2024 Ups and Downs

Measured by the raw number of steps, my 2024 was definitely below expectations. The February decline was due to the New Zealand trip where the terrain (mostly West Coast) was making it difficult to cover more than 10 kilometers per day (as typically parts of that were hanging with hands on tree branches or crawling below fallen tree logs or crossing rivers). Not complaining, just explaining :)

Then out of nowhere I had a knee injury that kept me sitting on a sofa for a couple of weeks. Things started looking good in Autumn, but then I foolishly twisted my left ankle and as it almost healed, I repeated something similar to the right foot. I'm almost ready to restart now, but the result (raw steps) is 1000km less than in 2023.

When healthy you rarely think how lucky you are. Only when things go wrong the other perspective opens and you suddenly start appreciating being able to just walk :) Also shows how almost impossible it is to maintain an uninterrupted streak. Still, since starting my routine daily power walks in November 2019, I have covered close to 17 thousand kilometers. Perhaps by the end of 2025 I'll be able to cross 20 thousand, which is half of the circumference of the earth. Then yet another 6 years and I will circle the globe on foot. Not a bad target, but there are soo many things that can go wrong. Chances of getting there are rather slim.

But it is all about the road, not the destination, right? 

Speaking of the road, 2024 has been my best year ever. On the personal front certainly the New Zealand hiking trip was an absolute blast. Maybe next Winter I'll be able to come back there. We've also crossed a very important point in the development of the company, that clearly feels like an opening of a new chapter. The official numbers are not ready yet, but the gut feeling is the stars are aligned.

I wish you all a very happy New Year 2025!