Can I Walk There?

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Everybody Wins!!! - Especially Ciwt! --- Day 15/315

Walk: Hood

Distance: Just 2 mi then hours at computer going through contest photos

So, 2026 was a Banner Year for Ciwt's Neighborhood Halloween Decorating Contest! Many more neighbors participated. Sometimes half the houses on a block were 'creeped' out orange and black. You could - and can for one more day - feel the enthusiastic (and probably sometimes competive) way San Francisco neighbors embrace the October 31 holiday.

Mind you, at least 90% of these decorations are put up by Adults. Business people, techies, lawyers, doctors, soccor moms and more take deliveries of exotic creatures from afar, or take them out of rented storage, climb ladders, crawl on roofs, shimmy up trees, position skeleton arms, open their jaws, dress scarecrows and spend weekends or days off putting their frightening displays together. Ciwt has encountered a few of them at work. Some working on small, clever or cute vignettes, some luggng things all around their yards. Either way, It's a Big deal to them.

And it's becoming a bigger and bigger deal to sightseers/appreciators. When Ciwt first started her scouting treks she seemed to be the only one on the sidewalks stopping to look and take pictures. Then she began to see a few moms with kids or couples with cameras along with the occasional car stopping to look close to the actual Halloween Day. But this year often weeks ahead she passed many people - some from nearby, some from elsewhere with cars double parked - walking slowly just like her, iPhone cameras raised, clicking photos or filming videos.

Ciwt has loved her Neighborhood Halloween Decorating Contest from its beginning, and this year it was an absolute joy for so many, decorators and visitors alike. So....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO CIWT READERS AND ALL 👀👺👻👽👾💀

You've enjoyed some entrants over the last CIWT month; now here are a few also rans for you Halloween Day enjoyment:

That's it; we're done... See You Next Year.

Friday, October 30, 2026

Crime Pays on CIWT --- Day 15/314

Walk: Hood scout

Distance: 2.5 miles, then prolonged sitting, staring a photos and trying to make decision

Winner of Ciwt Neighborhood Halloween Decorating Contest 2026

So, every year Ciwt thinks his house will be given Emeritus status and retired. But every year the owner/decorator refuses to rest on their laurels and adds somthing(s) new. This year it is those pumpkins and skulls on the stairs. Also, every year more and more people stop to take pictures, some making intentional pilgrimages to the house and some noticing as they drive by and making their ways back around or to some stopping place.

A friend visiting Ciwt from out of town was one of those picture takers. When she sent her photo back to Minnesota, the person she sent it to replied "Yes, we drove by it when we were out there!" So with its reputation growing and spreading, Ciwt can't retire it and once again declares it this years' winner!

Runner Up: 2026

So, this was the year of climbing skeleton large and small and houses. So creative, such hard work to get up there and position the prowlers. Plus dogs, pumpkins, large skeleton and kids climbing trees! Well done.

This year Crime Pays on CIWT

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Halloween Charmers --- Day 15/313

Walk: Contest Scout

Distance: 4 Miles

Oh dear, Ciwt's Neighborhood Halloween Decorating Contest's time is running out! Here a few that charmed Ciwt even though they don't fit into any paticular category.