When Darren Richardson sent me this photograph of a happy barefooter to whom he had just given a copy of THE BAREFOOT HIKER, I knew, once again, why I had labour'd to write the book, and why I am so pleased that Darren is now working on a book of his own about the joys of going barefoot.
Darren and I share not only the joy of going barefoot ourselves, but, as can be seen in this barefoot girl's happy smile, the fuller joy of sharing that joy with others. Although we have yet to meet face to face, I am very pleased to count Darren as a friend.
Of the girl in the photograph Darren writes:
"From July 17 to July 30, my feet were completely free from any footwear. Two barefoot weeks. A barefoot fortnight. On day 12, I went to San Francisco and interviewed barefooters for my writing project...
I met this 16-year-old that day in the Haight, talked to her for about five or ten minutes, and then I gave her a copy of THE BAREFOOT HIKER. She was thrilled. She said she went barefoot "constantly" and was glad to see there was a book extolling the virtues of shoelessness...
She said her long, ragged bellbottoms served two purposes: She could walk on them when the sidewalk was too hot or dirty, and she could hide her feet at "No Shoes, No Service" spots. These young, innovative minds..."
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