On walking (1) or in fact: On shoes

(This post has been written by Marianne, and might contain issues where Michael does not agree. Well, he'll just have to go in and change it....)

These shoes (Meindl) have been very very naughty, and must now sit in the cellar and wait to either be discarded or adopted by a merciful new owner. Michael still believes that there is such a thing as the 'perfect fitting pair'. This results in several, hopeful, visits to different outdoor shops with yet another wish and belief that his mission will be accomplished: getting those perfect shoes. This costs lots of time, and we normally both end up with the same painful blisters year after year. Michael believes that he should've bought a bigger pair this time.

These shoes are also quite naughty, but they are still upstairs here in the appartment, being taken out once in a while for a walk in the neighbourhood. They are not really trustworthy, as we saw last year, when both of us were trying to tend our blisters on numerous places on our way from Kinsarvik to Haukeliseter. But, they were bought on a whim in Wales some years ago, because the colour looked cheerful. Marianne does not believe in 'the perfect shoe'. She has had one comfortable pair once in her life, a pair of Gri-Tech, but they were worn down after one summer of walking in Skarvheimen.

When Michael goes to an outdoorshop in the Netherlands, they always advice him to buy a pair of really sturdy, type B sole and frame for Norway. That is allegedly the only way to support the ankles etc. for that rugged type of path and the unwelcoming mountains. Marianne still keeps asking herself if that is not taking a short-cut into walking comfotably in any mountain. Every time she walks with stiff and sturdy shoes, she tends to feel destabilized. Mostly because she cannot adjust with her ankles, or because the sole of the shoe is so thick that she does not feel the stones and how to best place her foot.

Btw, these shoes are a pair of Timberlands that we accidentally bought in Geilo, one time a pair of shoes had gotten the best out of Marianne (plus a walk from Geiterygghytta to Østerbø). This type has been very kind to both of us, but mostly to Michael, and they are still allowed for walks from time to time by him (like Gaustatoppen last summer).

These boots are great, and Marianne wishes there was a way she could use them on longer walks in the mountains without creating rainforest-conditions inside them. They keep out the rain, which is seriously the reason for wearing Gore-Tex at all in Norway (unless we are ill informed) They are not good against the cold, or, that still has to be tested. Guess a pair or two of granny's socks would do...

These shoes are now functioning as 'the perfect ones', for everything. Jogging, walking in the mountains, walking far, adjusting ankles and knees, feeling the stones, roots on the paths, everything. Michael does not agree on this completely, but Marianne has almost gotten him far enough to buy type A shoes... for a start....

Next blog on walking will be about: walking!