Thought I'd pull up a chair, have a beer, and tell you about my barefoot vacation...since I'm still on Pacific time, and sleep eludes me...
It started last Tuesday as my wife and I were dropped off at the Harrisburg International Airport. At the counter to check our bag (yes, bag, we try to travel as light as possible) the counter clerk looked at me (I think firstly because central PA is still not accustomed to a man wearing a kilt--incidentally, incredibly comfy to travel in...much easier to do one's business in little airplane lavs) and then said "You do have shoes, don't you? You will need them to board the plane." I asked why, she said policy....I didn't feel like arguing, and being put on some sort of watch list. We went through security, sat at the gate, and then I went to get us some vittles for the trip. Another agent came up to me while I was in line saying "Sir, where are your shoes?" I told her they were in my back pack with my wife--it was the truth, I did carry a pair of flops with me "just in case." I don't want to miss a plane because of other people's biases. I sat down next to my wife, we ate, we talked, my feet were somewhat covered by our carry-ons (back pack and lap top). From across the gate, I watch the ticket agent put down a phone, scan the gate, look at me, walk over, and says "Sir, you will have to put on your shoes before you board the plane." Whatever. I put on my flops right in front of him as I handed him my ticket. I took them off soon as I got to my seat. We went through Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle-Tacoma airports with no problems what-so-ever, and even a few smiles from TSA agents in those hubs. And had no problems on the return trip, in fact, my wife joined me in walking through the airport without her shoes...a first for her. I have to say, in my little home town close to Seattle, I had no problems in any store, restaurant, or bar I went to. Living in central PA has made me a little paranoid I think, in that I am accustomed to regular confrontation. There was one point I thought I might have a problem. It is a local "American Zoo" we took my niece and nephews to. I had checked it out online the night before and they actually had a shoes-only policy listed on their site (I hadn't ever seen that before)...and I try to be knowledgeable about such policies, so I can acknowledge them if staff members confront me. I was not bothered once...however, my brother in law was. The tram-line guy asked him if I knew I didn't have shoes on. He looked at me and said "Nate, where you aware that you weren't wearing shoes?" I said, "No, thanks for letting me know that!" Really though, the only time I had any comments was my favorite day there. We went up to the Comet Falls Trail for a hike...the trail is a wonderful 4 miles with 900 ft. of elevation gain. I had hiked it many times in my youth. That day, I was anxious to run it. And I did. (Ok, so I did have to walk one or two of the switch-backs up, but hey...I was still fast). I waited for my parents for about an hour at the top, since they had my lunch with them. I got hungry. I ran back down 1/3 of the way, then walked back up with them. My feet felt fabulous, the trail was awesome, very unlike the red-shale logging roads I often run on. When we were done, I practically sprinted all the way back down, thoroughly enjoying myself. Most comments were of the "Dude, that's hard core" type....to "Wow, you are fast"...and only one "You forgot your shoes, man." As IF that is a new and creative comment...or particularly clever. My parents told me that people were talking about "that guy in the kilt who is running this trail BAREFOOT"...and my mom actually TOLD them I was her son! My favorite comet was "Could you please fall so I can see what's under your kilt?" Apparently my mother heard about that too, and asked if it was true that I wasn't wearing anything (I, of course did tell the woman who asked that question exactly--ok, with some embellishment--what she would find). I don't think my mother was too pleased at that information. So, all in all, the Pacific Northwest is wonderfully barefoot friendly. I'm hoping central PA will loosen up just a little bit. Of course winter, and pants weather, is upon us. People don't seem to notice as much if my legs aren't bare. so, obviously my leg is feeling really good...still not over doing it...but I think my original plan of kicking up some serious mileage this fall is do-able. I can't tell you how awesome it felt to "float" down that mountain. While waiting for my parents to come back down, I toyed with the idea of running back up to meet them, but didn't want to push it too much :-D.
It started last Tuesday as my wife and I were dropped off at the Harrisburg International Airport. At the counter to check our bag (yes, bag, we try to travel as light as possible) the counter clerk looked at me (I think firstly because central PA is still not accustomed to a man wearing a kilt--incidentally, incredibly comfy to travel in...much easier to do one's business in little airplane lavs) and then said "You do have shoes, don't you? You will need them to board the plane." I asked why, she said policy....I didn't feel like arguing, and being put on some sort of watch list. We went through security, sat at the gate, and then I went to get us some vittles for the trip. Another agent came up to me while I was in line saying "Sir, where are your shoes?" I told her they were in my back pack with my wife--it was the truth, I did carry a pair of flops with me "just in case." I don't want to miss a plane because of other people's biases. I sat down next to my wife, we ate, we talked, my feet were somewhat covered by our carry-ons (back pack and lap top). From across the gate, I watch the ticket agent put down a phone, scan the gate, look at me, walk over, and says "Sir, you will have to put on your shoes before you board the plane." Whatever. I put on my flops right in front of him as I handed him my ticket. I took them off soon as I got to my seat. We went through Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle-Tacoma airports with no problems what-so-ever, and even a few smiles from TSA agents in those hubs. And had no problems on the return trip, in fact, my wife joined me in walking through the airport without her shoes...a first for her. I have to say, in my little home town close to Seattle, I had no problems in any store, restaurant, or bar I went to. Living in central PA has made me a little paranoid I think, in that I am accustomed to regular confrontation. There was one point I thought I might have a problem. It is a local "American Zoo" we took my niece and nephews to. I had checked it out online the night before and they actually had a shoes-only policy listed on their site (I hadn't ever seen that before)...and I try to be knowledgeable about such policies, so I can acknowledge them if staff members confront me. I was not bothered once...however, my brother in law was. The tram-line guy asked him if I knew I didn't have shoes on. He looked at me and said "Nate, where you aware that you weren't wearing shoes?" I said, "No, thanks for letting me know that!" Really though, the only time I had any comments was my favorite day there. We went up to the Comet Falls Trail for a hike...the trail is a wonderful 4 miles with 900 ft. of elevation gain. I had hiked it many times in my youth. That day, I was anxious to run it. And I did. (Ok, so I did have to walk one or two of the switch-backs up, but hey...I was still fast). I waited for my parents for about an hour at the top, since they had my lunch with them. I got hungry. I ran back down 1/3 of the way, then walked back up with them. My feet felt fabulous, the trail was awesome, very unlike the red-shale logging roads I often run on. When we were done, I practically sprinted all the way back down, thoroughly enjoying myself. Most comments were of the "Dude, that's hard core" type....to "Wow, you are fast"...and only one "You forgot your shoes, man." As IF that is a new and creative comment...or particularly clever. My parents told me that people were talking about "that guy in the kilt who is running this trail BAREFOOT"...and my mom actually TOLD them I was her son! My favorite comet was "Could you please fall so I can see what's under your kilt?" Apparently my mother heard about that too, and asked if it was true that I wasn't wearing anything (I, of course did tell the woman who asked that question exactly--ok, with some embellishment--what she would find). I don't think my mother was too pleased at that information. So, all in all, the Pacific Northwest is wonderfully barefoot friendly. I'm hoping central PA will loosen up just a little bit. Of course winter, and pants weather, is upon us. People don't seem to notice as much if my legs aren't bare. so, obviously my leg is feeling really good...still not over doing it...but I think my original plan of kicking up some serious mileage this fall is do-able. I can't tell you how awesome it felt to "float" down that mountain. While waiting for my parents to come back down, I toyed with the idea of running back up to meet them, but didn't want to push it too much :-D.
