This is it, folks!! The final recap of our October 2025 walking club (for anyone counting, this is the fourth round of CBWC).
In a word, it’s been wonderful. There were days where I barely made it ten minutes…and other days I moved for long stretches of time (like hiking Cape Split with Kae). But many days I only laced up my sneakers and got outside because of this “club” and for that I’m grateful.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated (or cheered us on), and sent pictures and other details about their adventures. I’m genuinely touched by everyone’s enthusiasm, and humbled by the personal stories some of you shared with me about the powerful impact daily walks had on your mental health in October.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
At this point, I will likely be in Europe in April, so I’ll hold my plans to host another spring edition of the Cool Blogger’s Walking Club lightly. But I also feel like it will be impossible to resist the urge to explore Europe on foot and document it for the blog. Stay tuned.
I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s time to rewind to my last set of walks:
DAY TWENTY-NINE | 3.92 km + 5.23 km
I did two outdoor walks with my dad while dressed in hunter orange (safety first).
In the morning we walked to a little backwoods lake. Dad brought a thermos of coffee and it was just us, a few ducks, and a whole lot of silence. #Bliss
After lunch, we did a longer woods walk, but it wasn’t quite as picturesque.
DAY THIRTY | 1.96 km
A stroll through the woods. It was a lovely fall day; sunny and crisp, with no hint of wind.
There’s a giant boulder on my parents’ property and my kiddos used to love going to this hidden nook of the forest when they were little. I had to stop by for old time’s sake.
DAY THIRTY-ONE | 1.20 km + 0.62 km
In between rain showers, I headed out for one final walk in October and at the lake.
Then the sun came out and my parents decided they wanted in on the action, so we did a short walk together (during which I took no pictures).
A FINAL SPIN AROUND THE WORLD
Ahead of last Monday’s recap, I was clearing my blog photo library removing duplicates and mistakenly deleted the collage of Elinoora’s walks. I’ve since corrected the error, but I wanted to make sure I reposted her photos today because she visited such a compelling art installation. It’s called The Elastic Perspective (by Next Architects).
Joy sent along her completed walking log from Nova Scotia! I loved her idea to note where (and with whom) she walked each day! Genius, my friend.
Catrina and husband Kai are back in South Africa (after three months in Switzerland). Make sure to read all about her upcoming exercise plans and check out the stunning views of Cape Town.
Susanne was walking in Ireland. I just love all the green!
Jenny tracked her walks in West Virginia:
- 10/22 – No exercise today.
- 10/23 – I take piano lessons from an adjunct professor at the local college. After this week’s lesson, I walked a few laps around the fine arts building to get some steps in. It’s pretty big, so probably 15 minutes total for the 3 laps. I stopped to admire a display of work by printmaking students. (photo: Art)
- 10/24 – No walk today, I stayed home this evening and put up the outdoor Halloween decorations. Perhaps changing the bulbs in the porch lights should count and exercise tho!
- 10/25 – Today I played in my college’s Alumni Band. It was great fun, we marched with the band down to the stadium and played with them during pregame, halftime, and in the stands. I took a picture of the scoreboard early in the game. Yes, it was 6-2! We scored a touchdown, but during the point after attempt the visiting team somehow got the ball and ran it 98 yards for a safety. Football fans tell me that is rare to see. (We lost by 4.) (photo: score)
- 10/26 – Took a 20 minute walk in a nearby neighborhood.
- 10/27 – Mowed the lawn. One day back in the summer I was mowing and a grasshopper caught a ride on the mower for a few laps. (photo: grasshopper) I thought it was a more exciting photo than just showing the recently cut grass.
- 10/28 – Band rehearsal tonight. No time for exercise.
- I did no exercise the last three days. Did get a nice sunset on Halloween (photo: sunset).
Rebecca was walking in North Carolina. One walk included rescuing her chicken, Pepper, from the talons OF A HAWK! Sometimes she walked with nothing but the sound of nature in her ears; other times, she listened to a Christmas audiobook (Belle would be so impressed) and A Jane Austen Year podcast.
- Sabine was walking in the Netherlands and writes:
I am (among other things) a lecturer and I had to teach on two days at a different university last week. I spent a lot of time on public transport (2 hours from door to door on a good day: walk – bus – train (maybe a change) – bike and then the same for the return later.
The two other pictures are actually cheating a little bit as they are from the beginning of November – interestingly both at around the same time. One is from a walk that I took while our son was at a rehearsal (looks a little dramatic with the clouds).
The other one is a picture of a (double) rainbow from our vegetable garden (shared with some neighbours about 10 min from the house). Although the picture does not do it justice, it was the brightest and most intense (full) rainbow that I have ever seen and you had the impression of being fully immersed in its beauty and light.
- mbmom11 sent three photos from walks on Halloween! She wonders if Buc-ees beaver is supposed to be scary? Also, fall foliage and the view while her daughter dog-walks!
Here’s my completed log; I went looking for fall-themed stickers (think: pretty leaves, tiny pumpkins), but came out empty-handed. I ended up opting for these puffy heart stickers from the Dollar Store and they did the trick.
- Engie and Hannah continued walking in Wisconsin. (Here’s her final recap.)
- Melissa (and Riley!) walked in Australia. (Here’s her final recap.)
- John (and Indy) kept walking (in Nova Scotia) while I was in New Brunswick. One day they did a walk through the woods (complete with some Pokémon Go), and another day they were both in costume for their walk since it was Halloween!
- Elinoora saw all sorts of interesting things while walking in the Netherlands.
- The Fenix art museum for migration in Rotterdam (cycling home). It has a very cool walkway!
- Bodypump ready! I will get stronger.
- …a very cool feature on top of a hill called the Gaatkensbult. There’s this mirror, and when you look at it it’s like the horizon continues and the before and behind landscapes merge. [That is very cool!]
- I walked past a small pen with goats and bunnies on a walk with the kids. This goat is either very fat or pregnant. [No a question to openly ponder about humans, but I’m guessing the goat’s feelings aren’t hurt by your query.]
- Suzanne continues to enjoy fall foliage in her part of the world; indoor workouts were monitored under the watchful eye of Leo (lots more details and photos here).
- Check out Diane’s post summarizing her final walks (in the last week her theme was “foliage”) and discussing key takeaways from her daily walks in October (plus lots of wonderful pictures).
I thought it would be fun to post side-by-sides of the the maps from this year:
COUNTRIES APRIL 2025: 10
COUNTRIES 2025: 13
Woot, woot. We’re +3 in October for countries.
PROVINCES/STATES APRIL 2025: 15
PROVINCES/STATES OCTOBER 2025: 20
And we’re +5 in terms of states.
The maps don’t necessarily reflect the overall growth of our club since there are…a lot of people in Wisconsin, for example! But I love seeing this as a map and maybe in April (or next October), we’ll see it take us new places on the globe.
One last time: thank you! This club wouldn’t be fun (or exist) without you.
Happy walking, friends.
Your turn.
- Is there a particular walk from your month that stands out as memorable or special?
- What’s your favourite month of the year weather-wise?
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Yay, we made it! 🎉
Thanks so much for organizing everything, Elisabeth, and for pulling these posts together every week, such a fun project.
Looking at the map, I think we need a brave blogger to pop up in Russia or Greenland next, haha! Have a great week!
There are some big countries (geographically) I would love to see checked off for symmetry, but it’s so fun to see this little club grow <3
Thanks for hosting, Elisabeth!
I had wanted to walk in a different state, but unfortunately, most of my walks were inside the Y or a store. I hope I can use the momentum I built up to keep walking .
Inside works!! I think it’s easy to get discouraged by poor weather (or lack of time), but every bit counts and can go a long way in helping us feel grounded and settled. Plus, it’s a great break for our nervous system, even inside!
Oh I love this so much! Thanks for leading the charge, Elisabeth! It’s been so fun to walk “with” so many people around the world and to see everyone’s gorgeous photos and fun descriptions of their walks.
Today 20 states and provinces, tomorrow the world!
It may not have happened in October, but I walked in PEI in September and very briefly in QC in November so we came close to getting 2 more provinces on the map.
Darn. I’m tempted to “cheat” and tack you in for PEI and QC…but I’ll push back against the urge and keep things “honest” – haha.
I feel confident that you will help me check off lots of places in the next CBWC as you enjoy the new freedom of retirement!!
Everyone’s photos are lovely. Diane’s photos look the most like mine, but I’d love to be walking in Catarina’s neck of the woods right now because we are covered in snow. Boo! My favorite month to walk is May, when everything is beginning to bloom.
Agreed – South Africa’s weather is sounds REAL good right now 😉
What a great idea to do the maps! How fun to see us all together, all over the world. Thanks Elisabeth! This was great.
It’s fun to have a visual representation and a huge thank you for putting Morocco on the map!!
What a diverse set of walkers! I love how you added states and countries! Very cool!
I had a really successful month of walking. Some days I walked as much as 5 miles/nearly 10k. I nearly always walked at least 2-3 miles. It was a very grounding activity for me during a stressful month. I loved my solo walks and my walks with friends, either in person or in my ear buds. It was a great way to connect with others while giving my body some endorphins.
I think September if probably my favorite month for weather? October can be quite volatile and cold. This year it was nice for most of the month but you never know what mother nature has in store for you! I also love July and August since it’s peak summer weather, but I’m not as comfortable in those months since it can be quite humid here.
I am so glad walking was such a balm for your soul in October. You logged A LOT of steps and I am so very proud of you <3
I generally like mid-September to mid-October the best (this year it 100% held true).
I like August, too, if it's not too hot. This year it was stifling! (I feel like I am so picky about weather. It's usually too hot or too cold for me. I definitely see "snow birding" in my future at some point).
This is such a great walking ‘tour’ 🙂
Thanks! It was a lot of fun <3
These are great recaps and amazing photos. Love that you and your dad found a chair. I feel a bit lousy for not sending my photos to you. I did walk most days, but my follow thru was lacking. My favorite walk of the month was my run on campus at Notre Dame after a great night’s sleep. Campus was so pretty and the weather was prefect. I prefer the summer months for walking and running, because I get it done early before it gets too hot and I’m not racing back or limited by work, since I have summers off. It snowed here overnight and womp womp – there go most of my run/walk outside days. Thank goodness we have a stationary bike.
That run sounds amazing (especially after watching Rudy run through Notre Dame with the kids last month).
SNOW? It feels like so many bloggers have snow right now. This is one time I do NOT feel any FOMO. We’re getting rain which is pretty dreary and miserable, but at least it’s not snow!
A spring edition of the Cool bloggers walking club would be great! Wherever you’ll be in April, it will fit, I can’t think of any European country that isn’t lovely for walking in April.
You have such fantastic colours where you are. Truly stunning.
Thanks for joining in this round of CBWC! It was so much fun to have people from all around the world and your pictures were absolutely GORGEOUS.
Thanks for hosting such a fun event again, Elisabeth. I didn’t officially join in October but I did get my daily steps in and I enjoyed following along with your recaps and all the fun pictures people shared from their walks.
Thanks so much for organising Elisabeth, it’s so much work, and nice to see us growing! My favourite walk this month was in our holiday town we visited, Port Macquarie. I love combining beautiful weather, beautiful seaside scenery an a new place. Good for the soul. My fave month to walk in for where I live is June – it’s winter but that means mild and sunny.
I can’t imagine winter being mild and sunny. Oh my days that makes me jealous!!!
Your photos from Port M looked gorgeous. Of course I loved seeing a lighthouse, too 🙂
This was so much fun, Elisabeth! It’s wonderful to see all the photos from around the world. Thank you for hosting the CBWC once again!
Thanks for participating again, Michelle. I loved seeing the mountains and cows!
This has been the most fabulous thing and I am so grateful you organized it all! 😀 Yay for growing and coloring in more of the map!
I’m not sure I have a favorite walk – because they’ve all had something to treasure about them. Sappy, yes. But every day saw a change in color or found me ruminating on something new or simply the reminder that moving – and sometimes not moving – my body is good.
In our part of the world I feel like October is a magical month in terms of movement and changes (that’s why I choose it, because I want to be able to gawk at the gorgeous foliage). I’m trying to think if I had an absolute favourite walk in the month?…
Thanks again for keeping everything in line! I love seeing the recaps! It would be cool (next time?) to see all of the places we have all walked now over the last couple of years. Then I can start strategically traveling in order to add to the map (although next April, I already know I will be somewhere that hasn’t been touched yet!)
Ohhh. I like this idea. I should have a master map that combines all the locations over the years!
And yay that you’ll be somewhere else next year. Chances are very high I will be, too.
I love this walking movement you’ve created! I did lots of walks, but didn’t document a thing and rarey took photos. Maybe next time?
Of course you have to walk all over Europe and share it with us.
I did enjoy seeing all the folks and their photos from around the globe—how fun!
I loved your puffy heart stickers. For some reason those grabbed some sort of nostalgia from the past and might stick with me until I can pinpoint why!
Sometimes it’s nice to walk with no agenda and no photo-taking device (which is, these days, almost always a phone which comes with lots of distractions). You were with the group in spirit 🙂