Strictly speaking I'm not part of the trip reporting community these days, I retired from that earlier this year. I've also recently increased my available time, with the withdrawal from Facebook and Instagram made official yesterday. So I have a lot more free time now
Which has led me to this thread, and while I veg out after some much needed cardio, it feels necessary to respond.
For a year of lockdowns, physical distancing and all that, I've managed to get quite a few winners. I don't make a big effort to keep track of how many per month or whatever these days, that's far too much effort. I tried to get everything logged on RM, oh my days I got bored of that in no time so I happily chucked away the month's subscription for £5. Logging mileage is far too boring, it was a huge thing for me in the past but it is what it is! The hours I wasted...
I also don't do station visits these days, but I did have a train day in LA with Metrolink. That was pretty fun, as was the Metro over there. Tap with pride, every time you ride!
I covered the majority of the LA Metro, couldn't be bothered to finish it.
For obvious reasons, the other love of my life, aviation, has been put on hold and it may never come back! I took up cycling in the early part of 2020, getting more serious with it by the spring. I subsequently was off the bike for a lot of time, having caused an injury but that's a whole other story. As of today, I'm only 46 miles off clearing the bike for 1,500 miles and I am very pleased with that.
Sticking with that theme for a bit, I did my first cycling holiday in October! That took in bits of London (yes really), Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Strathclyde and the North West. I also mixed in some trains, more than originally planned due to the weather, but I did finally get to try the 385s which I love. I also cleared the 380s, which was fantastic
On the same trip I got to try my first 397, I didn't find them too bad overall.
Just before lockdown in March I got my last GWR 800 by chance, the 802s just don't come my way much now so they remain irritating. I had my first 769 the other week, and a renewed Pacer farewell at the same time. Oh, I cleared the 166s early on in 2020 too, and had my last GWR 165, so I've not done too badly there.
On 2nd January 2020, after an excellent day with the legend that is Kite in Birmingham, I had my last ever beer after a change of trains in Worcester. I don't know what happened, it was a known favourite beer, but just like that I decided it was time to quit alcohol forever. It was actually nice and easy, and remains one of my highlights of 2020
Flying my first ever Boeing 747 in January was a big highlight too, and I am very glad I didn't leave it until another time after all. Kraków was also an enjoyable time, and it still seems incredible those were my only non-UK destinations in 2020. I look at it as validation for all the rushing to see the world for the last few years. I still have places I'd like to see, whether I will get to do them or not is another thing altogether now.
So all in, that's a selection of highlights of 2020 for me. In some ways, I've been very fortunate this year. I've had a lot of adventures, albeit not the sort I expected, I'm in a good place financially which I definitely didn't expect to happen until next year and I've met some amazing people. I've disconnected from a lot of people, and I am much less social than I ever used to be, but I prefer it this way. I have a very small group of friends, and that's really good, I don't have patience for too many people now. I just don't have much in common with the average person, so I'd rather connect with those I do!
As I look at my local cycle map, I do look forward to 2021 and whatever it may bring!