Who’s ready for a walking recap??
Julie: I know I’m very early sending photos for CBWC, but I had a lovely walk this morning and thought I would send you pictures. These are all from a park in our town, Heather Farm. As you know, I have Fridays mostly off from work, so I get a chance to go further and take my time if I want to. I really miss Mulder on these walks, and my pictures would be much better if he were here.
[Love the diversity of flora; I spy a few Canadian Geese, too! Bonus points + a sheet of gold stars for sending me the first collage!]
Sarah. Woof this weather is testing my limits! I mean, I HAVE to walk outside because of Annabelle, but man do I wish I could stay indoors. STILL WINTER HERE. So instead of frustrated pics of me in my parka (I even wore a hoodie AND a jacket AND gloves to run this morning), here is the face of someone who is both cool and delighted to be outside 🙂 (I’ve been out for NINETY minutes every day this month).
[Great work on your daily time outside. April is such a fickle month; glad you have a companion who’s cheerful regardless of the weather.]
Jenny (in West Virginia):
CBWC Week 1 Review
- Day 1: A thunderstorm derailed my plans for an afternoon walk, so I cued up a short Pop Pilates workout video on YouTube. It’s been a few years since I did Pop regularly and I thought I would be super sore the next day, but was surprisingly ok.
- Day 2: Took a short walk up and down the street. I had a piano lesson scheduled in the evening so I didn’t want to do to much and be sweaty and stinky!
- Day 3: Took a 40 minute walk around the neighborhood.
- Day 4: Went to the park and jogged a mile. It wasn’t my worst time ever, but close. I’d like to get back into jogging and stay uninjured enough to do a 5K in the fall.
- Day 5: Easter Sunday. I had 9 people over for dinner, so while I spent much of the afternoon rushing around doing last minute house house cleaning (aka hide all the random crap) and cooking, I did not do any formal exercise.
- Day 6: I had a headache most of the day and went straight to bed after work.
- Day 7: Took a short 15 minute walk in the park. It was sunny but chilly out and the wind did not help. If it had been a nicer day, I probably would have walked further.
[That’s a lot of company so kudos for prioritizing rest the following day. All the best with training for a 5K!]
Engie. It’s April in the Midwest, so we have the whole gamut of weather. We have men in a boat when it’s 40F/4.5C outside, daffodils blooming, and a red cardinal on a grey sky. What more could you ask for? (I mean, I’d like to ask for 70F/21C and sunny, but…).
Thanks for organizing this! It is fun to see where everybody goes and what they do on their walks!
[Spring weather can be absolutely bonkers. Hooray for colourful blooms and a four-legged friend to enjoy the transition from winter to spring. Engie’s full recap—with lots more pictures of Hannah—is here!]
Melissa: So far, I’ve managed to get my walks in every day. The weather has been what I expect for my favourite season in Melbourne—crisp mornings, blue skies, and plenty of sun, although we also get our share of rain. I’ve attached a photo from our walk on the beach yesterday with Riley. Now that it is April dogs are allowed on the beach nearer to us, so it’s easier to get Riley there, and although he is not a big swimmer, he does enjoy all the new smells that he encounters on the beach.
[Riley looks so happy! I would be too, spending part of my day at the beach :)]
mbmom11: I‘ve gotten out every day except one, even with our rain and storms. These tulips we planted next to our house the first summer we moved in- they’re hidden behind some shrubs and vines, but thrive in the neglect!
I really need the walking club- somehow late winter early spring has been harder on me than Jan and Feb.
[April is a great time to get back into an outdoor exercise routine. Whatever you’re doing—or not—those flowers are gorgeous and a sure sign of spring.]
Caroline. Spring is tumbleweed season in New Mexico. Here’s a bunch I came across in an arroyo (dry waterway that carries rain off the mountain) during my morning walk.
[That is a lot of tumbleweeds! I’ve never seen a single one in my lifetime. The variation of landscapes is fascinating. And I love that you captured your shadow in the picture, too!]
When I told her about my lack of exposure to tumbleweeds she responded: They’re everywhere during the windy spring. I once had to wrestle one to get in my car. And every year the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority puts up a tumbleweed snowman along the interstate. She even sent a link with pictures of the annual tumbleweed snowman.
Michelle: I went out walking along the Madison River today, and I saw a moose on the opposite shore. I don’t see moose very often, so it was an impressive sight.
[I won’t be surprised if you’re the only walker to spot a moose this month, Michelle!! Sun protection for the win!]
Nicole. Rex and I walking by the creek that I did not fall into!
[Thank goodness!!! Here’s hoping for only uneventful, injury-free walks in the future. Rex always looks so happy to be outside exploring.]
Jana. The most attractive church in town is in my neighborhood—my church is 2 miles away and it isn’t attractive, in case you were wondering. One day my husband asked me to go for a short walk with him, so I shoved my feet into some shoes without looking. After were were a distance from home, I looked down and saw this. They are both crocs so they felt exactly the same.
[I love seeking out church spires from town/city viewpoints. What a dramatic backdrop, too, with the mountains behind. Crocs are so comfortable regardless of whether or not they match. Which reminds me… I miss mine!]
Diane. I decided this time around for CBWC to look for a specific colour every week, and this first week was RED. This week I saw red azaleas, red playground ladybug, red tulips, red bikes, red ice rink markings, red kites, red (white and blue) flag, red door and umbrella, and the red line train (though technically the train itself isn’t red.) I also saw lots of cherry blossoms since it is PEAK BLOOM (yes, that gets all caps!).
[I love everything about the idea of a weekly colour scavenger hunt! You spotted a lot of red things!!]
ELISABETH’S WALKS
Some editions of CBWC I’ve recorded FIGs, sometimes I’ve made note of my walking partner, and other times I’ve tracked distances.
For this round, I’m keeping things simple with the date and where I’m walking!
- Wednesday, April 1 | Vienna, Austria | Stroll along the Danube to St. Francis of Assisi at sunset.
- Thursday, April 2 | Vienna, Austria | Walk along the Danube back from St. Francis of Assisi (again; such a pretty spot) after buying pasteis de nata.
- Friday, April 3 | Vienna, Austria | Walking around Prater Amusement Park!!
- Saturday, April 4 | Brno, Czechia | Hours spent wandering the streets of a new country, climbing up for birds-eye views… and then going underground at Labyrinth Under the Vegetable Market + 10-Z Bunker.
- Sunday, April 5 | Vienna, Austria | Walk to and around the Beethoven Museum + walk through Central Cemetery to visit Beethoven’s grave.
- Monday, April 6 | Vienna, Austria | Exploring Kunsthistorisches Museum (the biggest art gallery in Austria) for hours. Art galleries require a surprising amount of walking!
- Tuesday, April 7 | Vienna, Austria | Browsing the Easter market at Schönbrunn Palace + a walk from Cobenzl Aussicht just before sunset.
Happy walking, friends.
- Tell me about the most unusual thing you’ve seen on walks over the last week?
- If you could snap your fingers and magically go on a walk anywhere in the world, where would you go?
- Have you ever seen a tumbleweed in real life?
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I have seen a tumbleweed in real life when we did our road trip with the kids. I did not realise there was a tumbleweed season. We were there in autumn, though.
Nothing unusual on my walks- just squirrels and budding leaves.
I wish I could snap my fingers and be in Vancouver, to walk with my sister. She knows all the parks and scenic walks- we could do an urban tour as well. Or perhaps Oreland? But I’d need a walking partner- no fun to see new, beautiful scenery without someone to exclaim with! So BC it is.
That’s supposed to be Ireland! Autocorrect needs a new dictionary.
Once again I’ve failed to be a cool walking blogger! But I love hearing about everyone’s walking adventures and seeing the photos. I want to know who this “Jenny in West Virginia” person is! Not only does she have the best name, but she apparently hides random crap before company comes- she’s obviously my kind of person!
Hi, I’m Jenny and I live in West Virginia. I don’t have a blog but I love reading everyone else’s. Not sure what people want to know about me, I’m pretty boring, never married, no kids, currently pet free – but hoping to get a puppy in the next year. I’m a librarian by trade and I play in community band for fun. I tend to spend lots of time watching YouTube or doom scrolling – internet is usually my most expensive utility bill, so I want to feel like I’m getting a good value, I guess.
None of my Easter company was staying overnight so I was able to relocate the mess from the living room to the guest bedroom and shut the door! Today’s plan is to get some stuff relocated either to it’s proper place or to the thrift store donation box!
If there is anything specific you want to know, please ask!
Ohhhh. A puppy! How exciting. What breed are you thinking of?
Woo hoo week one of CBWC! I second Jenny in Florida’s request for Jenny in West Virginia to tell us more about herself!!! Guest post please!!!
It was a great week of walking. One night there was a storm starting as we were leaving for our nightly dog walk, and Doggo got spooked so we took her back home. I still wanted to walk, and Hubs joined me so it ended up being a dog walk without the dog. Last weekend was a three day weekend for Hubs, so we got out and did a bunch of hiking with Doggo, and I was able to take her on a couple of short hikes this week.
A dog walk without the dog—ha.
Your wish was her command 🙂
I’ve been sick since the end of March (all viruses are conspiring) so not as much walking or activity has happened. I have managed 10 minutes of intentional activity every day though, using CBWC to push myself a little.
I’d say the most fun / unusual bit was our yearly family get together on my dad’s side. We had amazing sunshine, great BBQ (love all the fire masters in the family), lovely catch ups with my cousins and also seeing their kids grow (and meeting some of their significant others!). We even had little entrepreneurs, who used the craft material to create notes (I love you), frogs, little wildflower bouquets and more to them start a little shop in the garden. One of those may have been my youngest, haha.
It has been such a “sick” time lately. So many viruses swirling. Great job on still managing to move each day, despite illness. Hope things are on the upswing now.
That family time sounds amazing—great food, great weather, great company!
You win in terms of very cool things to see while walking!!!
Thank goodness I did not see anything unusual on my walks. I do not need any more dead rats in my life, you know? I just saw the usual – ducks and geese and all manner of birds, other dogs, leaf buds in the trees – life is good!
Very sadly, you win the distinguished honour of seeing the WORST DEAD THINGS this year. Full credit to Rex on that one.
Hooray for signs of spring. It’s such a hopeful time of year, especially in Canada, when everything “wakes up” from winter.
I love seeing all the photos of everyone’s walks! I feel so inspired to know that we’re all in this together! I have seen tumbleweeds. The coolest thing I saw was a moose, but I enjoy the views every time I walk.
I haven’t seen a moose in years. I have to admit my ignorance; I never really thought about moose being in the US (of course they are, now that I think of it). They seem so iconically Canadian!
Ooh I loved reading these updates! I have started with CBWC and its definitely been getting me walking more, which makes me happy! I haven’t yet shared any photos or updates yet, so will send them through for your next round up 🙂 St Francis of Assisi is SO amazing, I’ve heard of it but never seen a photo – now I really want to visit Vienna! And I’ve never seen a tumbleweed (except in cartoons haha), so was so interesting to see so many of them in that photo! And cool to see the moose too.
Vienna is a gorgeous city. So much to see and do. St. Francis of Assisi was a shock highlight. I’d never heard of it before we came to the city and it flies under the radar a bit because St. Stephen’s/St. Charles/St. Peter’s churches are so famous. But it is truly magnificent.
You haven’t seen tumbleweeds, but you see kangaroos 🙂
It will not surprise anyone, but I failed to send in any photos of my walks thus far. I have 5 littles 3 of the 4 days I babysit, and my biggest stroller is a quad. I figured out how to fit all 5 in the stroller, so I’ll send some photos of that soon. That pales in comparison to the amazing moose Michelle saw and the sights of Vienna. Truly so many cool places to walk. If I could walk somewhere, I’d swap my current place for a walk in Michelle’s neck of the woods (starting to think about reserving a trip in Yellowstone for next summer – not sure if you recall, but we tried five summers in a row to visit and eventually waved the white flag). Or I’d meet mbmom11 in Ireland. Thanks for organizing this. So fun to see what everyone else sees on their walks.
You win for the most complicated logistics for getting out to walk!
Yellowstone looks like the trip of a lifetime. I’ve never been to any of the US National Parks, but the landscapes are so varied and look truly incredible.
I have done pretty terribly at the walking challenge… I am doing lots of OTF classes but otherwise walks have been sparse. I did walk to get the boys from school on Friday and we walked to church yesterday. And I walked lots in Manhattan last week! But I am otherwise really falling down on this challenge. But the weather has not been helpful!
I have seen tumbleweed – it was something I saw fairly often when I was growing up in rural North Dakota!
You have been exercising so faithfully, Lisa. I am so proud of your hard work at OTF!!!! And it’s paying off with all those performance improvements you’re seeing.