Day: October 1, 2025

As soon as I fixed one part of my work boots my suspicion was that another part, or parts were near failure as well. So now I am facing a cascade of failing sole sections on both boots. Where I fixed the heel on one, now the toe has come loose. Flapping in the wind loose at that. I don’t have a way to see the front toe back to the boot along with the Barge contact cement I’m using, so this all might crumble after one more wearing.

Not to mention the front toe portion of the sole on the second boot has come apart, but not fallen off yet. I am hoping that a liberal coating of Barge and some clamps will let that set up and continue on for the rest of this season at least. I’m not a day labourer, so I’m only using these boots for 75-90 minutes 3 to 5 days out of any given week. I don’t think it’s worth me buying new work boots just to split wood. My next purchase would be toe caps to go on my wellington boots, and I’ll chop in those. At least my feet will be warm and dry as the seasons change. I’d prefer my twenty five year old boots stay with me, putting in a good few more years of service, but what can I do. I’m not a cobbler, and these boots aren’t classy enough to take to a professional.

I fear if this does not hold them the next stop for these lovely boots will be a land fill. I will hold on to the laces because they are still good quality items, and can be used elsewhere. I will be sad to see them go, should the soles pop off for good.

I could only complete 75 minutes of splitting today because that was when I noticed my right boot soles had almost peeled off entirely from the top tips down to where I had just fixed the heel joint. Although last time when the one heel went away I kept on chopping for about 40 minutes, but I was tired, and sore already, so I decided going home to attempt yet another repair was the way to go.

I am really starting to see some significant movement through wood pile Two, so I’m a little bummed I may have to stop and wait for this contact cement to cure over the next 24 hours. And failing this repair, waiting on toe caps to arrive in the mail. I looked at some boots on line but they’ve all gone up to nearly $300.00 and then some. Seems a little rich for my blood since I’m only chopping to get exercise, and stay fit.

We went climbing last night so both elbows were singing today. And my grip was a tad weak due to heavy use yesterday. No matter. The Markham Fair opens tomorrow, so I’ll get my steps in wandering around the grounds for the better part of four days. Not much for shoulders, back, and my core but I’ll still be fairly active! Ha.

I don’t know why I’m so attached to these damn boots, except that I’ve had them since 1999, and I’ve worn them at every factory job, land scaping job, tree service job that I’ve ever had. Put a whole lot of miles under my heels walking the boulevards of Brampton with BP Landscaping cutting grass, weed eating, and picking up garbage ten hours a day, multiple years in a row. Not that I am nostalgic for how hot, and hard that work was, but it’s core memories I have where these boots were present, and accounted for.

Single digit temperatures this morning, no surprise there as we’ve just entered the month of October. I do not hold much hope for a random uptick in November where it stays warm & sunny, when it should be grey, cold, dreary, and sort of sad looking outside. May very well be a long hard winter this year. But, weather’s gotten all fucky so who knows what will come out way, predictions are harder than ever it seems.

A toast! To hard work accomplished, and trusty boots that made all of that work possible. Salut!