Lost & Found Lost Merrell shoes from Larrasoaña albergue

[MauraO]

Moderator note: @MauraO is posting on behalf of a fellow pilgrim named David.


Help,
Good morning - my size 12 (US) grey/blue Merrell shoes were mistakenly taken this morning and I was left a very nice pair of size 11 (US) brown Merrell shoes instead. I’m sure this was just an innocent mistake but I’d be most grateful to get my shoes back! I’ll be in Pamplona this afternoon and tomorrow and I hope to be able to swap. Can you help? If so please send a private message.

 

[trecile]

Can you let us know where you were staying when you lost your shoes?

 

[MauraO]

Can you let us know where you were staying when you lost your shoes?

David was staying in Larrasoana - I have contacted him for the name of the albergue and will update you when I hear back, and thank you.

 

[MauraO]

David was staying in Larrasoana - I have contacted him for the name of the albergue and will update you when I hear back, and thank you.

Abergue Larrasoana at Larrasoana.

 

[MinaKamina]

So you did not lose your shoes but someone else did?

And the missing shoes are MEN's shoes?

 

[RJM]

I hope the shoes are located and swapped back.
I know this may be like locking the barn door after the horse got out, and my intention is not to be judgemental or condescending, but I would recommend to future pilgrims, new pilgrims etc to remove the insoles from their shoes/boots before putting on an albergue shoe rack to avoid things like this happening unintentionally or otherwise. You can store the insoles in an outside pocket of your pack or just bring a plastic bag to keep them in if you don't want them in the pack with your clean clothing etc.
Nobody is going to accidentally walk off with the wrong shoes if there's no insoles in them. It's immediately apparent something is amiss when one puts on shoes without them. I know because on more than one morning I put them on at the albergue forgetting the insoles were in my pack.
I also tie my shoes together with the laces. I met one pilgrim who replaced the factory laces on her shoes with bright pink ones and another pilgrim I met had stenciled his first name on the sides of the shoes.

 

[MauraO]

So you did not lose your shoes but someone else did?

And the missing shoes are MEN's shoes?

Yes they are men’s shoes - while walking along David mentioned what had happened this morning and I advised that he tried this forum so he put up the post under my posts (as he was not a member himself - I did not know how to post onto the ‘live’ posts, but luckily a very helpful member at home saw the misplaced message and moved it to the lost & found thread

 

[Camino Chrissy]

This same accidental thing happened on my very first camino in 2015, coincidently with Merrell Moabs. Both men got blisters; one from too tight shoes, the other one from a sloppy fit. The "Camino provided" by way of a taxi...the men, and their shoes, were happily reunited by the end of the day.

 

[Former member 49149]

I read your post earlier. It is striking me that the owner of the smaller shoes may have swollen feet and may not notice till this evening. Wonderful things can happen, so don't let your husband lose hope. I do hope he has alternative footwear till his own reappears. All the ideas about removing insoles, tying laces, wrapping in bags - they will prevent this kind of thing happening. Doesn't help right now. Especially knowing what a pair of shoes can cost...

 

[MauraO]

I read your post earlier. It is striking me that the owner of the smaller shoes may have swollen feet and may not notice till this evening. Wonderful things can happen, so don't let your husband lose hope. I do hope he has alternative footwear till his own reappears. All the ideas about removing insoles, tying laces, wrapping in bags - they will prevent this kind of thing happening. Doesn't help right now. Especially knowing what a pair of shoes can cost...

I have to stress that the person concerned is not my husband but a fellow pilgrim that I met on the way to Pamplona. As happens along the Way one person’s difficulty becomes the discussion of all other pilgrims encountered along the way. A pilgrim called Alexandria posted a message onto a Camino Facebook page, and many more spread the word in the hope that a message would reach the person with with the boots a size too large!
We all have his email in the case of someone hearing any news - it did not transfer with the message though (due to data issues maybe? )

 

[Former member 49149]

I have to stress that the person concerned is not my husband but a fellow pilgrim that I met on the way to Pamplona. As happens along the Way one person’s difficulty becomes the discussion of all other pilgrims encountered along the way. A pilgrim called Alexandria posted a message onto a Camino Facebook page, and many more spread the word in the hope that a message would reach the person with with the boots a size too large!
We all have his email in the case of someone hearing any news - it did not transfer with the message though (due to data issues maybe? )

Sorry, wrong assumption!

 

[MauraO]

 

[MauraO]

Sorry, wrong assumption!

No worries

 

[David with new Kit!]

I carry a short length of wire and a simple padlock which I fit through the loops on the rear of our boots, before I leave our boots on the shelf. While not foolproof, it prevents mistakes.

 

[TreshaA2]

Just curious about this topic about mistaken shoes --- we'll be staying in private rooms in the albergues, do we leave our shoes in the public shoe area or can we take them into our room? Just wondering... thanks in advance!

 

[trecile]

Just curious about this topic about mistaken shoes --- we'll be staying in private rooms in the albergues, do we leave our shoes in the public shoe area or can we take them into our room? Just wondering... thanks in advance!

I've always taken them into my room when staying in private rooms.