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Southern Oregon Journal: Nice days and good shoes make for a good walk Sunday Oct 29, 2017 at 12:01 AM By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune I was caught in the act of leaf scuffling the other day. It was sort of a subdued shuffling endeavor. Not an outright kicking and frolicking with arms overhead in outright rapture, but joy welled within, nonetheless. A kindred spirit saw me from her car. She laughed, waved and mentally scuffed alongside me, I’m sure. Start with a few unmessed-with piles of eye-popping foliage. Add one kid at heart, the kind of blissful weather we’ve been privileged to lately, throw in the fact that said kid had been housebound for weeks, and scuffle happens. It didn’t hurt at all that I had on my new Merrell hiking shoes, which I found at the Northwest Outdoor Store in Medford. You know, the “come for the gear, stay for a beer” folks. The brews on tap one stays for are Oregon crafted, and they pour local wines as well. I love the opportunity to promote a quality locally owned business, and, no, I don’t take bribes. They didn’t know I’d planned to write about them. That’s how I discover if a business is the real deal — if they genuinely care about customer service and believe in the products they sell. Scott Keith is the owner at NOS. Scott and his staff are dedicated to the Southern Oregon outdoor community. He’s an outdoor guy all the way, with a lifetime of practical and ongoing experience in the wild. If the gear doesn’t work, they don’t carry it. They also have the Trading Post for consignment gear. Their sales associate, Courtney, helped me find the perfect pair of kicks. Her patience knows no bounds. I told her what I wanted and liked, and she selected several pairs for me to try on, in a particular order. Who does that anymore? She encouraged me to try them up a special ramp to simulate an uphill climb. Even though I avoid those in nature (mostly kidding), I tried it, while watching my feet. That’s when my head connected with some lightweight kayaks sitting near the top. For a split second I envisioned the entire flotilla tumbling over, and me using the excuse that I was still nursing a bad foot. But the craft remained secure and I descended the ramp, embarrassed but unharmed. Courtney didn’t laugh, bless her. She encouraged me to walk around the store with every pair I tried on, which were several, with and without insoles. Sometimes she tells customers to walk around for an hour with a pair they like, just to see how they’ll feel over time. I eventually found my new comfy babies and left a happy walker. So, I’m finally out on the pathway again, and what better days to re-emerge than with these perfect autumn offerings. I noticed a few changes on the old route, like more homes going up and even a new road going in, forcing a detour. I celebrated things I’d taken for granted before my foot injury. The view had gotten old — same greens, different golfers, same old path, but different dog walkers. Now I watch someone tee off and celebrate when it finds the green. I take time to let a prideful terrier sniff my hand and become friends. I say good morning to the roofers and wonder who will be calling that house a home. Ah, life is good. I’m back on the road again, so slow down, October. — Peggy Dover is a freelance writer. Email her at [email protected].