Day 71

Of all the things I carry with me or wear on my person during the Walk, perhaps the most important one is my shoes. Many folks have asked how many pairs of shoes I’ve been through during the Walk, and my answer has consistently been that I am on the first two pairs.

I explain that I have two pairs of shoes with me, and each day, I swap them out, so that I am not wearing the same pair two days in a row. This is a “trick” I learned years ago from my friend Robert Ward, to keep the feet from being “lazy”.  I took that idea to heart and it has always stood me in good stead.

As the days of Walking have passed, I have wondered if perhaps my shoes were starting to be less sturdy, and after a couple of conversations with people who hike and backpack regularly, it seemed as if this might well be part of why my knee is stressed. The photo below is one of the original pairs. I forgot to get a picture of the other original pair before tossing it into the trash.

So today, my friend Linda Kaul took me to look for new shoes. When I slipped on the first pair and laced them up, I understood immediately that my original shoes were, in fact, completely broken down. Tonight, I’m happy to say that I have two new pairs of shoes, both of which cradle my feet and support me well.

Here’s to better support, stronger knees, and a walk with the buggy tomorrow…