One example method includes intercepting an IO that is directed to a volume, writing the IO to a grid-CG that is one of a plurality of grid-CGs that collectively form a distributed CG, adding the IO to a stream journal associated with the grid-CG, receiving a bookmark request, in response to the bookmark request, inserting a bookmark in the stream journal, incrementing a splitter counter and broadcasting a splitter counter value to the grid-CGs in the distributed CG, and inserting the bookmark in respective stream journals of the grid-CGs in the distributed CG.