Lost Boots

[hcsut]

This is a bit of a long shot, and not sure if it's the correct place to post this, but thought I would try!

We are currently walking Camino Frances, and last night we stayed at Albergue Camino del Person in Uterga. The albergue doesn't allow shoes upstairs, so we left ours downstairs on the communal rails. This morning (we were last out) there were a pair of boots left that looked like mine, but weren't! I had no choice but to walk in these today (gaining a few blisters on the way). They are bigger than mine (only half a size thankfully!) and a different design, and I hope that someone has mistakenly put mine on rather than having taken them deliberately.

We have spent our day asking people and passing on the message, but wanted to post here too in case that person was reading this, or anyone else that may have heard. Tonight we are in Lorca, and will be moving on slowly tomorrow. If anyone knows anything, I would really love my own boots back!!

Thank you.

 

[Dennis D]

I wonder if wearing two pairs of socks would help your feet be more comfortable until you find your boots? The person wearing yours, that are 1/2 size smaller, probably has blisters worse than you do. There is a lot of information on this site with great suggestions for treating blisters that you might want to check out. When you catch up with your boots I hope that you can have a good laugh with the other owner over a bottle of vino tinto. I hope this all works out for you. Buen Camino.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I'm so sorry this happened to you.
It is happening more and more, unfortunately.
There IS the chance that the boots were taken by mistake.
One of my clients did this in SJPP - got dressed in the dark - then on the way UP to Orisson, realized the shoes she had on were the exact same model and size, except someone had tipped the shoelaces in red fingernail polish! She was mortified. She never did run across her own shoes.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

It is common to leave boots at the door. To prevent mistakes, put your boots in a plastic bag on the rack, though that may not help if there is a thief. Since the purpose of leaving boots at the door is to keep the dormitory clean, once your boots are in a plastic bag, taking them to the room and putting them under the bed achieves the cleanliness objective. Rules-oriented hospitaleros may object, in which case, put the boots inside your pack, where they cannot see them!

 

[Arn]

As I was walking along the James River near Richmond, Virginia, a fellow walker noticed that on the outboard side of both hiking shoes (New Balance...very popular) ARN was clearly marked. To the question...WHY?
Quite pleased with myself, I mentioned the Camino and the "boot rack" situation.
To this the following question was asked, "OK, good if the lights are on. But what if not...then what?"
Thinking that through, I reached into my pocket and removed a small round plastic case. Contained there in were six sand spurs.


Hard to miss when placed inside the boot.
OK...OK, I'm just kidding. I wouldn't do that.
Actually, I like some of Falcon's suggestions.
Buen "ouch, what's in my boot" Camino
Arn

 

[Anniesantiago]

Thinking that through, I reached into my pocket and removed a small round plastic case. Contained there in were six sand spurs.

Arn

Oh! We called those 'goatheads' when I was a kid, and buddy, they HURT!
This post made me laugh! lol!

 

[Wanderer64]

It is common to leave boots at the door. To prevent mistakes, put your boots in a plastic bag on the rack, though that may not help if there is a thief. Since the purpose of leaving boots at the door is to keep the dormitory clean, once your boots are in a plastic bag, taking them to the room and putting them under the bed achieves the cleanliness objective. Rules-oriented hospitaleros may object, in which case, put the boots inside your pack, where they cannot see them!

Falcon's advice here is so good, it is worth repeating.

I always felt uneasy about leaving my most important pieces of equipment (my shoes) outside an albergue door, far from sight, and after a few days I simply refused to do so. I did exactly what Falcon suggests, into a plastic bag and under my bed, or into my pack.

I trusted 99% of pilgrims along the Way. It's the 1% in need of shoes I worried about.

 

[Arn]

I trusted 99% of pilgrims along the Way. It's the 1% in need of shoes I worried about.

I sincerely believe that 90% of that 1% are fellow pilgrims picking up the wrong shoes as they leave...often so early in the morning they try not to disturb fellow pilgrims by turning on the lights. Hey, who in their right mind (oops, the pot and kettle thing) wants to take someone else's stinkey shoes.
Buen Camino,

Arn

 

[JoeNYC]

Hey, who in their right mind (oops, the pot and kettle thing) wants to take someone else's stinkey shoes.
Buen Camino,

Arn

They're ALL stinky!

 

[Wanderer64]

I sincerely believe that 90% of that 1% are fellow pilgrims picking up the wrong shoes as they leave...often so early in the morning they try not to disturb fellow pilgrims by turning on the lights. Hey, who in their right mind (oops, the pot and kettle thing) wants to take someone else's stinkey shoes.

You may be right, Arn. But the reason why shoes go missing is beside the key point, which is this: If you want to protect your equipment from thieves or innocent mistakes, follow the aforementioned advice!