How disrespectful to be wearing my new shoes in the presence of my old ones.
The bogs have been so bad in Maine that after a solid month of being wet, my boots became depressed and fell apart. They literally tore apart at the seams. There was also a hole where something had completely pierced the leather, and I appreciated my boots taking one for the team and protecting my foot from being impaled.
When I got to the town of Rangely, Maine, I found a small outfitter where I could buy new footwear. The owners let me have a moment of silence and nodded and looked sad when I told them of the demise of my boots.
I purchased a new pair of Merril light hikers that have been working out pretty well. I actually have the same shoe at home, but an older model. To give you an indication of how much my feet have swollen: the shoes I bought in Rangely are a whole size larger than the ones I have in Portland. At this rate, I will soon be wearing gortex covered clown shoes.
