In the midst of packing, my life currently seems to be all about gear. What to bring (and what not to bring) is a constant debate, as I struggle to bring my weight load down to a manageable level. I scrapped the trailer, the packing case, the panniers, even the laptop (my beloved laptop) is in the “to store until February” pile.

And part of my inner debate about gear concerns footgear. I’ve decided against clip-in pedals and dedicated cycling shoes, so for most of my trip I’ll be low-teching it with an old pair of running shoes that I was given for free.

But I did succumb to some savvy marketing - check out my crazy “lizard toe” shoes. They are the “Five Fingers” by Vibram, which enable you to basically walk in your bare feet (great on grass, not so hot on rough rocks). I’m still not completely convinced of their practicality, but I did use them for part of the West Coast Trail and didn’t die, so I’ll try them out on this trip.  Perhaps the biggest advantage of these shoes is that strangers will ask about them - maybe it’s a new way to meet people?