This is it: Walktober!

Little changes, here and there.

For so many people throughout space and time, a walk has been a productive, vibrant way to step away from everyday life and gain a refreshed perspective.  Aristotle and the peripatetic philosophers walked as a way to inquire philosophically and to educate others.  In preparation for his ministry, Jesus walked through the desert for forty days.  The Buddha walked for years before he found enlightenment.  Indigenous Australians memorized and passed down songlines to trace and communicate invisible pathways across the continent, marking their ancestors’ routes and guiding them across a vast continent.  Walkers have walked to gain a sense of place, to improve well-being, to harness attention, to cultivate awareness, to gain new experiences, to explore new territories, to march for freedom, and to express care and devotion for others.

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… May we all show up for this magnificent world and its inhabitants as we walk, kissing the very earth with our footsteps.

~ Bonnie Smith Whitehouse, Afoot and Lighthearted: A Journal for Mindful Walking

A path from the past. It doesn’t look nearly this autumn-like here right now. Soon, though. Soon.

This is it.  The Official Walktober Post.  What that means is that this is the post where you leave a link or pingback so I can find your Walktober post for the big round-up at the end.  That also helps others who want to go ahead and follow along early.  As you know, you do not have to walk.  Most of us do, but there might be some reason you are unable to walk.  Or you might prefer a drive or a bicycle ride.  Maybe you want to cruise along on your longboard or paddle out on a kayak.  Whatever your means of locomotion and/or transportation, you are welcome to join in.  The dates for participation are October 3-18th.  If you need more time, let me know.  The rules and dates are loose guidelines.  Otherwise, this might stretch into forever.  I am planning to do the round-up post on October 26th unless someone needs/wants more time.

I’m going to keep this post short so that nobody has to do a lot of scrolling before leaving a link.  I have a longer post lined up for later in the week, and there’s a surprise post coming next week.

On the forest floor.

Thank you so much to everyone who offered suggestions regarding the new block editor and how to get around it.  Thank you for stopping by today, and thank you to everyone participating, past, present, and in the future.

Please be safe, be well, and be kind.

A touch of sunlight, but not yet a touch of autumn on these leaves.

A few of the 10,000 reasons to be happy:  1,561)  Walktober officially begins!!  I’m looking forward to your walks/posts.  1,562)  Hints of autumn beginning to show across the tops of the trees.  1,563)  Day 3 of my Seagull Century adventure.  I am doing the metric century (on my bicycle, since this is a bicycle ride).  My mileage as of the morning of day 3 is 28.4 miles, 45.7 km.  I’ll be riding all week, but will probably hit my goal before the end of the week at the rate I’m going.  1,564)  The beautiful weather we’ve been experiencing over the past few days.  1,565)  You.  Thank you, for everything.

From my ride yesterday morning.