The second I typed that title I started humming The Final Countdown. Anyone else? Just me?
Moving on.
Just like that, we’ve wrapped up our daily(ish) walks in April! A huge thank you to everyone who joined me — your encouragement and fun pictures inspired me to get moving on days I might otherwise have stayed cooped up inside.
Now I’m thinking ahead to the fall (what? I like to plan). Traditionally, we’d have another walking club in October. But I’m wondering if it’s time for a little change?
A New Name? A New Focus? Or Don’t Mess with a Good Thing?
Should I “rebrand” as the Cool Movers Club? Here’s why I’m toying with the idea:
- Some people assume it’s only for bloggers, which isn’t the case at all. And others feel like they can’t join because they don’t walk. But what about all the other great movement. Ten minutes of yin yoga? Sure! A dance session in the kitchen? Love it. But maybe the specificity of “walking” helps some people say “yes” in a way that something broader wouldn’t?
Option: leave it as-is, or broaden the scope?
- Also, would you be interested if I ran a daily movement “club” in October? Or, would you prefer another round of the F.I.G. Collective instead? I’m also considering participating in NaBloPoMo and could potentially combine movement or F.I.G. prompts with that. But then we’re getting close to the holiday season, and maybe it’s all too much structure???
Basically: There are too many choices. Tell me what you think/want!
ELISABETH’S WALKS
Not much to report – just two walks to round out the month!
Distance | Company | FIG*
*FIG = a Finding Joy in Gratitude moment
- 29 – 6.46 km + 2.27 km | John | On our first walk, we were able to venture out in ONLY SWEATERS. No jackets! This is a big deal! There is still plenty of lingering brown, but we saw bright yellow and pink flowers, a charming lamppost, a cemetery I somehow have never visited in all my years living here (?!), and two painted birds on trees in a local park.
- 30 – 3.63 km | Solo/Joy | I walked while Belle was at a track practice. The sun was shining, I was listening to a podcast, and it was my final “official” walk for April. On my way back to the car, I popped into the library to pick up some holds and bumped into Joy. We got to walk together for a few minutes. I chuckled at the farm machinery warning sign. Small-town life!
AROUND THE BLOGO(SPHERE)
- Sabine walked with a purpose, volunteering at various track events and visiting a flea market “that is an integral part of the national holiday King’s day.” (The picture she sent my way has an orange accent in honor of King’s Day.)
- Maria stayed active walking with her young kiddos in New Brunswick.
- Tobia sent lovely pictures and descriptions! First, a photo of a section of a local biking route. “One is the Berlin-Copenhagen with 700 km, one is the Berlin Wall bike route with 160km – fun fact my mom was part in creating that – and another one is the Havel bike route along the river.” Second, a tiny beach: “This is were I go swimming during the summer. It is about 800 m from my home.” Third: “Sometimes I go a little further to the public beach that will have roped areas and life guards on weekends when the season starts. It is often very loud so I prefer the small beach when it is not occupied by people with dogs.” (Tobia has a great summary post of her entire month of walking here!)
- Elinoora writes: “The first two are from a steep walk up Daimonji-yama mountain near Kyoto. Very very cool! Yesterday we arrived in Kawaguchiko, and now we can see Mount Fuji! We took the cable car up to the viewing point and walked down.”
- Kyria has been walking in Türkiye, averaging ~20,000 steps/day! In terms of “profound thoughts” she writes: “I think I’ve solved a lot of problems then forgotten the solution by the time I stopped walking, over and over again! It’s good to let the thoughts flow freely though, even if I can’t remember them.” Her month summary (here) is FULL of fascinating pictures from her time in Türkiye and you should totally click over to see the cool sights she took in while walking or learn some handy phrases in a new language — like how to ask someone walking too slowly to get a move on!
- Joy channeled her inner spring spirit, marking each walking day with a flower!
- Jacquie sweetly sent me a picture of a card that reminded her of my neck of the woods (I do adore Peggy’s Cove)! “When I was walking in North Vancouver I stopped into one of the small shops near the Quay and when I saw this card I immediately thought of you. You live in Nova Scotia and I know you love lighthouses. It is my way of saying thank you to you for all that you do for us with the Cool Bloggers Walking Club. You are a busy woman and the time you make to create the lovely weekly posts is very much appreciated. I’ve always enjoyed walking, but now I go out and see these neighbourhoods with a new eye to try to capture with a photo what makes them special to me and share them with others.” <3 <3 <3
- Alexandra posts all sorts of fun weekly stats about her cool walking adventures — this week was no exception!
- Engie and Hannah enjoyed lots of walking, taking in the sunshine and pretty tulips. There was also the requisite stick chewing.
- mbmom11 wins this week’s award for Photo of the Coolest Non-Blogger Walking Group (see below). She spotted a gaggle of geese walking through a parking lot! Because of in-climate weather, she wasn’t able to enjoy many outdoor walks at the end of the month, but made good use of the gym walking track while waiting for her son to finish a workout.
- Nicole and Rex are…always walking! I’m not sure if these photos were from daily walks in April or May. They walk every day of the year. And they see (and sniff) lots of cool stuff along the way.
- Diane’s walks this week included a trip to the Farmer’s Market (where she enjoyed a pineapple ginger paleta – yum!).
- San walked in Northern California all month, taking a total of 134,603 steps (63.8 mi) and spotted many colourful flowers along the way.
Here’s a map of where people have confirmed walking locations (darker pink = more walkers). Apologies if I missed anyone’s location!
And that is a wrap! Happy walking, friends.
Your turn.
- Would you be more likely to join a “movement” club vs. a walking-specific one?
- Do you want to do another exercise club in October, or would you prefer another round of the F.I.G. Collective instead?
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mbmom11
Look at that – CBWC spans the globe!! I love seeing how the season start and end at different stages during the month depending on hemisphere and latitude.I think CBWC should stay – there are no rules really, as our kind hostess is very flexible about what counts as movement. However, I’ll go along with whatever title. I’m not fussy! And I’d stick with movement and not FIGS for October. Save FIGS for February when, for many of us, the winter blues take hold. But, again, no worries; I’ll play along with whatever you choose.
(Honestly, FIGS are harder for me than 10 min walking! signed a confirmed pessimist)
Elisabeth
It spans the globe! (Can I admit, I’m secretly hoping for even more pink another time. Wouldn’t it be so cool to have someone walking in Uzbekistan or Tanzania???)
Noted! I appreciate that you’re willing to be so flexible, but as someone who DOESN’T blog, it hasn’t stopped you from joining in and for that I am so appreciative.
I like the idea of FIGS in February, too, for the reason you mention – Christmas is over and we all need something to help break up the drudgery of winter. Well, for those of us who are in the “winter” part of the world in Feb. the only reason I thought of it for October or November was because of Thanksgiving. But it’s also a very busy time of the year, so waiting for Feb may be the best idea. Stay tuned 🙂
Suzanne
Look at those maps!!! So cool that you are inspiring so many people around the globe to get outside and get moving!!!
Elisabeth
It’s fun to walk “together”!
Jan Coates
Love seeing all these pictures, from around the world/North America. I’m back at pickleball, here in the Haliburton Highlands – and I remember most of the names:) We’re getting to enjoy seeing spring arrive for the second time, as we’re a week or two behind NS up here:)
Elisabeth
You didn’t wait for any grass to grow under your feet. I’m so glad you have a network of friends and activities in Haliburton.
Enjoy the spring transformation and of course I’m sure you’re counting down the days to the next grandbaby <3
Jenny
Well, let’s see! I’m probably not a great one to weigh in on the CBWC, since I didn’t participate. But I think one of the aspects people like is that it gets them outside very day. So my vote would be to keep it as walking. I agree the name is slightly problematic, as it seems to exclude non-bloggers, which isn’t your intention at all. I’m trying to think of another way of saying it, that would encompass everyone who has a blog, plus people who read blogs. I mean we’re all involved with blogs, one way or another.
For October… I would LOVE another FIG Collective. But I wouldn’t want that to encroach on the walking (and October is usually a nice month for walking). If you did the FIG Collective in November, it might make it easier for some people to participate in NaBloPoMo, giving them a structure and ideas for blog posts. Having said that- I realize this is all a lot of work for you! I don’t mean to give you a bunch of assignments here. Whatever you decide to do will be greatly appreciated.
Elisabeth
Yes. I think the “blogging” thing is more of an issue than the walking. I could change the name, keep the walking, but also make it clear that running, the gym, etc counts. It’s kinda like having a Book club, but allowing that to include comics, audiobooks, and magazines. It’s the spirit of the whole thing I’m aiming for. But…you also make a good point. For people to know about the club they READ BLOGS. So maybe it could just be the Cool Blogging – instead of Blogger – Walking Club?
October IS a prime time to walk in North America and I love the excuse to see the fall foliage. I think I’m sold on doing another walking club in October, but I’ll ponder the name a bit further.
Nicole MacPherson
Oh, I’ll take any club, I’m not picky! I’ll go with the flow! Although that flow will be from Morocco! Eeee!
Elisabeth
Wait. WHAT! Morocco? When’s Paris? Nicole, you are officially a global walking superstar.
mbmom11
Hey, if Nicole walks in Morocco in the fall, that would get another continent to your map! Anyone going to South America or Antartica in October?…..
Elisabeth
Coco lives in Brazil and she moves every day (mostly running – LONG distances)!
K @ TS
I’ll be able to put some more counties on the map next April! But definitely south America and Africa are looking pale.
Nicole MacPherson
Paris first! We are stopping over on our way to Morocco. Hence my need to brush up on French!
Diane
I think one of the things I liked most about your club was how you celebrated everyone’s walks. It can seem such a *ahem* pedestrian thing, to go for a walk every day, but there is something to doing it mindfully, and noticing the things around us when we walk.
I will admit, I always struggle with the “Cool” part of Cool Bloggers. I’ve never been cool, so I have to ask myself, “Is this for me?” But the activities – the walking and reading and FIGS – that’s what I’m here for.
Elisabeth
Yes – both the “cool” and the “blogger” bit could throw people off. But, also, it’s a name we’ve gotten familiar with. I WILL PONDER THINGS for a while.
Thanks for participating, Diane. I truly loved seeing all your pictures and hearing little walk anecdotes.
Birchie
I’m all for changing the name if it encourages more people to join. I keep saying that a “cool blogger” is anyone who likes blogs, whether they have a blog or not, but also if someone started a Cool Thing That I Am Not Group, I’d feel weird about joining. The People Who Like Hanging Out with Elisabeth Group is a little wordy, so I think that Cool Movers or Cool Walkers is probably best.
Elisabeth
Wait, you don’t think PWLHOWEG isn’t going to catch on?
Michelle G.
I LOVE the map! I mean…we are very cool! Global cool people! I quite like the Cool Movers Club. The abbreviation CMC is cool too! Or if you stick with walking, the CWC. (Cool Walkers Club) The photos of where everyone walks are really fun. But truly, I’m here for whatever you decide to do and whatever you decide to name it. I appreciate you so much for hosting these lovely events. ❤️
Elisabeth
CMC does roll off the tongue nicely. Imagine someone doing a Google search and expecting to find a cross-country moving company to move a grand piano or something – haha.
I will ponder the name thing and circle back around, but I think I’m settled on doing something to do with movement/walking in October!
Alexandra
I like Michelle’s idea of shortening the title to just CWC (Cool Walkers Club) I’d go for that. It feels more open to anyone and everyone. And definitely sign me up for October, I’d be more than happy to join in twice a year, autumn and spring work perfectly. Especially here for the weather and the flowers!
And will you look at that map? How wonderful to see that this spanned the globe! We’re everywhere, well, almost. Ha! Ha!
Elisabeth
The map was fun! I’m already excited to plot things in October.
I think it *would* be fun to shake up the name a bit. I think I’ll come up with some name ideas and have it be a blog poll like I did with the FIG Collective!? That way, I don’t have to make the official decision. I’m sly like that 😉
Alexandra
As a map person, yes, I love to see things mapped out. It really gives scope and scale to who participated.
Ah, yes, clever idea to do it as a poll and get a majority consensus. Easy that way to make sure everyone gets a chance to be involved.
Elisabeth
And, more importantly, one less decision for this lady who hates making decisions. Pass the buck 🙂
Rebecca Jo
I wish I knew about this – I would have LOVED to join in – count me in for the fall!!!!
Lisa's Yarns
I did not do well with this challenge but that’s ok. April was a HARD month for me for a variety of reasons and the weather was awful for much of the month! I love seeing where everyone was walking, though! And I love all the pictures folks shared!
NGS
If you change the name, I’ll have to change the tag on my blog. *Clutches pearls*
I like that it’s about walking myself. I actually challenge myself to do all of it outside, too, because I think that being outside is the best part of the challenge.
Elisabeth
I think I’m leaning toward keeping it as walking, but maybe shifting the name at least a bit since I do hate that some people have assumed they can’t join since they’re not bloggers 🙁 I try to make it clear, but that tidbit always does fall through the cracks.
K @ TS
I like CWC and you can always explain that any activity will work. However, I do think that getting outside is a good goal!! And I say keep the Figs in Feb and get Outside for Oct (see what I did there?)
Thanks as always for keeping track and making it a fun thing to be a part of! I love seeing that you are wearing spring things in these photos lately! Yay! Also Joy is the cutest. Her name suits her well.
Elisabeth
Joy IS the cutest…I am a bit biased, I know!
I’m so glad we got to do CBWC together last October. Let’s make that happen again 🙂
Tobia | craftaliciousme
The Map is so cool. Yeah. Loving it.
So many cool photos from around the world. The geese in the parking lot: definitely the award of the month.
I personally enjoy the intention of going outside and walking. I understand the broadening though. For me personally it is the getting outside thing that is the challenge as I could just be inside doing my home office thing. I also prefer October as a month. Not sure if it is because it would be routine/tradition or because it would be the last fun month. I guess doing it in November would push me more to be outside. I don’t know… I guess whatever you decide I will join and try to stick with it.
Thank you for hosting and I am excited for what you host next.