Several years ago, I set off on a week-long hike of the Washington coast from Oil City Beach to Shi Shi Beach wearing a pair of Vasque boots that had carried me over quite a bit of California. The boots were old, but in good repair – I thought. At the mouth of the Hoh River, 30 minutes from the trail head, I stepped into a tidal pool, whereupon the sole of that boot detached itself and was left floating in the water. Of the three options available to solve the footwear problem while sitting on a piece of driftwood, I elected to put on my camp shoes and press onward. Two days later, my feet were so mangled that I had to call it quits, and I have lingering podiatric complaints to this day. Lesson? Don’t fool around with what goes on the feet.*
The sole of the left boot has worn through at the ball of the foot, where it has touched the earth countless times while waiting for a stop light, or for me to take a photo, let bison clear the road, examine a map, have my passport inspected, or put gas in the tank, or to hold me up as I swung my other leg over the bike to park it at the end of the day’s travels. One of the zippers is getting dodgy. The linings are in excellent condition, and the leather has been abused but is still seviceable — but it is time for them to go.
A brand new pair just like them arrived a few days ago. It’s funny: I have had to adjust the shift lever to create a bit more clearance for the toe, as it is not as worn flat as the one it replaced. Perhaps together we may see attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion, though if not, wherever the road leads my feet will be happy, which — after my experience those years ago wrecking them before reaching Third Beach — I know is a good thing.
* Two years later, wearing a new pair of Vasque boots, I finished the hike.