I heard about the Rigby Woods shoe in July 2024, through a post on a walking forum I follow. Someone had mentioned it in passing — not as a notable thing, just as an observation — but the description caught my attention. Left trainer, white, on its own, fairly deep into the woods, no obvious explanation. I wrote it down.

I planned the trip for a Saturday in August when conditions looked favourable. I packed my usual kit — flask, sandwiches (cheese and pickle this time, I vary it), field notebook, camera. I also brought a folding stool, which I don't always do, but I had a feeling this one warranted a sit-down.

Set off at half seven. Parked at the end of the lane near Slaithwaite and walked in along the main path. About forty minutes in, off the path to the right, there it were.

Left trainer. White — well, off-white by this point. Lace on the left side only, which I found interesting. Size seven. Sitting upright, which they sometimes do and sometimes don't. The woods were quiet. You could hear wood pigeons. I had my sandwiches nearby and sat on the stool for about half an hour. Took fourteen photographs. Not all of them came out, but the ones that did I'm pleased with.

I don't know what to make of the Rigby Woods shoe, in terms of how it got there. That's not really the point of what I do. But it's a good one. It's stayed with me. I went back in October to check on it and it were still there, which felt right.

Crackin' morning, all in all. One of the better ones.

Sandwiches and flask. Sat for about half an hour. A wood pigeon. Folding stool.

The Layby Pair

I have to be careful about this one because strictly speaking it was a pair, which is unusual and raises questions about whether it counts in the same way. Two shoes, matching, both left and right, placed neatly side by side in a layby on the A629. Both size ten. Brown leather, laces tied.

I logged them as two separate entries — #198 and #199 — and I stand by that. They were two shoes. That they happened to be a pair is notable but it doesn't change what they are individually. I've discussed this with Barry and he agrees, though he wasn't there.

I've not seen a pair since. I'm not sure I'd want to.