Getting Ready for Takeoff

[thedeadlyhook]

My feel hurt. This is a problem because we're about to head off on a two-week vacation, and I can't wear my new shoes. This is a BIG problem.

Toys and I will be heading to England tomorrow night. This is good, because I love travel, I love adventure, haven't been to Blighty in a dog's age and we're going to visit with grandparents and new relatives and maybe even make it to Scotland if we're lucky. It's going to be (odds are good) the last big hurrah I'll have before I'll have to start thinking about getting a job of some sort - right, like I could keep sitting on my butt like I've been doing forever? Dream on! - so I plan to get the most out of this trip. Lots and lots of on-foot touring.

So the shoe problem is majorly pissing me off. Long story short, I needed a new pair of walking shoes. Reliable old low-rise Doc Martens or something similar, because they have been my faithful world traveling friends before. Couldn't find the style I really wanted, settled for a comparable pair of Sketchers. Which, as I did a mile test walk after getting them home, promptly showed me the chafe points I couldn't detect at the store, and rubbed the backs of my ankles raw. Which leaves me not only sporting XL bandages, but stuck in the situation of not being able to wear my new shoes, because I'm not about to get overseas, where I plan to spend nearly every day constantly walking, and not be able to walk.

So I'm stuck with the seriously unpreferred option of bringing my sneakers/trainers instead, which I hate, because if travel overseas has taught me anything, it's that outside the continental United States anyone wearing sneakers is a tourist or on their way to the tennis court, and I can't stand to look like a tourist. No matter where I am, I like to blend. And sneakers in Europe say, look at me, I'm a doofus on holiday. Gah.

So, likely as not, a major item on the agenda will be shoe-shopping in England. Which wouldn't be such a bad, really, except that means I'll be carrying an extra pair of shoes, and I like to travel light - one backpack, that's all. And all this is happening because the stupid shoe warehouse didn't have a pair of Docs in my size. Arrrggh! (bangs head)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/automatedalice_/]

fly in flip-flops so as not to damage heels further. buy docs in england. they're cheaper anyway, even with the exchange rate. ;)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I'll probably be doing just that. I'll still have to bring the sneaks because I won't be able to do the big march through Heathrow, train, etc. on flats (I get bruised heel problems - a lifetime of walking's kept me reasonably fit, but jeezus, do I have feet issues). Good to hear that at least the new shoes will be a good deal! : )

[magista.livejournal.com]

That's why they say "if you want to forget all your problems, wear ill-fitting shoes."

May that be the worst of your troubles, and everything else go smoothly. Happy travelling!

Look, I didn't even slip in one threat about keeping up the writing while you're gone-- Uh... never mind.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie! (smooch)

Say... was the possible threat about writing for you or for me...? ; ) But we'll be sort of working on Euro while there, since a large bit of the next part is set in England. A little bit of location scouting, so to speak...

[magista.livejournal.com]

Well then... I'm all in favour of the location scouting. Sounds like a fine excuse to travel to me. Now where can I go?

No really, it was all about you...

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Well, can I encourage you to keep writing while I'm gone? Something nice to come home to? ; )

We won't have much chance for actual writing on the road. Not traveling with the laptop.

[toysdream.livejournal.com]

Like the saying goes...

"I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet. So I just took his shoes instead."

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Why would he have shoes with no feet? (boggles) Is this one of those zen riddles?

[toysdream.livejournal.com]

The classic version of the saying just goes "...until I met a man who had no feet," the point being "don't be a baby" or somesuch. But I always preferred the version with a happy ending... well, happy for the guy who needed shoes, anyway. :-)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

So your happy ending is some poor schmo with no feet who carries shoes around for fond remembrance and then gets robbed!? Um....

Methinks someone's going to have to fuss over my injuries a lot.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I hear and I obey! : )

[sideshowsue2003.livejournal.com]

...because if travel overseas has taught me anything, it's that outside the continental United States anyone wearing sneakers is a tourist or on their way to the tennis court

Shorts are a dead giveaway as well. They're also one of the prime indicators of nationality.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

So sorry.

I completely sympathize. In college just before going on the study abroad tour, I bought brand new shoes just before going only to quickly realize that the shoes I had spent so much money on had high arches which really didn't agree with my appallingly flat feet after the first week or so. I kept cramping, so instead of the nice walking shoes I had bought, I ended up wearing a light, flimsey pair of Keds instead. But they didn't hurt.


As for shoe shopping in England... only if you have small feet. Two years ago while there, my favorite shoes decided to fall apart. I tried finding a new pair (and eventually did) but it took loads of searching because they just don't have many options for an American size 10. I guess more Americans have bigger feet or something.

[herself_nyc]

I sympathize--I had shoe problems in London once too. Had to buy a pair of men's shoes to get by with as that was all I could find in a hurry to fit me.

BTW, check your email again, OK?

[paratti.livejournal.com]

There's been an outbreak of flip-flops on the Kings Road during the recent heatwave. But Docksiders or boat shoes generally, are comfy, have good grip and won't look touristy - and allow for the rainstorms/changable weather we're having at the mo.