And honestly, my friend was apalled that I went barefoot in Vancouver, I didn't think it was all that bad! My feet weren't all that dirty, and the one time I looked down I managed to avoid spit, haha. I thought it was rather comfortable, the Vancouver streets are nice and smooth, except for a few painful crosswalks!

And if I can walk on some of the dirtiest/busiest streets in Vancouver, I'm sure others can!

Yes, exactly!!! :) Thank you! 

In Calgary on Friday we walked barefoot in the rain. It was cold and wet and our feet were numb but we did it.

In Edmonton on Saturday we walked through the West Edmonton Mall parking lot, through a park full of thistles, and sidewalks with glass on them. We had to watch out for dog poop and a condom (!!!!) at one point, but we did it.

I had the chance to talk to Isaac and he told me it isn't meant to be glamorous. It isn't meant to be comfortable. So many people live without shoes everyday, and if we can walk barefoot for ONE mile, we are making a difference. It's such a simple thing. And if Hanson can do it, so can we! :)

Exactly!

I mean I'd walk over hot coals for Hanson anyways, walking barefoot is a piece of cake! haha We got super lucky with the Van walk, since Granville can be really dirty and sketchy. We got off that street super fast, though. But when we left the Commodore later there was vommit EVERYWHERE. Which was slighty nasty!

There was the coolest thing ever, on the way back we were almost done and we had to cross a street, and I guess they were draining a fire hydrant or something, but one part of the road was soaking wet, and everyone stepped through it. I wish I could have gotten a picture without getting run over by a car, it was so pretty. Just dry cement with tons of wet footprints on it.

Yeah, I know what you mean!! I used to live in Vancouver, and it can be nasty downtown. That's gross about the vomit, glad you guys missed that!! 

How neat about the wet footprints, that would have made such a neat photo! :)

Thanks for understanding! I agree, I would totally do anything for Hanson. And this is sooooo important to them! They are incredible for the work they are doing with The Walk. It's really amazing. So if we can help in this little way by taking off our shoes, that's such a simple way to show we love and support them, and help them do something great.  

Very true, the entire point of doing the walks is to go barefoot with them. To be uncomfortable for a mile walk is nothing compared to what children and adults have to do in africa everyday of their lives. I know there are some people that can't walk barefoot for medical reasons or foot problems but I think most should be able to go barefoot.

I'll be doing it again barefoot in a few weeks.

I agree! I walked barefoot in Vancouver and Edmonton. I regret not going barefoot in Calgary. I didn't because I have a cold and I didn't want it to get worse (except that all the singing and cheering that I did didn't help me!). I'm seriously still kicking myself for it. And yeah, Edmonton walk was interesting. lol. I still have something stuck in my left heal (I think a thorn or something) and I had a piece of glass stuck in my right foot. The wonderful Kim got it out of my foot and we made a FUTY out of it. It was all worth it! I'm seriously considering hosting a walk, but I'm way too shy. I mean, I'm not the type of person to be holding a mega phone.

My original contention last tour was that it’s not that hard to walk a mile bare foot for amile, so I didn’t see the point.  My heel broke a couple of weeks before and I had to walk barefoot home from work.  It sucked because it was embarrassing, but it’s really not that hard and gives me no perspective about how much it sucks to be in poverty.  Normally, I would have done it to show unity, but didn’t have health insurance and I would have been fu@cked if I stepped on something.

I went to the first walk I went to on the preview tour with a very skeptical attitude, but I really liked it. The guys hung out afterwards selling shoes and the fans were semi delightful.  For example, when the guys were selling shoes, people filtered out of the front after they bought a pair and let others up front.  I was pretty inspired and I ended up talking to the people from Tom’s Shoes and writing a check to the foundation at the end of the night.   I respect what they are doing and I really want to support them.

The past two walks I went to in CT and NH were horrible. The fans loud and obnoxious, rude to the venue staff and to each other,  whispering to their friends about other people walking   and after the walk , immediately start flipping out about where they are in line and if the venue will be respecting the ‘number system.’  Maybe that was minority, but that’s what stuck in my head. I found myself getting discouraged afterwards, so I decided I’m not going to do anymore.

Maybe I missed the point because I didn’t go barefoot, so maybe I’ll try in Foxboro. I doubt it……but  I’ll either go barefoot or not at all.

Thanks everyone for your comments!!! :) 

Amber~ My husband and I are in Calgary, and we would like to host a Walk too! Maybe we could work on something together? :)  

I am so grateful for shoes now more than ever since i took the walk in Dallas and Austin last year, yeah my feet will be dirty and blister but its for a good cause, just be as careful as possible. I know in Austin though the guys were really watching out for us like Taylor would tell us when there was glass etc.

I didnt go barefot in seattle only for the simple fact of I have a condition called "planters feet". So If I walk acround with support, my feet will swell up to the size of grapefruits. I didnt want my feet to swell, because then I couldnt walk at all. haha.

However we are going to a california date, so I probably will go barefoot that show. Hopefuly my feet dont swell too bad.

I walked barefoot in downtown chicago, and plan to again.

It's one day, for a good cause.  It's important!

I broke a toe there walking barefoot... ;)

all for the cause I guess! :) 

haha, Ive gone on walks barefoot when even Hanson wore shoes. I plan to do all of my walks barefoot :D

I did wear shoes in Joliet last year though, freezing ground is one thing, but I was scared off by the ice a bit.... and my son was mad when I took him with to a walk and made him wear his shoes while I took mine off. I mean, I'm willing to risk myself stepping on glass or anything else that might happen, but not him. I thought it was really cute though that he wanted his shoes off... he also pointed out the people wearing shoes (which was the majority of people there.)

I can't do the walk barefoot. I'd love to but I have arthritis & my left ankle broke when I was younger & I never received medical treatment for it so it didn't heal correctly. I can't risk my health to do it. I completely understand the point, but it's painful for me enough to do the walk w/shoes on & my rheumatologist specifically told me I have to wear my special sneakers (fitted for me so they don't hurt as bad) to do it.

Thanks everyone for your comments!!! 

I totally understand those of you who are not able to go barefoot for medical reasons... my comments certainly weren't directed at you. It's great that you are all out walking! :) I'm really impressed to hear that! I just wanted to encourage everyone who is able to to walk barefoot to do so. :)