in England’s Cotswolds added a lot of steps to the total. Everyday of the walk, I took more than 20,000 steps, a couple of days it was near 30,000. This despite have some knee issues.
I resolved to complete my second book, You’re In The Army Now. That didn’t happen. I got stuck on the two remaining chapters and then picked up a project to help a friend write her story. She’s an immigrant from Vietnam and has a unique, interesting story to tell. My goal is to finish that off this spring and then power through on my own book about my time in the Army. I did publish 52 blog posts during 2025 include my 500th post on June 22nd and noted the 10th anniversary of writing this blog on November 16th. This post you are now reading is my 527th.
The past year has been a traveling year. We spent time in Mexico, England, Brazil, Door County, and Birmingham, Alabama. I also traveled for three weeks in Austria and Germany with my friend Wayne. In a few weeks, you’ll start to see writings and photos from that trip. I would say that I met my resolution for more travel. Have to do it while I’m still able!
Resolution for 2026
I’m going to keep my step count goal from last year, 2.2 million steps. We are thinking about doing another walk, one that is mostly level to accommodate our aging joints!
I resolve to publish two books this year, my own and the other for my friend. I’m motivated to get both done so I can move on to other writing projects.
I resolve to continue traveling. We have organized a month of R&R in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from mid-February to mid-March. Can’t wait. Then there is an exciting trip to India in November with our friend Mary. There are a couple of other possibilities but not yet booked.
A new goal for next year, I want to change the appearance and simplify the search function on my blog site. I will probably need professional help to accomplish this goal.
What are your resolution for 2026!
Reflections from 2025
The Trail to Puerto Vallarta Mexico
On January 1, we were up early for our flight from Madison to Puerto Vallarta by way of Dallas. Everything went smoothly and soon we were enjoying the warm breeze and stunning sunsets from the balcony of our friend’s condo. We spent a glorious week checking out the city and surrounding area. We’ll be back for another round in a few weeks.
Mexico City with Oskar
After a week in Puerto Vallarta, we flew to Mexico City where we would join a tour. We arrived a few days early and hired Oskar, a young English speaking guide for a day long tour of some of the major sites in Mexico City. One of my favorites was the Jamaica Market, a large indoor market where flowers are sold. The sweet smell of flowers filled the building. We strolled through the market to look at the arrangements, cut flowers in large bales, and green plants of all types. There was also fruit, vegetables, sweets, baked goods, and household items for sale. It was a fun couple of hours
Our tour with G Adventures took us from Mexico City to Oaxaca, a city known for its art, culinary delights, and history.
Ok, something I thought I’d never see, piles of grasshoppers for sale! Chapulines, as they are called, are sold as a popular snack or wrapped in a tortilla, some are toasted while others are marinated in spices. Some are caught in the wild in fields of corn, some are raised in controlled environments. 
The Cotswold
The Cotswolds is a picturesque region about two hours northwest of London. It’s renowned for its gently rolling hills, honey-colored limestone villages, and timeless rural charm. Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds stretch across several of England’s counties. Quintessential English market towns like Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Chipping Campden offer a glimpse into the past with their historic buildings, cozy inns, and traditional tea rooms. The landscape is dotted with ancient churches, dry stone walls, and scenic walking trails, making it a favorite destination for walkers, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a peaceful countryside retreat.
During our seven days of walking, followed the trail markers through pastures, fields, and narrow paths between two rock walls. 
We walked through quaint villages, this one even had a historic water mill.
We saw a lot of sheep, some cows, and even a few horses. 
The Eldest snapped this photo the day before we began the walk. Neither she or we noticed the two signs at the top of the pole. A fitting beginning to the walk!
The Trail to Brazil
It was late May when we boarded a plane for the long ride to Brazil. We were on a Friendship Force journey to two clubs, one in Belo Horizonte and the other in Belem in northern Brazil. Before traveling to our hosts, we spent a few days in Rio de Janeiro and a couple of days near Iguazu Falls. Here are a couple of photos from out time in Rio and the Falls.
This sunrise photo was taken from the balcony of our hotel on Copacabana Beach. One of my favorites.
On one of our days in Rio, we visited the Rio Botanical Gardens. These Giant Water Lily pads are also known at Amazon Water Lily. Very impressive. some are three feet across.
These colorful steps are thanks to an artist that wanted to add color and interest to the steps outside his house. He installed tiles and people started showing up to see his work. It’s now one of the top attractions in Rio.
Iguazu Falls is located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. It has to be one of the seven wonders of the world in nature. I can’t tell you how beautiful it looks. I’m honored to have had a chance to see it.
Belo Horizonte
This is a view of Belo Horizonte from the viewpoint Mirante Mangabeiras. Belo Horizonte is a city in south-central Brazil with a population of about 2.5 million people. We enjoyed our time with our host Diana and the members of the Belo Horizonte Friendship Force club.
Belém
Belém is the capital of the Para state and considered the gateway to the Amazon. There are about 1.4 million residents. Our hosts were Nazaré and Cornelio.
Our first full day, we traveled by boat to Combu Island, an environmentally protected area inhabited by about 200 families.
Meet Charlie. He had just come down from harvesting açaí berries at the top of an açaí palm. These berries are one of the top exports from the Amazon region. They are sought out for their health benefits.
This is the city of Belém as seen from the restaurant on Combu Island.
Campground Hosting in Potawatomi State Park
The first two weeks of August we were serving as campground hosts at Potawatomi State Park in Door County Wisconsin. It was really busy with a full campground nearly every night. We did have a little free time during our stay. One Sunday morning, we took a two hour ride on a tall ship, the Liberty Clipper. It was very enjoyable and relaxing.
Birmingham
In late October, we went on another Friendship Force journey. This time to Birmingham, Alabama. Our host was Arlene. The Birmingham club organized four days of tours and activities. We visited a number of sites on the Civil Rights Trail. Below is a photo of the 16th Street Baptist Church that was bombed by members of the KKK on Sunday September 15, 1963. Four young girls preparing for Sunday School and church were killed. This was one of the events brought attention to civil and voting rights in the South. It was a moving and sobering reminder of where we’ve come from and how far we have yet to go.
Another meaningful event was a visit to the Jones Valley Teaching Farm, one of eight urban farms in Birmingham. We spent the morning helping out on the farm and learning how they are using learn by doing to teach kids about where food come from and supplying healthy food to the community.
Our farewell dinner was held at a club overlooking the city of Birmingham. It’s a beautiful site for a city that has its challenges.
That does for this look back at 2025
Until next week, 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