CLINT’S CAT BOOTS
Clint Lucas has a Cat-powered story like no other. The travel photographer, audio engineer and copywriter has visited over 50 countries in the past 25 years – a journey he started in a pair of Caterpillar boots. “I bought the Cat boots in Nelson in 1996. I remember thinking ‘these are bulldozer boots.’ I was going on my big Overseas Experience (OE), so I needed winter footwear that could travel.” While Clint has been travelling, photographing and working overseas ever since, his Cat boots have spent the last 21 years in New Zealand. “I ripped the heel at some point in 2001,” he said, “so I put them in storage soon after.” Clint held on to the boots hoping to get them repaired, but he wasn’t having much luck. “I was home in New Zealand for most of 2020 and enquired about getting them restored at several repair shops. One cobbler basically laughed and said, ‘No chance, mate!’ So back into storage they went.” But, after Clint’s boots came up in a conversation between his mother, Christine Lucas, and one of our Sales Managers, we knew what had to be done. With some help from Terra Cat, Clint’s boots have now been masterfully restored by McGregors Shoe Service in Christchurch. This means new rubber soles and midsoles, new shanks, triple stitching and new heel cups to replace the rather large tear. “Don’t chuck ‘em, I had thought. They served me well during several winter treks and travels. They were always very comfortable, even after 10 or so kilometres of walking in a single day.” This comfort was much appreciated during his first few months of travel. Clint set out from New Zealand to spend time in Australia, Singapore, the UK, Spain and eventually Dublin to work. “I pretty much wore those boots this whole time.”
“I have lived outside of New Zealand for 25 years now,” said Clint, who left the country for the first time aged 25. “I guess I was a late bloomer for a Kiwi!” Two years into his travels, Clint decided to invest in a camera. “I bought my first camera in 1998. It was a bulletproof Olympus Mju Zoom.” He set off for his next adventure in August 1999, equipped with his Cat boots and a camera. “My plan was not to set foot on an aeroplane for the next 10,000 kilometres. I made it from Amsterdam to Bangkok in about eight to nine weeks. This journey included the trans-Mongolian train from St Petersburg to the southern end of Lake Baikal, down to Ulan Baatar and onto Beijing.” “The photos from this long-haul trip kickstarted my passion for travel photography,” said Clint. “I loved the sights, sounds and smells of different places, and the different people I met along the way – I think the photography was just a bonus until I started earning money from it.” You can find a selection of Clint’s travel photography on his website and his Instagram. He also has photos in the stock image library of Lonely Planet Images, now managed by Getty Worldwide. Clint is still as busy as ever. He’s currently filming a travel documentary in Nepal but is very much looking forward to using his new (old) Cat boots. “I will be into those boots as soon as I get home next winter!” His dad is holding onto his Cat boots in the meantime. “That’ll be for the next year
SCANDINAVIA: “I also travelled around Scandinavia for a month during winter. Heavy, warm boots were a must, especially when it was -24 °C in February.” ST PETERSBURG: “I remember being overwhelmed by the history of the city and its monumental structures. The State Hermitage area is an incredible place to wander around.” MOSCOW: “Compared to St Petersburg, an oddly suspicious place for foreigners like myself who were carrying two cameras.” RUSSIA: “A very slow ride east. The journey from Moscow to Beijing took seven days. Many hours were passed with friendly conversations, chess, pot noodles and staring out at Siberian life.” MONGOLIA: “It was like turning back the clock 100 years. I revisited in 2002 to photograph Mongolia’s western regions for three months.” CHINA: “Train travel all over. It was a wonderful experience – cheap, comfortable and always on time. Dining carts served tasty Asian dishes morning, noon and night.” VIETNAM: “Amazing in every way – the people, places and culture. And the street food on every corner! It was just one $NZD for a beer. Then it was into flip-flops for the next few weeks.”
“I had just worked for four years at a Nelson radio station. I managed to save enough cash to last at least one to two years in Europe, and I had planned several other (budget friendly) travel adventures around the world.” It’s a challenge for Clint to pick just one highlight from his travels so far. “There are too many!” he said. “I think it was being on the road and having the freedom to go wherever you want to (visas pending…). Having the opportunity to photograph and film new and interesting countries was also a constant highlight.” Instead, Clint has given us an overview of some of the places he visited while wearing his Cat boots: DUBLIN: “The people (not the winter weather!) were fun, friendly and always up for a laugh with a new foreign friend.” SOUTHERN SPAIN: “Food and more food! Small tapas dishes came with every drink.” EDINBURGH: “The famous ‘Golden Mile’ actually seemed to go on for miles and miles!” BERLIN: “An impressive city in every direction – when you think of what Germany went through from 1918 to 1989. Great culture, architecture and art.” WARSAW: “Wonderfully cosmopolitan. Friendly. Unique.” TALLINN: “A beautiful place at every turn. Large cobblestone streets and alleyways for miles – my Cat boots definitely got a workout here.”
CAMBODIA: “Humid and HOT!” THAILAND: “Even HOTTER!” Clint was then off to Christchurch via Singapore for a brief family visit before he returned to London in early 2000.
only!” says Clint. “The old Cats look bloody awesome – bulletproof. I can’t wait to wear them again.”
MONGOLIA
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