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2020

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

The norm this time of year is to set New Year’s resolutions and consequentially break them in a few days or weeks. I do not set these, but I do know 2020 will be different for me. I am doing something a bit from the norm and I am excited and scared.

Later this year I am taking two vacation trips. The first I am excited about and the second I am at a minimum anxious if not a bit scared. The first involves my favorite place and the second my least favorite place. Let’s start with my nervousness.

In July my wife, son and I will be joining her sister, sister’s husband, his two kids, and my in-laws (possibly others from the family) on a cruise. I have mentioned my fear of the open water in a previous post, but I am going to try this. Our trip will be fairly close to shore, which is the main reason I agreed to go. It also is not going somewhere tropical (another bonus for me), and finally I gave the ultimatum that at stops I am doing my own thing (photography), which was lovingly agreed upon by my wife. Locations we will be visiting are; Cape Liberty, NJ, Newport, RI, Boston, MA, Bar Harbor, ME, Saint John, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am hoping I can get some great photos from the trip and mentally keep my anxiety at bay.

A few days ago Mark and I went on a nice hike and later that day he contacted me about another trip to North Carolina. We have begun the planning for the trip in March. This time his nephew may join us. I requested from my tour guide that we at a minimum hit Max Patch Bald, Black Balsam Knob, Damascus, and Pisgah National Forest. I want to again hike part of the Appalachian Trail and maybe even meet a through-hiker or two. It is likely I will be driving or his nephew will and the arrangements and dates are being finalized. My love for the mountains is evident and in this case welcoming.

So these are my two major planned events for 2020. I am sure a few unexpected ones will also be thrown at me as well. I hope this is a great year for you and I. The picture above is from Black Balsam Knob.

Until next time,

Tim

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