There was finally a chance to get a lift over to Toukley to pick up the boots.

The boots are Caterpillar Steel Capped and laced work boots with a huge build-up on one side to compensate for my bad leg. Because of the size of the build-up and damage to my knee and ankle they can be really painful to wear for more than an hour or so but are a great pair of boots apart from that. I was given them by my brother Rob when he worked for the company as a stats compiler.

The soles had a Caterpillar logo on them and were yellow and black and I wanted to replace those soles with the same but boot companies like to sell new boots and do not sell replacement soles I am told. They have had a very good sole put on them although I think it looks like crap compared to the original soles.

Toukley shoe repairs is in a small arcade between the main street of Toukley and Coles. The price $60 is about what I paid to have a similar job done ten years ago at Gosford and good value. A well built boot with a good quality sole will last decades of tough use. The boots are finished very well and the jobs seems tight and well done.The guy knows his business and is easy to talk to

I have forgotten the guy’s name but have obtained a quote for rebuilding a pair of harness boots (maybe Durango ones) with the same height of sole on that side. I will have to ask if is interested in making the boot from new. The cost of flying in a pair of Durangos and shipping them about, having them built up on one side and all will probably be similar to getting them hand-made if this guy is into that.

I can remember the days when I could grab a twenty dollar pair of runners from K-mart..sigh