It seems like there are a fair number of barefooters in the NW Ohio - SE Michigan area where I presently reside. I would be very interested in meeting some of you for some barefoot outings. I know that several people organize barefoot hikes at least relatively nearby. Has anyone been on/organized one of these? Are they fun? I'd love to hear what people have planned for teh coming spring and summer season. Also, I've recently taken an urge to play ultimate frisbee- barefoot of course. It's not an activity I've participated in before, but I'd love to try, maybe even organize a team or a group that meets to play from time to time. Anyone interested? Chad
Hi Chad, by all means go on a barefoot hike. I've been on several organized group hikes with the Barefoot Hikers of Eastern NY, great fun. I've also hiked with barefooter friends who I've met on line. It's an outstanding way to explore nature. You'll learn from your fellow hikers and be in the company of others who appreciate barefooting. Barefoot hiking by your self is fun but sharing the experience is even more so. I'm quite a distance but would love to attend a get together at some point. Ultimate frisbee is a sport where barefeet have long been a part of the uniform.
I used to live in toledo. my girlfriend and i used to go barefoot places there. the southwyck mall was ok. also, if that movie theater at southwyck is still there... we were talking about barefooting so i bet her that she wouldnt call some places and ask if its ok. she did it and called the southwyck movie theater, saying " my shoe just broke and i'm on my way in to see a movie. Can I just go barefoot?" they said "sure". the larger movie theater in maumee said "no...unfortunately you have to wear shoes." the grocery store at the corner of byrne and heatherdowns- some teenage girl picked up the phone and said "sure come on in". We didn't go that day but a few days later when we did go, they put up a hand written sign, that wasn't there before, that said NSNSNS. She went anyway with a short skirt on. No one said anything. I've been in the Franklin park mall, Cub foods, Kroger (on Hill -i think). The Meijer store was the bitchiest, with their greeter and whatnot. Didn't make it very far in there. I did see one girl walking in sock feet. That's why i don't know how "melissa" (from the yahoo group) does it. A dollar store once said that I have to have shoes on. I asked why and she said that the shoes and clothes have the security tabs on them which are held on with a large thumb tack shaped thing and sometimes the thumbtack shaped things are lying on the floor. She was right, I found one and boy, I wouldn't want to step on it. the tack part is about 1/2 inch long. Ok, I agree, that's a good reason to kick out barefooters. Anyway, good luck.
A dollar store once said that I have to have shoes on. I asked why and she said that the shoes and clothes have the security tabs on them which are held on with a large thumb tack shaped thing and sometimes the thumbtack shaped things are lying on the floor. She was right, I found one and boy, I wouldn't want to step on it. the tack part is about 1/2 inch long. Ok, I agree, that's a good reason to kick out barefooters. Anyway, good luck.[/QUOTE] I still don"t think this is a good reason to kick barefooters out. It was nice of her to warn you, but it should still be your own responsability to go in there barefoot ,shoodded or not at all. A tack part that big could easily go through a flipflop too. I guess it all boils down to another US liability threat.
