Postcards From Across the Pond

If you’re keeping up, you’ll know that my wife and I are hiking the Appalachian Trail. Virtually, that is.

Using our Garmin Vivofits (other activity trackers are available) we are accumulating movements that are automatically converted to steps and put against our step-target of 4.9 million. The steps are automatically converted—in my wife’s case—to kilometres, which I then manually convert to miles so I know how far she has travelled compared to me.

It is not going well.

Those of you who have read the original post will know that I started out with a disadvantage because my Vivofit declined to record a 20,000-step day at the very start of our virtual journey. Then, a battery malfunction robbed me of another 15,000 steps, meaning that, in the opening days of our trek, my wife was admiring stunning vistas while I was still looking at the “Welcome to the Appalachian Trail” sign. And I have been chasing her ever since.

I joked about addressing this step deficit by putting the Vivofit on my right wrist when I practice my guitar, as the strumming action—being movement—would be recorded as steps. Therefore, a rendition of American Pie and Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald might net me an additional 1,700 if I played it right. Sadly, this jest has become reality, and I genuinely have been switching the Vivofit during practice sessions and, of course, recording the added steps. I’m about halfway through my 35,000-step deficit, and it’s only my lack of practice that keeps me from reaching the target, which will put me closer to, though not even with, my wife.

I am aware that I could switch hands for other activities, but I am only interested in catching up with my wife, not leaving her behind.

However, noting that on the 18th of August, I was 42 miles behind her and, as of today, I am 81 miles behind her, switching hands is sounding like a great idea.