Walktober | Change Is Hard

November 3, 2025
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

Walktober Recap!

First was Robin who took us back to look at Octobers past with her beautiful photographs of places she enjoyed taking Walktobers over the years. She always takes such luminous photographs, you’ll enjoy going back in time with her. https://breezesatdawn.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/a-different-kind-of-walktober/

Then along came Jo, who is from Portugal but who took us for a walk in Torun, Poland! I love when people from all over the world join us for Walktober! Most of us would never see these places without wonderful people sharing them with us. https://stillrestlessjo.com/2025/10/06/jos-monday-walk-torun/

And then Karma decided a beautiful, warm, October weekend was just begging for a trip to Maine, so she and a friend went! Talk about the perfect couple of days! After reading this you’re all going to want to go to Maine for the weekend! https://karmardav.wordpress.com/2025/10/12/an-impromptu-getaway/

Penny the sheltie-girl wanted to make sure you all had a chance to see one of her parks, so she took you to Davis Lake Overlook Park, not far from our home. It was a beautiful October Sunday and she and I had a wonderful time. https://dawnkinster.com/2025/10/13/penny-takes-a-walk/

*Penny here,* *I made my mom include a picture of me here.*

Barbara took us to The North Carolina Museum of Art, where she found beautiful asters and goldenrod and a few pretty insects as well as a larger than life resident of the park surrounding the museum. https://www.ingebrita.net/2025/10/sunlight-over-the-meadow/

Debbie took Walktober to a new level, the epitome of ‘walk, drive, skip, boat, or ride!” She took us to a train museum and then we get to ride the train! https://domermom.com/2025/10/19/walktober-2025/

Mike took us to Calloway Gardens, a very special place in Georgia, no matter the season. He’s from a Northern state, so fall in the South is a bit different for him, and it’s probably different for a lot of us, so let’s go see what he found! https://mlcreationsphotography.com/2025/10/19/walktober/

For me, well, I was lucky enough to spend a week in upper Michigan, in a home along the shore of Lake Michigan itself. I shared the cats I was hanging out with and took a stroll in the small village up there. https://dawnkinster.com/2025/10/19/cats-in-northport-and-other-tales/ But after I did that post I decided it wasn’t really my official Walktober.

Eliza Waters found some beautiful color on her walk. She and her dog Wren took a lovely walk on their very own land. You can see for yourself here just what a beautiful place it is they live: https://elizawaters.com/2025/10/21/walktober-2025/

My personal Walktober was at one of my favorite places in the whole world. I debated quite a bit while I was up there whether to do my official Walktober on the beach. In the end, how could I not? https://dawnkinster.com/2025/10/23/dawns-beachy-walktober/

Mike got the chance to visit Calloway Gardens in Georgia again, during their pumpkin celebration and he takes us all along with him to marvel at the sights. https://mlcreationsphotography.com/2025/10/26/pumpkins-at-callaway/

Lisa took us for a walk around her neighborhood. From the pictures I’d say she has a pretty big neighborhood! There’s a bit of everything there! https://dailymusing57.com/2025/10/28/walktober-2/

Monkey, a very special sheltie-boy, took his mom out to see what there was to see, and you’d be amazed at the color he found! https://domermom.com/2025/10/27/walking-with-monkey-2025/

Natalie shows us some beautiful images from her October. She sure got a lot of beautiful images throughout the month! Go check them out: https://natalietheexplorer.home.blog/2025/10/31/october-2025-highlights-and-favourites/

Deb and her little schnauzer went on a beautiful walk for their combined Walktober. There’s nothing like seeing the trail from a little dog’s point of view: https://widowbadass.com/2025/11/02/the-sunday-schnauzer-walktober-glory/

Linda took us on a walk and found some very festive holiday color along with her regular friends at her park: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2025/10/26/a-walktober-stroll-that-was/

Carol literally takes a plane to show us a place far from her home and then she takes you back home again. Explore with Carol here: https://cjvl.wordpress.com/2025/11/01/walktober/

Penny and I hope you enjoyed all these Walktober adventures. She said I should include a picture of her and since I’m a mere sheltie servant I will.

I have the worrisome feeling I missed somebody’s Walktober. I’ve checked and double checked but I still feel like somebody got left out. So if you did a Walktober and I didn’t include it here, comment on this post and I’ll do a quick edit and get you in!

Meanwhile, enjoy all the October adventures!

October 23, 2025
by dawnkinster 31 Comments

Dawn’s beachy Walktober

While I was cat sitting in northern Michigan I considered where to take you on the annual Walktober. I didn’t want to waste the fact that I was in northern Michigan, and you can’t get a better location for a Walktober than that.

Lake Michigan was pulling at me to take you on a beach walk. But many years ago I did exactly that, and if I can find it I’ll add the link to that post here. (You really should go look at it, it was an entirely different sort of day!)

I didn’t want to repeat myself. You might be bored with another walk along the same beach.

Of course back than I and the friend who lives here had wandered north. I could always take you south this year. As I stared at the lake on a warm Saturay morning that seemed like the perfect solution.

Until I got down to the dune above the lake.

A wedding was happening just to the south of me. Sure, I could walk past it. I mean people were actually swimming at the public beach right there. But I didn’t want to infringe on their moment. So I turned north.

After all, that last beachy Walktober was a long time ago. And every beach walk is different, right?

So off I went toward that point just up the way a bit.

I was immediately drawn to a footprint in the damp sand. I thought about how transient our footsteps are. How fleeting our whole lives are.

The waves were already lapping at the footprint, ready to erase it forever. I spent a long time photographing that footprint, wondering who had been there just before me.

There were plenty of other pretty things to photograph along the way. It must have rained the night before, or maybe even just before I left the house.

There were soft little sandy divots everywhere. It looked and felt something like a moon landscape.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was out, the cloudless sky was a deep blue. And on the beach were other signs of beings who had gotten outside to enjoy the day long before I had.

I wondered what kind of little animal had scurried across the beach that morning. And then I wondered what made it decide to go in a different direction.

I kept going straight, along the shore, noticing the way the light bounced off the water…

…and off a railing creating modern art on the beach.

Resting kayaks were waiting for another trip out on the lake this season, and I imagined them glad of the warm fall day, just like I was.

Chairs were waiting patiently for their people to rest and watch another sunset.

But mostly I was watching the water and the sand in front of me as I approached my destination, the point.

The lapping waves, sliding over the sand was making the most beautiful art.

And it had left behind sadly beautiful artifacts too.

And of course there were those footprints, always a step ahead of me, combining with the sand art, moving steadily forward.

As in life, once you reach your destination point you always see another point in the distance. Maybe instead of turning around I should head toward that new point, way up there.

There was bound to be more to see.

But as I got closer to that far away point I noticed someone playing with her dog.

And I thought maybe it was best to leave them be, just as I had let the wedding be. Bookmarked by a dog’s play and a wedding day, I was happy with what I had seen on my Walktober. I hope you enjoyed it too.

Oh…and the footprints… those I had been following on my slow walk north?

The owner of the prints came back toward me and we exchanged pleasantries about what a beautiful day it was and then she continued on her walk heading south toward home.

And I did the same.

There’s still time for you to get a walk in, post about it and link it to the Official Walktober post. I’ll gather them all up and do a recap post in early November. We can’t wait to see where you’ve been!

October 19, 2025
by dawnkinster 33 Comments

Cats in Northport and other tales

I spent a week at the beginning of October in Northport Michigan. It was an idyllic week, filled with brilliant blue skies, warm temperatures, aqua water and cats.

*On the way, this was the most color I saw all week.*

I was there to hang out with a couple of mischievous cats that belong to friends of mine who were taking some time to travel. They were off having fun and I was having fun in their space and with their cats.

The cats, a boy and a girl, were adorable and I have more pictures of them than the beautiful place I was living.

I can tell you that cats are as hard to photograph as birds. You see a great image, grab your phone and by then they have moved. Multiple times.

The best and easiest time to photograph cats is when they’re asleep.

Which, if I’m honest, they did almost as much as they caused mischief.

Aside from the cats I also got to enjoy the beautiful area.

Though I didn’t go on long nature walks this trip, I did wander around the village of Northport, looking for color.

*Above the road on the way into downtown.*

After all, this could be my Walktober, showing you the cute little town of Northport is, right?

There were plenty of flowers still blooming. I was particularly smitten with these California poppies, blooming away on a corner.

And the asters were beautiful as well. Purple and pink, blooming in front of storefronts.

Though the downtown itself is only a few blocks long I found plenty of interesting stuff to photograph.

*Unsure why a skunk, but he demanded to be photographed.*

It’s a tiny town, but it’s also a close knit community.

*If I liked beer I would have stopped in.*

I think it’s probably a town where everybody pretty much knows everybody else. I didn’t talk to anyone during my visit, I just wandered and took pictures.

*Not open the day I was wandering or I definitely would have stopped in.*

It was so warm it felt like a lovely summer afternoon. There were lots of people out and about, waiting in line for pizza, sitting at outdoor dining areas of restaurants.

*Come sit for a minute and enjoy the October sun.*

While I got images of most of the village, I know that I missed at least an entire block, as well as the marina. Of course that just gives me an excuse to go back up for another visit soon!

I hope you enjoyed our short walk through Northport.

When I left, very early on a Tuesday morning (in order to get home in time to attend band rehearsal) it was still dark.

I was taken by the glowing orbs in the trees as I entered town.

*I loved the reflections in the puddle.*

And then I walked around the darkened streets and caught a few more images of Northport asleep.

*Resting before the next round of customers.*

I liked doing that as much as I had enjoyed my daylight walk.

*Only the witch, the full moon and I were out and about that morning.*

I hope you did too.

So..was this my Walktober? I don’t know. There’s another one to show you, but I don’t have the photos ready to go yet. We’ll see.

Meanwhile you still have a couple weeks to do your very own Walktober. Take a walk, a drive, a ride, a hop, skip or jog. Take a photo or two or three, write a post and link it to the official Walktober post (see link above) and I’ll put them all together in one place in early November.

Let’s see what you’ve been up to!

The cats want to know.

October 13, 2025
by dawnkinster 21 Comments

Penny takes a walk

Hey guys, it’s Penny here! Guess what? Mom and I had the best walk ever yesterday! I’d been asking for attention for awhile.

Mostly she told me to go lay down cause she was busy. So I gave her my big pathetic eyes and it worked!

Suddenly mom was packing me up into the back of the car and we were off to parks unknown!

*This is at Davis Lake Overlook Park, or as we call it Katie’s Park II.*

We went to one of Katie’s parks. I had grand plans of taking you somewhere different, somewhere you’d never been before, but mom said I needed to check reality and until I got my own drivers license I was stuck with where she was willing to take me.

Whatever mom.

*Mom got all sentimental. She said Katie sat right here in a beam of light a few years ago.*

Anyway, this is a very hilly and fun park that I love to explore. And we had a beautiful day for it, so I was happy to be there.

*This is a pretty big hill, mom. Are you sure you’re up for it?*

We were looking for autumn color. At least that’s what mom said. I wasn’t at all sure I knew what autumn color was.

*Mom said the early evening light made these leaves on a brand new baby oak tree glow.*

Eventually mom said I shouldn’t worry about it, that she’d find the color for me this year. But she, of course, reminded me that Katie was very good at finding beautiful things for her Walktobers and next year, when I was three, I’d be responsible for my own color search.

*There might be some color over there, mom!*

We’ll see mom. I’m sort of into good smells and not so much into pretty stuff. I’m a different girl, and sometimes mom forgets that.

Anyway, we walked up and down the hills into the deep woods. Mom even tried to turn around once, way before I was ready to go back and I told her no way!

*Mom wanted to turn around, but I vetoed that idea. It’s MY Walktober!*

So she smiled and said, “whatever you want, sweetie,” and we wandered further into the woods. Isn’t my (um, Katie’s) woods beautiful?

*I had such a good time I couldn’t stop smiling!*

There wasn’t much color, but mom figured that’s because of the drought we’ve had. Most of our color is brown. I don’t really see a problem with that, cause most of my color is brown!

On our way back to the car I took mom on a little diversion. A path out into the marshland that’s closed all summer was open and I wanted to go down that path real bad.

*Mom dropped the leash and let me go at my own speed.*

It leads to a small lake which is part of the Shiawasee River (it’s only a stream here) and on the other side of that lake is the backside of our little town. Maybe someday mom will take me on a walk downtown. I know, it’s only got one block, but you never know…right?

*It’s hard to see our little town, way over there.*

Anyway, mom let me walk all by myself down that grassy path toward the lake. Then I figured out she wasn’t attached to me and I lost my confidence. I’m not quite ready to wonder too far from mom yet.

Mom says that’s a good thing.

So that was my unexpeted walk on a beautiful October Sunday afternoon. I’m calling it my official Walktober and I hope you enjoyed Katie’s park and our walk there.

*After my walk. I am a happy, happy girl.*

We look forward to seeing all your Walktobers when mom puts together the recap post in November. In the meantime, link your posts to the Official Walktober Post just like me! You’ve still got plenty of time to get a Walktober in! Walk, skip, hop or drive somewhere, take a picture or two (or more!) and write up a post. We all want to see where you’ve been!

Talk later,

Your park explorer girl, Penny.

September 25, 2025
by dawnkinster 58 Comments

Official Walktober Post

Hey! It’s official! It’s time to stand up, step out, get going, and plan your walk or drive or skip or hop or swim or jog for this year’s Walktober!

*These guys get overlooked all the time.*

Take us somewhere that you love to go, or somewhere you’ve never been before. Tell us (and show us with pictures if you can) about it and why you’re happy you went, or why you’re disappointed in your chosen place. Do you think we should stop and visit it if we’re ever in the neighborhood?

Tell us all your hopes and dreams. OK…maybe that’s too much information, but tell us about your adventure, where it is and what it’s like, and then link it to this post.

Early in November I’ll assemble a post with links to all of your posts, and then everyone can come along on your walk, hop, jump, skip…well….you get the idea.

*Common yellowthroat. I waited a long time for him to come pose for me.*

So let’s set the official Walktober dates, OK? Because if you’re like me you’ll let it go until the last minute or you’ll forget about it all together if there aren’t specific dates. Right? Right!

*Mama deer taking a break from parenting. Her youngster is to the left behind the trees.*

So how about our official Walktober kick off on October 1 (who will be our first entry?) and end by October 31? That gives us the entire month of October to get outside and enjoy ourselves. I hope you all have at least one perfect day.

*A bluejay lets his friends know about the treats down below.*

I have a concert to play on the 28th, and dog rally trials on the 24th and 31st, so I’m really busy at the end of the month. I better not wait to get my Walktober done!

The pictures in this post, except the last one, are all from a walk I took a few weeks ago at my favorite bird park, Kensington, with an updated Nikon camera, focus set to latch onto birds eyes.I was pretty happy with it.

*You just know he’s going for the peanut.*

If you have questions about Walktober let me know. I’ll get back to you as quick as I can.

Meanwhile, Ms. Penny is giving serious consideration to where she would like to take you for her version of Walktober. She invites any other dogs (or cats or birds or lizards!) to go on a walk and tell us all about it too. She thinks hopping or skipping would be too hard and she doesn’t have a drivers license.

She says it’s not that difficult to hyjack your mom or dad’s blog.

*This is one option, mom, but I’d like to take the folks somewhere more exotic.*

She does it all the time. She says parents are so gullible.

September 15, 2025
by dawnkinster 22 Comments

Walktober Preview

If you’ve been around for more than a year you’ve probably read about or even participated in a Walktober. It’s someting that began when Robin over at Breezes at Dawn went for a walk, took a few pictures and shared it all with us while inviting us to go out and share our own walks.

*These images were taken at Kensington last week.*

It evolved into an annual event with people from all over the country, and even the world, doing their walk sometime in October, taking pictures and posting about it while linking to Robin’s Walktober post.

Then sometime at the end of the month, or the beginning of November Robin would do a post featuring everybody’s adventures.

What fun to see different places in the world! And to know that people all over are out doing their Walktobers at the same time!

This year Robin needs just a little help to get Walktober organized, so I’ll be doing it for her. As it gets closer to October I’ll probably remind you once more, and then sometime in early October I’ll post the ‘official’ Walktober post that you can link to once you do your own walks.

*Little orange flowers with morning dew.*

Near the beginning of November I’ll collect all of your posts and do a final review of everybody’s Walktober.

*Joe Pye nears the end of it’s summer work.*

BUT! Least you worry that you don’t like to walk, let me reassure you it doesn’t have to be a walk. It could be a drive, or a boat ride, a kayak trip down a stream through fields filled with cows.

It could be a pogo stick hop through your neighborhood, or a tour of your own backyard. It could be rural, in a forest, along a beach, or a city experience through a busy midtown.

You can skip or ride your bike or do the tango on your walk. You can ski or snowmobile if you have enough snow. How about roller skating? Now that would be a Walktober!

It’s your Walktober to do whatever moves your heart.

I don’t know where I will take you this year, but here’s where I went last year.

We have a couple weeks to figure it out this year, right? RIGHT! So put your Walktober caps on, and watch for the official Walktober post. I can’t wait to see where to take us all!

*Sitting is allowed on Walktober adventures too.*

It’s gonna be fun. Guaranteed.

November 13, 2024
by dawnkinster 21 Comments

A Walktober summary

Thank you, everybody for having patience with me as I traveled. Last year when I did this summary I was smart and built it as you linked your Walktobers to my post. This year, for some unknown reason, I just left it until the end.

Which is now.

If after you review this post you find I’ve missed your Walktober, just let me know and I’ll go find it and edit this right away. But I sincerely hope I haven’t missed anybody!

So without further ado, let’s get to walking!

First up is Ruth who walked in her local nature reserve. She described it as ‘being in a little bowl of nature.” Doesn’t that just make you want to visit it yourself? Lucky for all of us Ruth included several pictures so we can pretend we’re right there with her!

Walktober – Local Nature Reserve

Next is the Widow Badass who was out and about with the celebrity schnauzer, Bowser. There’s nothing quite like a cute dog walking in brilliant fall leaves to make a person smile. We hope you’re smiling too as you read about their walk.

The Sunday Schnauzer – Walktober 2024

Speaking of dogs enjoying a fall walk here comes Monkey, a handsome sheltie, who likes to take his mom on walks whenever he can. I think he did a great job showing us around, don’t you?

Walktober with Monkey ’24

And then there’s Barbara showing us beautiful sculptures glowing in the sun. Such a pretty place she shared with us, and very unique too! I’m sure once we read about her walk we’ll all wish we had a park near us just like it!

sunlight on the sculptures

Linda shares with us her walk among the scarecrows that weren’t scary at all. In fact I think you will agree they are all kind of cute!

Scarecrow strollin’.

Debbie, who happens to be Monkey’s mom, took a walk on trails surrounding Lake Charleston in Illinois. My goodness, look at all the beautiful things she saw on her walk! I’m thinking we should not tell Monkey she went without him!

Walktober 2024

Next we have Lisa and her Walktober around her neighborhood. You won’t believe all the color she saw!

Dawn’s Walktober

Well, I managed to insert Lisa’s post twice, and so far I can’t figure out how to remove the duplicate…so I’ll leave it in for now. Just scroll on by, people, just scroll on by.

Dawn’s Walktober

Somewhere in the middle of all your walks I got my own in. It’s been so long now I can’t remember where I took you. So I guess you’ll have to read the post and find out!

Walktober (or maybe Drivetober) 2024

Next we have Jo’s walk She takes us to Tavira in Portugal! The wonderful thing about our annual Walktobers is that you never know where you’ll end up! And Jo got to meet a fellow blogger there as well, which is always special.

Jo’s Monday medley 6

From Portugal we move on to Canada with Dale, specifically over near Quebec, if I have done my sleuthing correctly. If not, maybe she will let us know ! Dale combines lots of beautiful fall colors with some sculpture as well on her walk about town.

Walktober 2024 – Parc Vincent-d’Indy & Surroundings

Back in the United States Carin takes us on a walk around her neighborhood with her sheltie Levi. Penny has met Levi in person and she would like you all to know he’s a very good host!

https://www.catchatwithcarenandcody.com/2024/11/a-walktober-post-in-november.html

Up next Linda takes us on a lovely walk around a pond in the Armand Bayou Nature Center near Houston Texas. It’s one of the largest urban wilderness preserve in the country, and we’re lucky to see some it right here through the magic of Walktobers!

Walking the Edge of A Pond

And Jo has decided there’s another place in Portugal that we’d enjoy, so she’s taking us all to visit the River Guadiana in Alcoutim.

Jo’s Monday walk : hugging the Guadiana

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t include Penny’s Walktober. After all she started the whole thing this year!

The official launch of the 2024 Walktober

And once again I have a duplicate post that I can’t delete. WordPress is giving me fits, but I decided to try and publish this as is versus spending even more time trying to fix it.

Hopefully you all enjoy each other’s walks, and that’s what this is all about! AND, if anybody knows how to delete links that I pasted twice into this please give me a hint on how I can clean this up!

Walktober 2024 – Parc Vincent-d’Indy & Surroundings

I am already looking forward to Walktober 2025! I hope you are too! And thank you to everybody that participated in our October tradition. Thanks again for all your patience with me!

October 24, 2024
by dawnkinster 33 Comments

Walktober (or maybe Drivetober) 2024

Where to go for my Walktober, where to go? It’s been weighing on my mind.

I’ve done so many, taken you to visit all my local favorites, some of them multiple times. You and I have walked in Detroit along the riverfront, and in my own backyard, and on the beach of Lake Michigan.

This year I wanted to take you somewhere we hadn’t been before, so how about Tawas State Park? It’s on the eastern side of Michigan, on Lake Huron and only about three hours from me. Plus it’s ‘up north’ so it’s just got to be beautiful by definition.

I decided to do a combination walk and drive for this annual Walktober post. That way you’ll get to see the most stuff from my 6 hour adventure.

I left on the spur of the moment, last Sunday afternoon, after I had attended a Fun Run rally competition with Penny. It was our first together and deserves a whole post to itself. Let’s just say after that experience I needed a good, long, pretty drive.

Without a puppy.

Initially the trees weren’t that colorful, mostly yellow, and I was concerned that I had missed the show. But as I got further north, and stopped at a little roadside park, I noticed things were looking a bit better.

And by the time I could actually see Lake Huron the color was starting to pop!

When I got into the park I noticed there were a lot of cars in the lot given it’s definitely off season. But as I climbed over the low dune to the beach I could see why.

The place was crawling with kite boarders!

I walked on the beach for a bit, braving the brisk wind and blowing sand, watching the kiteboarding folks skim over and above the waves.

That was fun, and made for some challenging photography, but I had planned on walking the birding path I’d heard about, up near the lighthouse. So I headed over that way.

The wind was so brisk that I doubted I’d see any birds, but I stubbornly headed up the path because that was why I had come!

It led me right up to the Lighthouse, which was pretty, but I wasn’t, for some reason, excited about exploring that.

I kept along the birding trail, never hearing or seeing a bird of any kind. In fact the trail was becoming quite boring. Then I spotted a narrow footpath heading back through the beach grass.

That was definitely more my style. The wind had played sculpture with the day’s footprints, and I liked how the lowering sun made the sand look, so I stopped for a moment to take a picture on my way back to the shore.

Coming off the dune and back onto the beach I saw there were even more kiteboarders riding the wind.

And I couldn’t help but notice how the sun made the water silver.

Up ahead of me was a little spit of land, poking out into Lake Huron. Last time, more than 15 years ago, when I’d been on this beach there had been many, longer spits of sand, but this year there was only this one that I could see.

If you stood at the base of it you could see the water being blown into shore from both sides. I thought the combination of waves, light and sand was just beautiful.

But what about the kiteboarders, you say? What were they doing as the wind kicked up higher and the sun began to descend?

Well, they were doing what kiteboarders do. They were racing back and forth across the water and leaping high above the waves.

It was sooo much fun to watch.

But after awhile I realized I needed to head home, even though I was having too much fun watching all the action. So I said goodbye to the lighthouse and Tawas State Park and got back on the road.

But wait! Is that the end of my Drive/Walktober? Is that all there was to see? Well of course not! There’s still that three hour drive through farmland on the way home. What do you think I’ll see?

Here’s a hint:

Well, this is getting long. Maybe you better take a break now, at intermission so to speak. Or get a coffee. At least stretch a little.

I’ll wait.

Welcome back to Part II of my 2024 Drive/Walktober. On US 23 the trees were glorious. So pretty I had to stop a few times and pull over to admire them.

And the folks that live here? I’m only a little jealous of the fact they live among all those beautiful trees while looking out the back of their house at Lake Huron!

Of course I had to turn off US 23 a few times because I saw pretty barns in the distance. In the fall sunlight they were even more beautiful than they’d be in the summer at noon.

And sometimes it was just the light on a field that caught my eye.

But to be honest it was mostly the barn.

Or sometimes an old house…

…or the sign at an abandoned speedway.

I turned around to get that image. I just couldn’t NOT!

I had to go around a few blocks to get back to this grain elevator too. Something about an old truck under the grain chute.

So that is the end of my Drive/Walktober. Almost. By the time I shot the old truck it was getting late. The sun was definitely on a quicker slant to the horizon. Plus I had to go to the bathroom. So I stopped at the Bay City rest area. And there, I found the most magical ending to my Walktober adventure.

I bet just about anything that this last image made you smile. It did me then and it does today. After all that driving and walking and shooting I found my image in a rest stop on the way home.

Isn’t that just the way it goes.

If you have a Walktober in mind, go out and take a few pictures (or a lot) and post your blog linking to the original post about Walktobers and I’ll gather them all in early November and share them all with everybody!

Questions? Just ask!

October 17, 2024
by dawnkinster 68 Comments

The official launch of the 2024 Walktober

Well, it’s that time of year again…time to dust off the ole walking shoes, grab your phone or your camera (or both!) and head out to find something interesting or boring, pretty or mundane, to share with all of us in the world.

What’s it like this October where you live?

*We didn’t have a lot of color on my walk, but I found a little bit of it!*

Interested bloggers want to know!

The most eager Walktober participant I know is our girl Penny, so I’m going to let her kick off this event. She’s so happy she’s darn near panting with joy. Or maybe she’s just drooling. Hard to tell. Anyway…here comes Penny!

Hi Hi HI HI HI HI!!!! It’s me, Penny!

This will be the second Walktober of my entire life, cause I’m not even two years old yet! But I remember last year and it was so much fun I could hardly wait for October to come around again.

*We hiked on trails like this for most of our walk, but also across grassy meadows too.*

Mom says I shouldn’t wish my life away, and time is short no matter what we do. But I’m just a puppy and I try to get as much fun stuff smashed into every day as possible. Mom says I’m exhausting.

Whatever, Mom.

So anyway, Mom took me on a walk in one of mine and Katie’s parks and I thought I’d share it with you as my Walktober 2025.

We started out in Katie’s part of the park and walked up and down the hills. Mom always tells me about Katie when we walk there. I don’t mind, Katie seems like she was a pretty awesome girl and I love hearing about her adventures.

*I was quite proud of myself for jumping up on this bank.*

After we got up and down the last big hill we arrived at a meadow and Mom had me practice my recall on the mowed path.

I’d say my recall is pretty spectacular…a long as she has treats! HA!

*I’m coming, Mom! Get that cheese ready!*

Then we wandered through the meadow and back into the woods and over to my part of the park. Mom and I walk over on that section a lot, but we usually enter it from a different parking lot that is about 1/2 a mile north (as the crow flies, lots further if you take the trail) of where we parked this time.

Mom and I wandered around and she took lots of pictures. Eventually we made it to my pond. It was really pretty.

It was after we moved on from my pond that things started getting messed up.

I wanted to go back to the other parking lot (which was still about a mile away from where we were) like I was used to when we visit the pond, and Mom wanted to head back to the parking lot we were actually parked in (which was also about a mile in the other direction).

*Mom had me stand near the one tree that had changed color. It’s another sassafras tree.*

Mom had never gone back to that parking lot from our pond before, but she had a photo of the trail map (because she’s a smart mom) so she wasn’t worried. She studied the map and we walked on a brand new trail that she was sure would take us back to that meadow and eventually back to our car.

*There were lots of trails to choose from.*

But it was winding through the woods and didn’t feel like it was going in the right direction. And Mom couldn’t figure out exactly where we were on the trail map. It was getting hotter and she didn’t have that much water for me.

So she started getting worried.

*How about we rest on this nice bench, mom?*

Me? I wasn’t worried! I just kept sniffing and tugging Mom along. Why I even surprised a mouse! Or, if I’m honest, the mouse surprised me, cause Mom says I jumped about 3 feet straight up into the air when I found it!

Anyway, after awhile Mom decided we needed to turn around and go back the way we had come. That meant we added another mile or so to our hike, because we had to go back to the pond and then back to the trail we had come on, then all the way back to the car!

*At least there was shade in the woods!*

I didn’t like turning around, but Mom said not to argue with her just this once please, so I decided to be good.

We made it back to the pond, and then back to the meadow and then back to the car eventually. Mom was hot and sweaty and crabby.

I, however, was a happy girl! Another long Walktober in the books for your gal Penny!

*Mom found some interesting leaves and light.*

So here’s what you need to do…go do your own Walktober (but you don’t need to get lost) and take a few pictures. Remember you can walk in the woods or in a town, even in your own back yard! You can ride a bike, or take a car ride, or jog or skip or even ride a unicycle!

Just do what you do and then show us your world by writing a post on your blog.

*We were lucky to see this monarch butterfly too!*

Then link it up to this post and at the end of October my Mom will gather up all your links and put them in one giant post so everybody can visit everybody else’s walk!

Mom says if you need a little extra time, or have questions, just let her know.

Sound like fun? Then…..ready, set…..GO!

Talk later,

Your Walktober Girl, Penny

October 4, 2024
by dawnkinster 33 Comments

Balance, walking, Walktober!

I’m taking a community ed class, put on by my township Parks and Rec, and sponsored and designed by a local hospital system. It’s all about balance, and it’s designed for senior citizens.

I guess that makes me an official senior.

I’m 68, and I qualify as a senior citizen by any number of measurements, even if I don’t feel like one. So when I saw this class in the winter township catalog I thought…why not? I’ve fallen and hurt myself a couple of times and I’d like to learn how to fall more gracefully to avoid more injury.

Maybe even avoid the fall altogether.

*Sometime just looking up makes me dizzy.*

Which, as it turns out, is what the class has mostly been about. Avoiding the fall. There are about 12 people attending each week. We just had week 5, so 3 more to go. Each week there’s a topic, lead by a nurse and the head of Parks and Rec. They work well together.

*There’s not a lot of color in the trees here yet, but there was still color on my walk.*

We’ve learned some gentle excises that I should be doing daily. The basis of the class is that if you keep your muscles in good condition, flexible and fit, you are less likely to fall.

*The colors are mostly subtly, but still beautiful.*

In this week’s class we put together plans for meeting class goals. My end of class goal was to have an established walking program put together. I and the group decided I was going to walk 4 times a week for at least 40 minutes somewhere.

*Saw this little guy on the path. He swayed back and forth if I got too close. So I just cropped the image.*

Lots of places with walking options were suggested. One couple goes up to the mall every single morning (except Wednesdays when they come to class) and walks around the one mile interior perimeter. I used to go there and walk too, especially in the winter. It’s a nice place and I’ll likely start that back up when the weather gets bad.

But while it’s still nice weather I prefer to walk outside.

Yesterday I went out to one of our parks, without the dog, and walked 3 miles. It was lovely. All the photos today are from that walk.

*Turned around at 1.5 miles. Going back was pretty much all uphill.*

I could use it for my Walktober, but I don’t think I will. It’s too early, there’s not enough color yet, and you’ve seen this park before.

On the other hand, if I don’t come up with something better than maybe this will be my Walktober!

*Little bits of pretty things, way down on the forest floor.*

Penny says it’s not fair that she didn’t get to go. I say, she stops and sniffs too much plus she barks at other people, bikes, cars, dogs and baby strollers. Oh. And joggers. So the walk is not relaxing when she’s along.

If she ever grows up I’ll consider taking her. Meanwhile I just have to do two walks, one for me and one for her.

So far she’s good with that plan.

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Walktober

Walktober Recap!

Dawn’s beachy Walktober

Cats in Northport and other tales

Penny takes a walk

Official Walktober Post

Walktober Preview

A Walktober summary

Walktober (or maybe Drivetober) 2024

The official launch of the 2024 Walktober

Balance, walking, Walktober!