These boots were made for walking!

Updated on February 26th, 2025

While I am off on my Camino de Santiago adventure, I thought I’d share a little story with you before I return next week with all the details of how I got on.

Before I started my training, I had a few concerns about my hiking boots. I had been for a walk around my local park after heavy rain and returned with wet feet. To tell the truth, I was a bit livid. I knew I hadn’t had these boots for long, so couldn’t believe that they had already sprung a leak.

When it came to planning my attack on the Camino, one thing I knew was that I would need new boots and have to be wearing them for my training walks in order to break them in. 

So, I headed down to my local outdoor gear store with a plan to maybe buy some new boots, but definitely complain about the ones I had only recently bought. 

I was greeted by a friendly face who I shared my plans with, followed by a bit of a moan about the items I had previously purchased. She asked me when I had bought them.

I counted back. I remembered the chat I had with the guy in the store about my adventures on Kilimanjaroin 2019 while he tested the fit of my potential new boots.  

I also knew they weren’t the ones that I took to Scotland because on the beautiful hike on the North Coast 500 route to Sandwood Bay, I remember getting them wet and my frustrations at them leaking. To see the exact moment it happened (quite spectacularly), check out my mishap on the video HERE.

To be help me and my confused brain out, she went to look on their computer system. She pointed to the pair of boots I bought last. Apparently back in 2021. The same year I had experienced wet feet in the north of Scotland.

Staring back at me, a pair of purple walking boots.

What?

Mine were brown!

I was confused…until it suddenly all started to make sense in my addled brain.

Slowly, the penny began to drop at the same rate as the redness of embarrassment engulfed my face. 

My boots had been leaking. That’s why I bought new pair…on my return from Scotland. 

And behold, they were still leaking when I had unwittingly worn them around the park!

So, where were they hiding? 

I swiftly mumbled my apologies, and stated quietly that I was just going home to check on something.

I dashed back confused. Was I really such an idiot as I to have completely forgotten buying a new pair of boots? 

When I got back, I looked on my shoe rack. There were only the offending pair I already knew had a leak. Leaky they might be, but I realised they were also my trusted companion on one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had (climbing Mount Kilimanjaro). I had kept them around for nostalgic reasons, despite their now obvious faults.

Then I looked under my bed and pulled out a carrier bag. It looked all too familiar. 

In the bag were a very muddy pair of purple, walking boots, barely worn, but well and truly dirty!

It all came flooding back, I had bought some new boots. I’d worn them towards the end of lockdown. Living in a flat I hadn’t wanted to bring them in because I knew they get mud everywhere, so I had kept them in a bag in the car. Ready for action at any time!

When lockdown finished, the need to hike at the drop of a hat disappeared. We had more exciting things to do now! So, I’d taken the boots out of my out of my car and laid them to rest under the bed. 

And in the meantime, I had completely forgotten that I owned them!

The good news is, I had practically new boots to start my Camino training. I didn’t have to buy a new pair which not only saved me money, but it also enabled me to complete over 150kms, thankfully blister-free. I’m very grateful and I look forward to going on many more journeys with them keeping my feet dry!

So, please tell me it’s not just me! Have you ever had an equally senior moment and forgotten something significant…or costly? Hit reply to this email to let me know and make me feel better, or connect via your social method of choice (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads or LinkedIn) to give me all the details.

Love food? Some of my most popular recent videos on YouTube have involved me tucking in to tasty treats around the world (check out pintxos in San Sebastián, Spain, or my Hawker Centre tour in Singapore). So, this week, I hope you enjoy my latest food tour, this time a self-drive exploration of the Tasting Trail in Tasmania, Australia. Just north of Launceston, the Tasting Trail consists of over 40 different artisan food producers. I managed to get to 9 of them including salmon, cheese, truffles, chocolate, raspberries, honey and ice cream. Check it out for yourself HERE and it’s certainly one not to miss for foodies everywhere!

LAST CALL for G Adventures fantastic sale which is about to come to an end tomorrow. To recap, you can save 25% on trips taken before 31 August 2024. Access all the details HERE.

Until next time, 

Safe Travels

Sue x

This newsletter may contain affiliate links. By using these, Sue Where Why What may receive a small commission for which I say thank you, but you will not pay any extra charges for this. My opinions remain my own.

​More of my Adventures…

Sandwood Bay – Hiking to the Most Beautiful Beach in Scotland

Video – Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, 8 days on the Lemosho Route – Tanzania, Africa

Video – What to do in Launceston, Tasmania…If You Love Food!

Download a PDF VERSION OF THIS NEWSLETTER

Just click the 5th icon in the grey tool bar below (with the down arrow) to save the pdf to your computer.

Follow Me!