Today, I’m sad to announce the demise of a good friend, my Vasque boots. Sometime around 10:00 AM, he began to struggle and he, as well as his twin were pronounced dead shortly after noon on January 21, 2017 over a beer at the Katy Trail Ice House. They will be missed.
Yes my sturdy old boots blew a tread today while walking on the Trinity Forest Trail system. Everything started out great, Leighton and Renee wanted to do a walk today so I joined in. Unlike last week, the weather was dry and much warmer but it started a little overcast but still a great day for a trek.
As we did on our previous visit, we started on the Longacre Trail because it’s the longest but this time, instead of turning around, we continued on the Joppa Preserve Trail all the way to the river.
The only way to get to the AT&T Trail was to walk down Loop 12, across the river to catch the trail there. After joining the trail, we walked another 3+ miles back to the original trailhead which turned out to be about 9 miles.
All of us were in packs, I had very close to my Camino weight in mine plus, 1.5L of water or another 3.3 lbs. My pack was probably close to 18 lbs.
Unlike last week, no pain in my Gluteus Midius, I think the exercises helped that out and I will for sure continue to do them.
My old friend hardly let out a peep as he struggled to complete the trip. Occasionally, there was a clicking or slapping noise…I’d hoped it was a rock stuck in a tread but alas, no, it was the dying gasp of my years old Vasque boot.
I’m distraught enough that there will be no public celebration of his life. Instead, I will remember him as I struggle to find a worthy replacement at REI tomorrow. Time waits for no boot! The Camino is rapidly approaching and I have to find and break in a new pair of boots. I know he would understand.
Actually, I’m very happy this happened now, with plenty of time to break in a new pair. Can’t hardly imagine what it would have been like finding and then enduring the break in of a new pair in Spain, ouch!
Test and inspect your equipment!