04.20.11 | Inverness hostel | 11:58

I finally got a great night’s sleep and I woke up rested and ready to go. I finally got a great night’s sleep and woke up rested and ready to go. I’m so thankful because I plan on walking a long way today. I think my cough is getting better- only time will tell. I grabbed breakfast at Tesco (three crescents, chocolate milk, and banana milk) and ate it on a park bench that overlooks the River Ness. On my way over, however, I started a horrible limp. For some reason, my right leg was hurting bad! It was so sudden, I think my shoes are finally worn out. That would explain the giant holes in both of the soles. It’s high time I get some new shoes.

I stopped at a department store, but they didn’t have very much of shoe selection. I could tell that the shoes they did have would last me three weeks at the most. I continued my limp around Inverness until I found a place called Rogerson Fine Footwear. This shoe store had more variety.

I found a very comfortable pair of shoes. They have this ergonomic inside, so they feel incredible to walk around in. After I’d tried them on, the salesperson asked me if I wanted them. I told her that I’d love them, but needed to stay within my budget. I asked her how much they were.

I’ve never spent this much on a pair of shoes in my entire lifetime! If I ever have kids or grandkids, none of them will be able to go to college now because of how much I just spend on one pair of shoes. These shoes are “vegan” if there’s such a thing in footwear. The fake leather has been oiled with “Natural Vegetable Oil,” and the sole is made from recycled rubber. I’m admittedly not a tree-hugger or a hippy, but after today’s purchase, I may be forced to become one.

15:36

I walked around town for a while and noticed that my leg was still hurting a bit. I decided to see if I could find a massage somewhere. I’ve walked so many miles while I’ve been here, that it wasn’t too tough to convince myself that I needed one. I found a place, but the receptionist told me that they didn’t have any availability. She asked me to wait around while she made a couple phone calls. She called a guy who’d recently moved to town- I set up a 14:00 appointment with him.

The massage was great! This therapist really knew what he was doing! I walked out of there a few minutes ago, and I feel like a million bucks! I felt as if I’d floated back to the hostel. It was good to have this “reset” of my muscles, knowing that I still have a lot of walking in front of me.