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So many things to think about here! First of all, I would like to submit a photograph which shows exactly what we are talking about with the rails-to-trails bike path. Although the first iterations of rails-to-trails were indeed cinder paths, they really don't screw around with that anymore. 98% of the the bike paths around here are asphalt (concrete is way too expensive and time consuming to install). As you can see in the instant example, it's been around long enough to have been extensively repaired. Passenger rail service from my town certainly never existed in my lifetime--I can remember exploring the abandoned train station as a kid. The last freight service was solely for the grain elevator, and they only made 2 or 3 trips a year. The track was in such poor condition by the 1990s that the maximum safe speed was probably about 10 mph. As far as the rest of the conversation goes, I have no idea how truly steep certain sections of sidewalk may or may not be in San Francisco, but it just goes to show how, in the grand scheme of things, these shoes we like to wear more than anything are highly impractical for many situations. I think it would probably be easy enough to walk in stilettos on a cinder ex-rail path (in my personal experience anyway), but you'd certainly ruin your shoes doing so. Block heels would ok for sure, but I wouldn't want to try it in platforms, even with my strong ankles. What strikes me most is the fact that we even have to have this discussion at all. Unless you've got like 500 dollar designer shoes, you don't even think about exactly what you might be walking on in flats, be it grass, gravel, steep inclines down to the street, or whatnot. And yet, we choose to put up with this inconvenience by choice on a daily basis.

San Francisco has at least 11 streets over 31 degrees. I had to walk in the street, my platform stilettos couldn't handle that sidewalk. I wanted to look fierce at the meeting.

20 degrees is pretty steep. Even San Francisco doesn't actually have 20 degrees slope.

Walking on concrete is not always easy. I had to walk several blocks on a concrete sidewalk that sloped from the building to the street. About a 20 degree slope. Also exposed agate can be challenging in stilettos as well as polished concrete and wet weather.

What a great day, compliments all around! It is always frustrating to start a good conversation, only to have circumstances/surroundings cut it short.

You would think that I'd have a good picture of my Nine West "Sizzle" oxfords, but evidently the only photos I have are not specifically focused on the shoes. I find this somewhat puzzling because, while they are not technically my oldest pair of heels, they are my oldest heels that I still wear, and they are the single most worn pair in my collection. How do I know this? I record dates and mileage when I go for purposeful walks. I've had these for just over 10 years, and very close to 150 miles. 150 miles does not seem like a terrible lot in the grand scheme of things, but other shoes which have approached this sort of heavy use have self-destructed in one way or another. I've got a pair of sandals that may approach that mileage this coming summer, but only time will tell. Stats for the oxfords: 4 3/4" heel, 3/4" platform, and the heel itself is about 1" wide and 3/4" long, so no, they're not at all stilettos. Another interesting fact about them is that they are really too big for me. For some dumb reason, at the time, I thought I was a size 9 1/2, but I am not. Therefore, I have always worn these with thick wool socks, and it seems to work out very well. Perhaps that is indeed the reason why these have become my sort of default shoe in winter. As far as the pace goes, I was walking on one of those rails-to-trails bike paths, and there was very little in the way of windblock. Luckily, it just so happens that I chose to walk against the wind for the first three miles, and so I had the wind at my back for the return three miles. I'm sure I would have had a much worse time of it had I chosen to start out in the other direction (I was at a midpoint in the trail). Since I have one a them exercise apps on my phone, I know exactly how fast I wasn't walking. The first mile or two, against the wind, started out somewhere in the neighborhood of 21 minutes per mile. As I became fatigued, I slowed down considerably, despite being able to walk with the wind, so that the last couple were more like 24 minutes a mile. Average pace for the entire 6.1 miles was 22:11, which is really not all that bad for what is effectively four inch heels. And the most important thing is, I actually didn't injure myself. Just sore for a couple of days, mainly in my shins. As a historical note, I walked pretty much this same route, only further, and in only one direction with my faithful dog Sadie back when it was still railroad tracks. That has been a week or two ago. It actually kind of hurts to think that it was more than 30 years ago. And no, I was not wearing heels for that journey.

Thanks to JKrenzer, these stiletto high heels from Hey Si Mey are good shoes for a cheap price.

They are a very attractive pump with a lovely thin heel. As a TG lady (yes I do think of myself as a lady) who wears high heels almost daily, I believe comfort (or maybe a lack of discomfort) is just a matter of persistence. Jkrenzer you may agree that those who can only wear their high heels from time to time are more likely to suffer the worst discomfort.

I'm expanding my work collection. Currently at 6 pair at my desk. Heels as we all know offer so much more in terms of types and colors.

It has evidently been about a month and a half since I posted any pictures of me. Today was the first day in a while that I actually didn't feel like immediately rushing indoors to escape the cold. Spring is not here yet, but it is just around the corner. I need to start my seeds for my garden here in a couple of weeks. Pictured here is my Zara suit. I have no idea how much the thing cost, because it was a gift given to me by my nephew. It's not really a formal suit, it's made of softer, more flowing material than most traditional suits. I like the fact that the pant legs are cut a little bit on the narrow side, the better to show off my Steve Madden "Klory" pumps, which got their first proper outing today. Also featured here is my experiment with facial hair, which is really the first since I started wearing heels. I wondered if it would look too out of place with the rest of my wardrobe, but it seems to be just fine, at least for the winter. I am committed to it for at least another month, after which I'll probably shave it, as I don't see the white mustache and side whiskers going well with shaved legs, short shorts, and sandals.

I guess I am largely back, after my hiatus from serious heeling. Although it's still at the limit of what I can walk in semi-gracefully, I wore my Steve Madden Klory pumps to church, which sport 4 3/4" heels. The day was a little bit hectic, which means I didn't even think about my feet until I was loading up my car after the service. I will not claim that my feet were not tired (I spent about two hours in these shoes), but it wasn't like I tore them off my feet the instant I got back home. I would liken it to having a good workout at the gym. It's achy, but it's a good kind of achy. Maybe next time, three hours will be possible. My entire outfit is chronicled elsewhere.