September 24th 2024 Summer is over and good boots have gone bad

Well, the summer is over, or at least what bit of summer we've had.

It's the middle of September as I write this blog, the weather is cooling and the bulk of the holidaymakers have gone home. It's time to get back to my walking the coast path again. My last walk was at the end of March, stopping earlier in the year than intended for domestic reasons. Time now to get all my gear ready (not that I have much), and charge my camera batteries.

I decided to give my leather walking boots a good couple of treatments with some stuff I was persuaded to buy when I bought them, beeswax I think. I've done them a few times before and it seems to keep them supple and waterproof.

To my horror, on closer inspection of my boots, I found that the sole of the left boot was delaminating quite badly, probably to the point of being unsafe to walk in. They are only a few months only and this shouldn't be expected. I feel a bit gutted as they are the most comfortable pair of walking boots I have ever known.

I decided that supergluing them back together probably wasn't going to be the best choice of repair as the sole area that was delaminating needs to flex, so instead, them being only a few months old, I took them back to Taunton Leisure where I purchased them.

Taunton Leisure were very understanding and helpful but they couldn't make the decision as to whether they could be replaced under the guarantee. They have sent them off to Keen, who make the boots, to be checked for me and hopefully I should have a decision on repair or replacement with 4 weeks. I'm happy with either option.

My next walk will be from Sidmouth to Ladram bay in the next week or two. I was going to do it from Ladram Bay but there is no public parking there anymore. You have to be a resident holidaymaker on the site to park there since 2023, probably done to deter local people from parking and using the private beach. I'm really excited to be getting walking again but I haven't got a clue as to what i'll be wearing on my feet, lol.