Twenty Questions (E8): Better Than, When Walking/Hiking

I thought I'd stay on the walking and hiking theme in honor of the Cool Bloggers Walking Club! Speaking of, in October, I've been out hiking this month and have been out of service for most of the time, so I've been a bit absent in the old blogosphere! I promise to come back in November and tell you all about it. 

Actually, speaking of November, as I've been away, I haven't kept up with the NoBloPoMo current events, but will say for sure that I will not be taking part in it this year! However, I will be checking on y'all's blogs at least once a week during the event! However, this November I'll be doing some visiting, more hiking and other travel and I just can't commit to being present and engaged for it this year. 

You can see other posts in the Twenty Questions series here. Also, if you want to be featured in a future list, don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!

Without further ado, here are 20 things about hiking and walking that I think are better than their alternative. Chime in at the bottom: which do you prefer and why?? 

                     Photo: Sawtooth Mountains, ID

1. Walking/hiking uphill > Walking/hiking downhill

2. Dry feet > wet feet

3. Dirt path > paved path

4. Forest > desert

5. A bit too cold > a bit too hot

6. Trail runners > hiking boots

7. Wool socks > cotton socks

8. Starting early in the morning > finishing late at night

9. Snow > rain

10. Cold feet > cold hands

11. Flies (non biting) > ticks > mosquitoes

12. Camping under a tree > camping in a meadow

13. Swimming in a freezing Alpine lake > no shower/bath

14. No underwear > wet underwear 

15. Battery died in camera > battery died in phone 

16. Falling going uphill > falling going downhill

17. Lost toenail > multiple blisters

18. Wearing sunscreen hoodie > putting on sunscreen 

19. Warm meal in morning > warm meal at night

20. Trail mix (GORP) > most other hiking snacks

Which do you prefer and why?? Or what are some that I've missed where you think that one thing is better than another!? 

Twenty Questions (E7): Best Places to Walk or Hike

Since it is October, it is Cool Bloggers Walking Club month! So, without further ado, I thought I would make this list about some of our favorite walking and running places! If you are looking for inspiration for your next walking holiday, here are some ideas! As always, crowd participation is welcomed so don't forget to let us know where your favorite walk or run is! 

You can see other posts in the Twenty Questions series here. Also, if you want to be featured in a future list, don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!

1. Lisa (MN) said: I love to run around Lake Harriet! [I've done this!]

2. Ernie (IL) said: Hmm- I usually walk in my neighborhood and the neighboring subdivisions. But coach and I took the little girls to Starved Rock and that was really cool. That’s about an hour away. [Wow, those rock formations are crazy!]
 

3. Melissa (AU) said: Ferny Creek [this looks nice!]

4.  Diane (VA) said: Sligo Creek Trail because it is close, a 1/4 mile from my house.  For views, Great Falls National Park.  Or the Tidal Basin during Cherry Blossom season.  Though only on weekdays because it gets really crowded at night.  [I have been to the Tidal Basin, but not the other two!]

5. Nance (OH) said: I love to walk my neighbourhood and see the small changes each day and each season. And give biscuits to the dogs. [I love this!]

6. Tobia (Germany) said: Tough... not sure I have a favorite since I don't do nearly enough to have it. However I always liked this one where we went a few time as a child. A couple years ago I wanted to share it with my friend and her kids but they rebelled because of the mosquitos. [I also am not a fan of mosquitoes, but that park looks nice!]

7. San (CA) said: American River Parkway [I used to run there!]

8. Stephany said: Walsingham Park [Looks fun, and there is canoeing!]

9. Kat (VA) said: The Custis Trail in Arlington, VA… I’ve since moved further away but I used to live down the street and I walked/ran probably 10,000 miles on it between 2020-2024… “I see you out here more than I see myself!” someone said to me as I passed by once lol. It’s an urban/commuter trail so not the most beautiful/serene, but it was such a comfort to me during the pandemic that I’ll always feel sentimental about it. [I know that feeling! I did one of those "run every street" projects in 2020 and I covered a lot of ground!]

10. Suzanne said: I love walking in the park near my old house! It's a beautiful little oasis of greenery in the middle of a bustling suburb and I find it endlessly fascinating to watch it change across seasons and years. [Do you still go back now that you have moved?]

11. Nicole said: Every day Rex and I walk the Mission Creek Greenway, but in not-summer we like to go up Knox Mountain. [I love the greenway! And there is cycling! And Knox Mountain has pickleball!]

Thanks ladies!!...and now, here is a random list of some places I like to walk and hike! Excuse the formatting for the photos; I'm doing this from my phone and I sometimes get huge and/or random justification...so, sorry in advance! 

12. The Marin headlands, North of San Francisco. Not only can you get here in less than a half and hour from the city, but you will be treated to views of the ocean, redwoods, and the rolling golden hills. People from San Francisco used to have "summer homes" in Marin county, and it wasn't until after the 1906 earthquake that some of them were made into more permanent residences. However, the Golden Gate bridge was not built until roughly 30 years later. (Seen below: Stinson Beach)

13. The Via Transilvanica, Romania. This is a 1,400 km / 870 mile trail from east to west through the small villages of Romania. Like the more well known Camino, you can easily hike it without needing a tent, and you can easily walk a section of one or two or three days, using public transit to get from one end to another and seeing lots of cool tiny towns along the way. (Seen below: Biertan, Romania)

14. Forest Park, Portland, Oregon. I've talked about this one before but it's a great park right near downtown and you feel like you're all alone I'm within about two minutes of starting the trail! 

15. Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC. This is similar to Forest Park, where although you're still in the city, it doesn't feel like it! Plus there's a good bike and running late around the perimeter/seawall and I do love a good run along the sea! 

16. The Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Big rocks! I love them! The formations here are wild and you can get to them within a mile or so from the car park! (Seen below: The Prison)

17. Bansko, Bulgaria. This is such a fun mountain town. Whether you just want to explore town, or get out into the trails, or tackle several summits, you will have your chance here! There is also mountain biking and skiing, so no matter the season, you will not be bored! (seen below: downtown Bansko)

18. The San Juan mountains, Colorado. The colors are stunning and it's basically head on a swivel the entire time. I especially love this area in September when the fall colors are popping! 

19. Emigrant Wilderness, California. Yosemite's lesser know little cousin, this stretch of wilderness sits just north of it's popular big cousin, and has rocks and lakes and beautiful views galore. Also, only a self submitted permit is needed rather than the more difficult lottery process for some of the more popular trails. (Seen below: Bugsy near Big Lake)

20. The PCT, aka there's no place like home. You may have heard of it!? It's roughly 2,600 miles long, but you don't have to do it all! There are some great day hikes along the length of it, and it crosses some highways so you can access it easily. Unfortunately much of the surrounding areas were burned but I still love going home and doing my regular out and back! (Seen below: home sweet home)

Your turn! Have you walked or hiked any of the places we mentioned? Where is your favorite walking or hiking place? Or tell me, where are you walking this month!? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: September 2025

September was a great month. In fact, September may be close to May in being one of my favorites. I love the not so hot weather, lack of big crowds and bugs, cooler nights and quiet days. I was happy to spend most of the month in a mountain town and I really got to recharge my batteries after a couple of months of more planning and being on the go. 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Bulgaria

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Baguettes and Many Steps

February: In Like Minnesota; Out Like Hawaii

March: Wet and Wild

April: My Life is in Ruins, and Beaches Too

May: Al Fresco 

June: Tales as Old as Time: The Christianity and Wine Versions

July: Quick and Dirty: the Baltics and the Balkans Adventure

August: The Dark Tourist

September: Recharging The Batteries

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned how to mail myself something in Bulgaria, which may sound easy, but it is not what I expected. You do not get things mailed to your address (and the addresses are not always what they say they are either); instead you have it mailed to a central company, which is not the post office, but is instead privately owned. I guess it is similar to living in a rural place, as in the area I grew up in, the UPS driver may not know where to leave a package if you put in your address; instead, most people get things mailed to a PO Box, which is kind of a pain when you need to get something send via UPS or Fed Ex, as they do not mail to PO Boxes. However, in Bulgaria, I still am not sure how the private mail company makes money, as I went to pick up my stuff and I didn't have to pay any sort of service fee. Maybe the sender pays them? This I have not yet learned. 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was GREAT! The highest high was around 70 and the lowest low was maybe around 40 and the days were clear and the sky was blue and I skipped and pranced all around, whistling a happy tune all month. 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Skipping and prancing and whistling a happy tune, of course! No really though, I met up with some people for a hike, some different people for dinner, went bike riding with a friend, met a running buddy, and went to the big city to sleep on a friend's couch and visit. It was a good month socially, outdoors-wise, weather-wise, and everything. Plus I got some future travel plans booked! It was a productive month. 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

Book: It was a rough reading month. I only read eight books and DNFed two books in September. None of them were FABULOUS!, but the best one I read was Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man. You can't help but get annoyed by, and love Vera, all at the same time. 

Movie/Show: I finally watched The Pianist! Having been to Warsaw recently, it really helped cement some of the details of the uprising in my mind. 

Podcast: I started listening to a new one called Backpacker Radio, as I wanted some inspiration, but I am not really sure how I feel about it yet. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I can't really think of one! Your turn! 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

The Cool Bloggers Walking Club, obviously! :) 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

SEPTEMBER:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

2. What did you learn last month? 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?  

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

OCTOBER: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Can you get packages delivered to your front door? If not, where do you went them? 

Twenty Questions (E6): Never Have I Ever

I know you have been waiting for this, but I wanted to add some of the answers you had provided to this list, so I was waiting for content! So, without further ado, here are twenty things that some of you and I have never done. As always, crowd participation is welcomed and I have pasted the list at the bottom so you can copy and paste and answer them yourself! 

You can see other posts in the Twenty Questions series here. Also, if you want to be featured in a future list, don't forget to fill out --> THE QUESTIONNAIRE!

Bungy NZ -- 134 m / 442 ft

1. Lisa and Nicole said: Gotten a tattoo. [guilty!]

2. Ernie said: Hmm- so many things. Never sky dived or zip lined or taken a cruise or visited Vegas. [I have never ziplined or taken a cruise!]

3. Melissa said: Skydiving [guilty!]

4.  Diane said: So many things!  One big one is I've never gone sky diving.  One small one is I've never gotten my ears pierced. [guilty x 2!]

5. Nance said: I've never learned to swim. [I can't even remember learning to swim. My Dad jokes that they just threw me in the water when I was a baby and let me struggle to shore on my own.]

6. Tobia said: Traveling in a water plane. [I have never done this but would love to! I hope to do it when I visit some of the National Parks in Alaska one day]

7. San said: Smoked a cigarette. [guilty (you're not missing anything!)]

8. Stephany said: Traveled solo! [guilty, of course!]

9. Kat said: Run a marathon… two halfs showed me that was definitely my limit and I am fine with that! [I've done this!]

10. Suzanne said: One thing I've never done but want to do: Travel outside of North America/Europe/Scandinavia. One thing I've never done but never want to do: High-risk adrenaline sports like BASE jumping, sky diving, or bungee jumping. NO THANK YOU. [I have never gone base jumping and would like to try it!]

Thanks ladies!!...and now, here are some of mine. 

11. Ridden a horse bareback (I have ridden a horse with a saddle and have gotten some major saddle sores though!) 

12. Bought a new car (actually I have only ever bought one car, and it was used)

13. Had a car payment (I paid cash for my used car)

14. Been to Ohio (sorry Birchie and Nance, you are on my list!) 

15. Been on a multiday kayak trip (I would love to do this, but just haven't made it a priority)

16. Played an internet game (like Minecraft) (I was pretty good at Mario Bros back in the day though!)

17. Eaten at a Michelin starred restaurant outside of the US (I probably would not do this by myself, as part of the fun of these kinds of things is sharing it with someone)

18. Waxed a body part (Oh Kelly Clarkson!)

19. Lived in a high rise building (I have stayed for a month or so when traveling but never lived in one for good)

20. Gone kite surfing (it's on my list though!)

Your turn! Which of these have you done? Also, did any of the above answers surprise you? 

1. Gotten a tattoo

2. Ziplined / gone on a cruise

3. Skydived

4. Had your ears pierced

5. Learned to swim

6. Traveled in a water plane

7. Smoked a cigarette

8. Traveled solo

9. Run a marathon

10. Traveled to a different continent than North America or Europe

11. Ridden a horse bareback

12. Bought a new car

13. Had a car payment

14. Been to Ohio (sorry Birchie and Nance, you are on my list!) 

15. Been on a multiday kayak trip

16. Played an internet game

17. Eaten at a Michelin starred restaurant outside of the US

18. Waxed a body part

19. Lived in a high rise building

20. Gone kite surfing

Looking Back: Books

Belgrade, Serbia

I did a hike at the end of July for eight days, and on that hike I read at least a book a day. During the day, I'd listen to an audiobook, and at night, after setting up camp and eating, I could easily read half of a book. However, I won't lie; since then, I have been in a bit of a reading slump, so to speak. In the third quarter of 2025, I DNFed at least five books, and there were at least three more that I only got a few minutes into and just didn't feel interested, but did not give them DNF credit since I barely even started them. 

The other thing is that I started a book that was 1,200 pages long and although interesting, it was SO LONG, and it kept me from starting another, so it definitely impeded my progress. However, I finished it finally, and it ended up providing a lot of interesting information after all was said and done (it was this book: The Eighth Life, recommended by Tobia, about multiple generations of the same family, set in the country of Georgia).

Despite some hiccups, there have been a few good reads in the last few months! But, instead of just listing the good ones, I will give you three good, and three I wanted to like but didn't. 

THESE WERE GOOD! 

Heartwood by Amity Gaige. I don't really need to say much here, as this book has been praised by many (Lisa, Birchie, etc.) already. TLDR: Appalachian hiker goes missing, police woman starts looking for her. We love all the characters, and we want them to win. (5 stars)

The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Straus. The title says it all. I am fascinated by this part of history and the fact that this was (a) true, (b) about women, and (c) an interesting take (told by the great niece of one of the women, who is not a writer, but wanted to get this part of history in the books). (5 stars)

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah. This is about a woman born of Palestinian parents who is living in the US and is a teacher in a school that gets shot at by a radicalized alt right. It is a moving story about her journey into Islam, her struggles with living surrounded by people who judge her for her hijab, including some of those close to her, and how she copes with it all. (5 stars)

Don't worry; there were other good ones, but you will be hearing about them in my yearly book wrap up! I can't give away ALL the spoilers at once! 

I WANTED TO LIKE THESE BUT DIDN'T

The Crash by Freida McFadden. Not her best work. I am usually entertained by her stories, but this one was a bit rote and just did not do it for me. If you want a better one, try The Teacher or The Inmate. (2 stars)

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton. I tried. I tried again. I did it for Elisabeth. But I just could not get into it! I liked her other books (Forgotten Garden, Secret Keeper, The Lake House) so maybe I was just not in the right mind space? Anyway, I DNFed it in the end. 

Radical Candor by Kim Malone Scott. It's a female boss, who is large and in charge, and successful. One who has tips so that we can all be large, in charge and successful. Who doesn't love reading about that? Well, just add a bit too much name dropping, and company name dropping, and it starts to remind me of some of the bros I worked with in the finance  industry. Did you know that she worked for Apple, and for Google, or that she just happened to be talking to Steve, you know Steve, right? Steve Jobs? and Sheryl? Sandburg? DNF. 

So, tell me, what is one great book you read this month (or quarter) and one that you wanted to like but didn't?