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Currently on the Via Podiensis and my husband's Merrill Moabs with expensive orthotics were exchanged for a half size smaller, different color and worn pair (as in falling apart) at the gite we stayed in last night.
Yes if these are custom orthotics they can easily be expensive. My most recent custom orthotics cost me $800, and if they were stolen, I would not be able to replace them (I have to allow 3-4 weeks delivery after initial measurement). The combined cost of shoe and orthotic can easily be over $1000, not an insignificant amount.How annoying, and expensive. So sorry you experienced this.
Assuming that the shoes and orthotics were stolen, would this event be a candidate for reporting to e.g. the Police force that patrols the Camino? Yes, yes, I know it is not an emergency, and I am pretty sure that they would not have sufficient resources to pursue each such case individually, but their back office staff might periodically analyze reports of thefts, looking for patterns such as recurrences in specific locations, or recurrences in a wave that moves along the Camino, or seasonal variations. Such information might help their crime prevention activities.
Ha - that's what I do with my skis lol...I separate each shoe from the other one, so it’s not easy to mistakenly (or purposefully) grab both.
1. I seriously doubt that this exchange was in error. Just assume it was a adverse exchange - their worn out shows for your new(ish) pair. This happens. I have seen it before.Currently on the Via Podiensis and my husband's Merrill Moabs with expensive orthotics were exchanged for a half size smaller, different color and worn pair (as in falling apart) at the gite we stayed in last night.
Please mark your boots or shoes in some way, maybe a big X on the heel part or tie them to the rack so someone will not "mistakenly" take them. The gite owner was very kind in calling all the male pelerins and alerting them in case they inadvertently took them. Disappointingly no word this evening. We had to take transport to the next biggest town to buy new shoes to the tune of $100 US and don't know if they will work down the line. Just want to save another possible expensive headache. Bon Chemin.
I had not realized the cost (and time involved) with custom orthotics. Even though my boots are inexpensive, I will use some of the methods given on this thread for future caminos. It's so sad that all it takes is one person to cause such a problem for all. Reminds me of having to take off our shoes at airport security because one person had unsuccessfully tried to detonate a "bomb" with explosives hidden in his shoes...over 20 years ago! Bon chemin.Yes if these are custom orthotics they can easily be expensive. My most recent custom orthotics cost me $800, and if they were stolen, I would not be able to replace them (I have to allow 3-4 weeks delivery after initial measurement). The combined cost of shoe and orthotic can easily be over $1000, not an insignificant amount.
I agree :::whispering:::1. I seriously doubt that this exchange was in error. Just assume it was a adverse exchange - their worn out shows for your new(ish) pair. This happens. I have seen it before.
I am in the same boat with orthotics. I wonder if it would be beneficial to remove the orthotics at night so that if the shoes go on a walkabout, at least you still have the - more expensive - orthotics.Yes if these are custom orthotics they can easily be expensive. My most recent custom orthotics cost me $800, and if they were stolen, I would not be able to replace them (I have to allow 3-4 weeks delivery after initial measurement). The combined cost of shoe and orthotic can easily be over $1000, not an insignificant amount.
Thanks for reporting back with this good news - good for your husband's feet and good for our faith in humanity. Meanwhile, we got some good tips on how to keep our shoes safe.True Camino moment
Great outcome!Thanks everyone. True Camino moment. My husband talked to one of the only English speakers in the square and he admitted that he also wore Merrills. The gite owner kindly called every one who stayed that night and gave them a heads up. We had to bus forward to the next stop because he couldn't walk in a half size to small already worn shoe! Anyway he confronted the Merrill owner again and told him to please looked at his shoes. He invited my husband to his gite and they examined the boots and sure enough they were his!!!
It sounds like this other guy needs to go buy a pair a half size larger!All he said was, no wonder i had such a good day walking
I'm another user of custom orthotics, and they came out of my shoes and stayed with me every single nightI am in the same boat with orthotics. I wonder if it would be beneficial to remove the orthotics at night so that if the shoes go on a walkabout, at least you still have the - more expensive - orthotics.
Fantastic! A great ending!Thanks everyone. True Camino moment. My husband talked to one of the only English speakers in the square and he admitted that he also wore Merrills. The gite owner kindly called every one who stayed that night and gave them a heads up. We had to bus forward to the next stop because he couldn't walk in a half size to small already worn shoe! Anyway he confronted the Merrill owner again and told him to please looked at his shoes. He invited my husband to his gite and they examined the boots and sure enough they were his!!! We were so glad and showed him where to find this pair. All he said was, no wonder i had such a good day walking. We are back on the road! Thank you for all your support.
oh crikey, that is soooo disappointing to hear … it happened to a friend of mine at the Abbey in Conques many moons ago and I’ve not heard of an incident since that time BUT on the basis of that, I am very cautious with both my shoes and my bâtons … out of interest, at what town did this regrettable incident happen?Currently on the Via Podiensis and my husband's Merrill Moabs with expensive orthotics were exchanged for a half size smaller, different color and worn pair (as in falling apart) at the gite we stayed in last night.
Please mark your boots or shoes in some way, maybe a big X on the heel part or tie them to the rack so someone will not "mistakenly" take them. The gite owner was very kind in calling all the male pelerins and alerting them in case they inadvertently took them. Disappointingly no word this evening. We had to take transport to the next biggest town to buy new shoes to the tune of $100 US and don't know if they will work down the line. Just want to save another possible expensive headache. Bon Chemin.
Fortunately, @WayWalker has updated us, and there was a good outcome.oh crikey, that is soooo disappointing to hear … it happened to a friend of mine at the Abbey in Conques many moons ago and I’ve not heard of an incident since that time BUT on the basis of that, I am very cautious with both my shoes and my bâtons … out of interest, at what town did this regrettable incident happen?
Thanks everyone. True Camino moment. My husband talked to one of the only English speakers in the square and he admitted that he also wore Merrills. The gite owner kindly called every one who stayed that night and gave them a heads up. We had to bus forward to the next stop because he couldn't walk in a half size to small already worn shoe! Anyway he confronted the Merrill owner again and told him to please looked at his shoes. He invited my husband to his gite and they examined the boots and sure enough they were his!!! We were so glad and showed him where to find this pair. All he said was, no wonder i had such a good day walking. We are back on the road! Thank you for all your support.
Good idea.I use a white-oil-based-paint pen to mark my initials in large block letters on the heel-bed inside each of my leather hiking boots Once dry, it is indelible and extremely resistant to abrasion. I don't know how anyone could obliterate my markings unless they e.g. spray-painted the inside of my boots, which would be absurdly unlikely.
great outcomeThanks everyone. True Camino moment. My husband talked to one of the only English speakers in the square and he admitted that he also wore Merrills. The gite owner kindly called every one who stayed that night and gave them a heads up. We had to bus forward to the next stop because he couldn't walk in a half size to small already worn shoe! Anyway he confronted the Merrill owner again and told him to please looked at his shoes. He invited my husband to his gite and they examined the boots and sure enough they were his!!! We were so glad and showed him where to find this pair. All he said was, no wonder i had such a good day walking. We are back on the road! Thank you for all your support.
We simply don't know for sure, and I can understand a bit of skepticism. However, I certainly have some reasonable doubt about it being a deliberate act, so I don't like to see him quickly branded as a thief. I think that there are more people around who are stunningly unobservant, than there are thieves, so I prefer to keep an open mind at least.Call me a cynic but
If I were going to steal another pilgrim's shoes I would make sure to bus a stage or two ahead so that they couldn't find me!Call me a cynic but I should think it was more a case of the thief being caught out than a genuine mistake. After walking many kilometres you know what your own shoes feel like and custom orthotics inside would certainly not go unnoticed immediately you put the shoes on.
I put my initials on the back (facing out) in black permanent marker. It should prevent mix ups and deter theft.Currently on the Via Podiensis and my husband's Merrill Moabs with expensive orthotics were exchanged for a half size smaller, different color and worn pair (as in falling apart) at the gite we stayed in last night.
Please mark your boots or shoes in some way, maybe a big X on the heel part or tie them to the rack so someone will not "mistakenly" take them. The gite owner was very kind in calling all the male pelerins and alerting them in case they inadvertently took them. Disappointingly no word this evening. We had to take transport to the next biggest town to buy new shoes to the tune of $100 US and don't know if they will work down the line. Just want to save another possible expensive headache. Bon Chemin.
Nice ! I am glad for your husband and you that you can walk again !He invited my husband to his gite and they examined the boots and sure enough they were his!!!
It seems much more likely that bedbugs would be in a backpack than in shoes.I believe that taking the shoes inside the dormitory, even in a plastic bag, is a bad idea because they could bring bug beds.
In Aumont-Aubracoh crikey, that is soooo disappointing to hear … it happened to a friend of mine at the Abbey in Conques many moons ago and I’ve not heard of an incident since that time BUT on the basis of that, I am very cautious with both my shoes and my bâtons … out of interest, at what town did this regrettable incident happen?
That thought crossed our minds more than once.Call me a cynic but I should think it was more a case of the thief being caught out than a genuine mistake. After walking many kilometres you know what your own shoes feel like and custom orthotics inside would certainly not go unnoticed immediately you put the shoes on.
My friend and I walked our camino in 2018 (and I still hope for another!) The forum had warned me about loosing your boots, so I did two things. I sewed a name tag over part of the laces on each boot. Because I figured that was not too obvious, we then tied one of my Vasque boots with one of her Keen boots and put each tied pair apart from each other in the line up of shoes. It would have been unhelpful to steal a pair that wasn't a pair and it would certainly become clear early on that something was wrong it you were accidentally putting on the wrong pair! BonnieCurrently on the Via Podiensis and my husband's Merrill Moabs with expensive orthotics were exchanged for a half size smaller, different color and worn pair (as in falling apart) at the gite we stayed in last night.
Please mark your boots or shoes in some way, maybe a big X on the heel part or tie them to the rack so someone will not "mistakenly" take them. The gite owner was very kind in calling all the male pelerins and alerting them in case they inadvertently took them. Disappointingly no word this evening. We had to take transport to the next biggest town to buy new shoes to the tune of $100 US and don't know if they will work down the line. Just want to save another possible expensive headache. Bon Chemin.
We are currently in Espalion. We are only booking ahead a day or two or even same day with no issues.Off topic -but since you are on the Le Puy can you please advise how busy it is at present? I'm potentially planning this route for next year.
Thanks
Frank
Trecile... the master criminal...If I were going to steal another pilgrim's shoes I would make sure to bus a stage or two ahead so that they couldn't find me!
But if you bussed ahead you wouldn't need shoes.If I were going to steal another pilgrim's shoes I would make sure to bus a stage or two ahead so that they couldn't find me!
Do you mean than the man who made the mistake did not apologize ?And no apology.
No, his reply was, no wonder my feet felt so comfortable on my 25k walk. And I can't believe I was so absent minded. Some people are just incapable of apology or that was their way of apologizing. No big deal at this point.Do you mean than the man who made the mistake did not apologize ?
It's incredible.
Somewhere, that makes me afraid...
I know it's frowned upon, but about 5 minutes away from the albergue I take off my shoes and put them in a bag attached to the backpack and then arrive wearing a thin pair of sandals. I've previously had a pair of expensive salomon boots stolen in an albergue. I understand people can inadvertently take the wrong hiking poles, but size 47 high boots where the laces were tied together. Not a chance. I have heard people lose a backpack, sleepingbag, hiking poles, towels etc etc. I know a german guy that have tracking devices in his boots and backpack. Unfortunately - not all pilgrims are honest.I put a security wire with padlock through the tabs. Not full proof, but deters genuine mistakes.
I had my daughter write and make drawings on my shoes, stops people from mistake shoes and to raise my head when I'm hanging my headI am so sorry this happened to you and your husband.
I find it a little odd someone could mistake a brand new pair of shoes with orthotics in it as their own. Especially since the ones they left were smaller, a different color, old and worn out. But stranger things have happened... and I've been warned not to jump to conclusions - so I hope whomever made this mistake realizes it and makes good.
This is the second post this morning I've read about shoes being mistakenly taken.
I guess with so many people on the Camino right now mistakes can happen.
I think I'll paint mine bright pink this year! Or paint bunny rabbits on them. Or rainbows... or ??
I use large safety pins on the drying racks instead of clothespins.My husband was wishing for a tracking device. On the Frances I have heard of clothes going missing on the drying racks. We keep our expensive Pacer poles with us.
Hi Waywalker, it's early here and I'm reading your explanation about your husband being reunited with his boots. Sorry, I find your explanation unintelligible - maybe the early hour I am reading it, so please excuse me. But it sounds like a happy ending. Good.Thanks everyone. True Camino moment. My husband talked to one of the only English speakers in the square and he admitted that he also wore Merrills. The gite owner kindly called every one who stayed that night and gave them a heads up. We had to bus forward to the next stop because he couldn't walk in a half size to small already worn shoe! Anyway he confronted the Merrill owner again and told him to please looked at his shoes. He invited my husband to his gite and they examined the boots and sure enough they were his!!! We were so glad and showed him where to find this pair. All he said was, no wonder i had such a good day walking. We are back on the road! Thank you for all your support.
Unintelligible? It definitely was a happy ending!!! Obviously the story evolved. Should I have deleted the post? If so I'm not sure how? I personally prefer everyone who supported us for finding a place for replacement shoes be notified of how it all ended up.Hi Waywalker, it's early here and I'm reading your explanation about your husband being reunited with his boots. Sorry, I find your explanation unintelligible - maybe the early hour I am reading it, so please excuse me. But it sounds like a happy ending. Good.
Buen Camino.
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