Fredericksburg

Looks like I'll be leaving it for a few days. Gotta go to my interview tomorrow. I'm still not sure why they want to interview me but I can't refuse. Fredericksburg has been pretty good. I noticed this week that I am not the only one who has been parked at the rest stop every night. In spite of what Bunning is doing, there are many of us in need.

I was looking at all the places that have changed in the past two weeks. If you remember that I came down here because of the snow up north (sound familiar) and there was about 18 inches of snow on the ground here when I arrived. Now there are only a few patches here and there. It looks like spring will be arriving soon.

I have no idea what I will be doing after the interview. Of course I will let you know!!!

Lord of the Rings - and dogs

IN TLOTR there are creatures, called Ents, that are trees with human characteristics, once of which is speech. Yesterday, while hiking, it was easy to see where Tolkien got his inspiration. Late in the afternoon the wind began gusting up to about 35 MPH and the creaks and groans and gratings of the trees sounded like loud moans and cries. With all the snow and tree damage lately it would be easy for trees or limbs to fall (see that a man was killed in Central Park by a falling limb)

I had Guy on leash as we were on a paved area and every time a big gust of wind came he perked up his ears, pulled the leash from side to side, and looked up at the trees as if he could understand them. He also was pulling very hard to get the hell out of there. Maybe dogs are smarter than humans because the can understand what trees are saying. Maybe that's why they pee on them.

Prince William Forest - a SPECIAL place

"Do you remember where you were when...?" I don't mean when Kennedy was shot, or the moon landing, or the Miracle on Ice. I mean when you learned something about yourself. Having grown up in a factory town, being outside meant baseball, football, snow ball fights, etc. Being outside for the sake of being outside was meaningless.

Then I joined the Marine Corps. During my basic training in Quantico we were trucked to Prince William Forest for Orienteering (you are given a map and compass and have to find various predetermined locations. You can do it casually, or like the Marines do it, on a graded basis.) Well, it was a beautiful day and all of a sudden I found myself on the top of a ridge, surrounded by a magnificent view, and hearing nothing but forest sounds, a rippling creek, the wind in the trees, the crunch of my footsteps. It was a religious awakening. All of a sudden I realized that I had never felt that way before and didn't want it to end. Those of you who know me know that I have now been camping, hiking, etc for the last 35 years. It was all because of that day in Prince William Forest. I returned there yesterday for the first time since my Marine Corps days and it reminded me of that time long ago. It hasn't changed. Nor have I.

E

PS: After my epiphany I stopped racing for time and enjoyed the hike and flunked the day and my CO was pissed. Poor guy, just didn't understand.

Reprieve

I contacted the lady in Goshen and we are rescheduling for Monday!!!!! Now a nice day at Prince William Park and a miserable cold day tomorrow. But at least it won't be in a foot of snow. It may take until August for all the snow to melt up there.

Jesus is mad at me

I have an interview in Goshen on Thursday. Can you say HEAVY snow is forecast?

Tuesday morning

and I feel lazy. I have laundry going but otherwise I am sitting in bed, dreading another week in the car. O well, it could be worse. And if the unemployment extension isn't passed, it will be worse.

We love our dogs

I often wonder if he ever catches what it is that he chases in his sleep. As hard as his legs move, I certainly hope so. He deserves it.

redux

just walked Guy. COLD AND RAINING. Great decision to stay in. It would have been miserable out there tonight. Once again, what do the real homeless do? I can imagine that they stay wrapped up in whatever they have and don't move. Kinda dehumanizing, eh?

Rain today

Great timing for my night at Motel 6.

Leesylvania

I was pleasantly surprised by my trip there yesterday. I fully expected an urban park with limited hiking and an overabundance of day use facilities. I was right in that is how the park is designed. But during a long pleasant chat with a park ranger he indicated that had I been here during the summer, it would have been how I imagined. However, because of the snow and the "winter conditions" I was able to enjoy the park. Some very nice hiking with awesome views of the Potomac.

a glimmer of hope

NOT!!!!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/business/economy/21unemployed.html?hp

Lake Anna redux

After some errands I headed out there again and took a couple of easy hikes. No one was out there and the silence was deafening. It was so beautiful that I stayed until the sun set. There were times that I actually heard nothing, maybe a bird call, the water lapping on the shore, Guy's footsteps. SIGH

I would never go there in the summer with the roar of boat engines, loud radios in the picnic areas, kids screaming. Give me the quiet of a cold snowy woods.

Finally Jesus shows some love

I found an air intake hose with a major crack in it. I could replace it at $40 plus labor or try to duct tape it. The duct tape worked and the "Check Engine" light went out.

WHEW!!!!!!

jobs - or lack thereof

sent out a couple of resumes. actually got an email back on one of them but when I saw who was the hiring company, I didn't follow through. I'm not being that picky but if you know that there isn't a fit it's stupid to waste everyone's time. But it was good to at least get a response.

Irony???

Does anyone else see the irony in a billboard proclaiming the celebration of Black History Month outside Robert E. Lee High School?

John Denver

once wrote:

You know he's be a poor man if he never saw an eagle fly

I've seen eagle's fly and it is majestic and today I am headed to Caledon State Park where some paths are open only during this part of the year so as not to bother the eagles during the hatching season in the summer and fall.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/cal.shtml

Maybe I'll see some eagles fly today

UH OH

Check engine light came on

Feeling human

So after we finished the last hike yesterday I was tired. I was very happy that I decided to take it because a large portion of it was on the Eastern shore of Lake Anna and the sun settling in the West was beautiful. I didn't want to leave because it was so pretty and I was so tired so we sat there watching the sun set, eating cinnamon dollars and drinking a Heinie.

On the way to the park I was worried about all the gas money trips like that used but after that I realized that I needed the trips to keep the feeling that I am still part of the human race. Once again, I can't imagine what it would be like to really be homeless.

I was right

I've said all along that Guy could be out all day in sub freezing weather, come in exhausted, collapse, then hear me say "Let's go for a walk" and he'd be out the door.

Well today, he proved it. We were out hiking for several hours in several inches of snow. Of course I walked for three hours and he walked for about five ....LOL. He was all over the place. When we got back to the car it was warm, he passed out. I wanted to hike one more trail so I drove to the trailhead, no more than a couple of minutes. I opened his door and out he bounded. For the next hour and a half he was no closer than 25 yards to me. I don't know what he smelled but he was constantly running off and returning. I did a little under 2 miles. He must have done five. I know that there were deer from the tracks and wild turkey as I saw several as we drove up and squirrels. We got back to the car...and he passed out. As I slowly drove out of the park (more about that later) I saw three deer about 100 yds ahead. When we reached where they had crossed the road, Guy woke up and jumped from side to side even though the deer were long gone.

Lake Anna - link

Imagine this place under 6 - 12 inches of snow!!! But we love it. Especially since I just did my laundry and have clean warm socks!!!!!

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/lak.shtml

Weather forecasts and layering

So I woke up warm and there was no ice on the inside of the windshield. Obviously, it wasn't a cold night as forecast. However, to prepare, I layered as experience taught me. A pair of thick wool hiking socks, then heavy cotton socks, covered by those silly looking slipper socks. A long sleeve T, then a thin sweat shirt, a thicker sweat shirt, a long sleeve medium button down wool shirt, a medium wind breaker, and a heavy wool coat. A thick wool cap pulled over my ears and medium weight hiking gloves. For a cover I use a three season sleeping bag. I look like a cross between the Sta-Puff marshmallow man, the Michelin Man, and the cartoon kid dressed by his mother to play in the snow who falls over and can't get up because of everything he is wearing AND I STILL GET COLD if it gets into the lows 20's.

Being in the car I have no wind chill so once again I ask, what do regular homeless people do. This is Central Virginia by god, not NYC or Detroit or Buffalo.

looks like a cold night

but it may warm up a little by the weekend.

Lake Anna - It's all relative

I had to laugh. Some of the trails that were graded "moderate" would have been rated:
"for Sunday walks hand in hand with your love." But with 6 - 12 inches of snow they were tough enough to tire me out after four hours. Even Guy was exhausted. Of course, with all the chasing of scents that he did it's a surprise that he's even walking. After one extended absence he returned, plopped down in the snow, and wouldn't move except for eating the snow to quench his thirst. It was a hoot.

Wednesday already?

WOW, time flies when you're having fun. It really is very easy to lose track of what day it is, and forget about the date.

If it weren't for the fact that I have to submit my unemployment claim on Sunday, it really wouldn't matter what day it is. Of course, library hours are important, as is opening and closing time for malls. Wow, how life revolves around WiFi and restrooms.

checking out

It's been nice but all good things..... At least I am warm, clean, and have plenty to eat, drink, and do for the next couple of days. Now if it can just stay moderately OK at night, I'll be fine.

Guy has followed me every step as I've loaded the car. After all these years he's still afraid of being left behind.

Infrastructure

Although the purpose of this BLOG is to let people who care know what I am doing and to keep the plight of the homeless and jobless in the forefront, occasionally I make political stands. I have tried to keep them in the area of the homeless and jobless so this one fits. From today's NY Times, an article about what I was saying several days ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/opinion/16herbert.html

Good decision

Around 9, when I was snuggling comfortably I noticed that it had stopped precipitating. Although I was loving feeling human again I was hoping that I didn't choose the wrong night, considering that it isn't supposed to warm up significantly anytime soon. I got up a little after midnight and it was still dry. Then came the morning and the streets are covered with a fresh blanket of snow. YES!!!! I didn't waste my warm night. It would not have been fun getting up, cleaning off the car, then fighting traffic first thing in the morning.

On top of that, there were two late jobs postings that I will now be answering. Sitting here, with a cup of 7-11 coffee (BAD, this time), with Guy sleeeping at my side. SIGH.

Real Homeless

As I was driving to the motel today I saw a real homeless man on the side of the highway panhandling. Gave him a buck. I wonder what he will be doing tonight.

Chcked in

It's cold and raining and I am laying here warm, dry, and clean. It started coming down a little after 2 and I checked in a little after three. I'm going to enjoy the next 18 hours by drinking as much as I can. Don't have to worry bout findin no toilets!!!!!

Besides the rain and cold it is a good day to be in a motel because the libraries are closed for the holiday. I've been spending about 3 hours a day in the library not only for the wireless but because I can recharge the Mac's battery. Finding free Wifi isn't worth anything without a charge. So I need 2 - 3 hours a day of charging time. Amazing what you plan your day around. There's a public restroom near the visitor center in F'burg and there was a homeless woman in there today charging her cell phone. LOL

Fredericksburg

I like the town. It's going to rain and maybe snow a little later today and tonight so I am glad that I saved my motel night. Looks like it will be Motel 6 tonight.

Priceline

Usually a great way to find a place, but it didn't work last night. My bids were low enough to be interesting to me but nowhere near good enough for any of the priceline places. I mean I know I can get a Motel 6 for $32 and I will on Wed or Thur before I leave this area. Why should I bid $35 on a 2 star that I don' know that will add a $10 service charge for a $45 total?

After I leave this area I will use them again, but there is nothing wrong with Motel 6.

Coffee

I'm at a Friendly's again. Their breakfasts aren't bad and there is the free wifi. Coffee, however, is marginal at best. So far, the best I get is at 7-11's. WaWa is bad, Pilot is bad, Abbarazzo (or however you spell it) is abominable considering it is a "gourmet" shop and is supposed to be good. Starbucks is ok but overpriced. I know I forgot someplace but I'll edit this later.

Sunday morning

I'm in Fredericksburg. Having spent most of the day in Ashland I realized there is no place to stay the night. I ended up halfway to Fredericksburg but wasn't happy, knowing that I'd be in Fredericksburg today. So I drove up and stayed at the one Va rest stop. Coldest night yet, but I crashed a little after 10 and woke a little before 7. Not bad. Not quite warm and toasty but not cold except for the tip of my nose.

I should have figured

Hey, I'm in an area where truck stops are used for Engagement Parties and Weddings. I should have figured that an all night Wendy's at a truck stop would be filled for the Friday night before V-day. It was a scene out of American Graffiti meets Deliverance. Actually except for the roaring engines, loud booming subwoofers, and screaming testosterone poisoned Bubbas it wasn't that bad. Guy and I slept through most of it and it was over by about midnight.

So I am off to Ashland and an easy day of county parks. Part of the reason that I will take it easy is that Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment is on Live at the Met and I've never heard it in full. Pavarotti was named the "King of the High C's" during a performance of the opera and the new King, Juan Diego Flórez, is performing with a guest appearance by Kiri Te Kanawa. So this should be good.

for those who might care

another night in Petersburg, then I am off tomorrow to Lake Anna, about 40 miles north. New hiking places. Gotta have something to fill the days.

Depressing job situation

I don't think I've sent out a resume all week.

Florence

I'm glad that I didn't waste the gas to drive down there. 2 - 4 inches are forecast for tonight. LOL

Another night in Petersburg

Nowhere else to go. I'm thinking of heading north over the weekend. A couple of county parks today and some easy walks. Hiked over four hours yesterday and I was exhausted. Poor Guy, he was so tired that at the end of the hike he saw some deer and started chasing them and didn't return for about five minutes. Then when I put him on leash he started pulling because he caught more scents. In other words, the mutt is indefatigable. At least he is enjoying this lifestyle.

Pocahontus State Park

It's where I've been hiking the last two days. Really beautiful. Funny thing is that it was build by the CCC during the depression. They actually have a CCC museum there. for those of you too young to have studied this in history, the CCC is short for the Civilian Conservation Corp and was part of Roosevelt's attempt to use government funding to create jobs during the depression. See the idea I had the other day to use the money spent in Iraq to rebuild America isn't new. It was tried before. O yeah, and it did a lot to build the national infrastructure that we have now and are now allowing to deteriorate.

Homelessness

I am off to hike again. It was a great morning. The temperature was warm enough that I could clean out the car a little. I made some space in front and moved things around so I could access what I need easier.

As this is really a blog about being semi homeless I have to say that I can't imagine what it would be like to be homeless on the streets. If it weren't for the hikes, the web surfing in libraries, and long rides I take I'd go crazy. Not only is there boredom that I can overcome, but by access to the car I have fresh changes of clothes, toiletries, entertainment (books and radio) readily available.

Then there is the shelter from the storms and the biting wind. It may get cold in the car at night but there isn't a howling wind cutting through me.

Speaking of the radio and entertainment I heard Respighi's Pines of Rome on my way here. I remember the first time I heard it. It was about 30 years ago at the Savanna Symphony. The opening notes caught my attention and by the time it reached the climax I was literally on the edge of my seat. Then came the finale with the horns and the orchestra had trumpets in the balcony that answered the trumpets in the orchestra. It was point/counterpoint; report and response. Quite moving and I got chills. So that piece always puts me in a good mood.

Good Morning

Just a quick update. I decided to stay in the Petersburg area. Nice people, safe parking area, plenty of WiFi, and Pocahantas State Park for hiking. I just can't see driving 200 miles south for a few degree difference. In fact, had I know it was going to be this cold down here I may have stayed in NY.

DISASTER AVERTED - and a treatise on prejudice

It is my wont to claim that much of what we call racism is merely a reaction to a things that upset you. Or as a friend of mine once told me: "You don't have to be white to be an asshole."

Last Saturday night, a car full of Bahamians (4) pulled up to the rest stop about 10PM, opened all the doors and trunk, and started playing music so loud that my car shook. They had subwoofers that would make Metallica jealous. I would say they were Bahamians, by the music, their accent, and the team colors they were wearing. After they got their snacks, they broke out a soccer ball and began to get some exercise. Now I know that not everyone is using the rest stops as a home base, but at 10PM some drivers have stopped there for rest before they continue driving. These four people were rude and obnoxious.

Soon after they left (remember this was the night I got rousted by the state police so it was not my night) several rejects from The Jersey Shore roared in with their souped up hemis roaring and backfiring. They made sure to rev them up before they cut off their engines and after restarting them later. Obviously, if you didn't get the reference to the TV show, these "people" were white. However, they too are rude and obnoxious.

Fast forward to this morning. I am always careful to check to make sure that I have a key in my hand before I shut my door. This morning I drove up to the gas pumps from my resting place to brush the snow off my windows. As I slam the door I realize that the car is running and my purse with the spare key is in the car. PLEASE GOD, DON'T LET THE DOORS BE LOCKED. God must hate me because they were locked. Guy ignored me when I tried to tell him to open the doors. See if he gets any more treats. The worst part is that I had just filled up so it would run for hours, if not days.

I run into the truck stop and ask the young lady (black) behind the counter if they had a "slim jim" (a device used to jimmy open locked car doors for you non-felonious types.) She said that they didn't but I should start asking the truck drivers. I yell out the request and Billy-Bob (obviously white), the redneck spit out his Copenhagen and says "Nah, but I got a hammur, if you-un wants it. Har, har har." The lady behind the counter and I just ignored him. A black truck driver said that he had and went out to his truck, in the snow, to get it for me. I tried to open the door but it didn't work. The truck driver finally came out, saw me struggling, and tried to no avail. Cujo, remind me never to give him treats any more, snarls at the window. The truck driver goes to the passenger side to try it and Cujo follows. However, this time his bark is sharp and loud and we notice that the window is open about a quarter of an inch. The driver says that he may have a coat hanger in his cab and walks back to get it. I go into the store and the counter lady gave me one that she had. I'm trying to pull up the window latch, idiot me when the driver returns and notices that I have electric windows. He twists the coat hanger and pushed down on the window control and down goes the window. He then said that he wasn't going to reach in to unlock it, and I agreed that it was for the best. He then left, refusing any reward.

Maybe I am a bigot because I hate rude, obnoxious assholes be they Bahamian, Jersey Shore types, or Billy-Bobs.

By the way, there really isn't any metal place to put one of those magnetic key holders so I will have to figure something else out.

Gramma and Speiling

As I sit here waiting for my laundry I am rereading past posts. PLEASE forgive spelling, grammar, misuse of words (its for it's), etc. Many time I am writing cramped behind the steering wheel, lunch on my lap, and Guy eying the lunch waiting for me to take my eyes off of it. If I make any egregious errors that you just cannot stand seeing, just drop me a line and I will edit it.

thanks

when in doubt

do laundry. I'm looking forward to warm wool socks. In the Marine Corps we learned to take care of our feet and teeth. Everything else comes a distant second. Think about it. Ever have a tooth ache or a bunion. Debilitating, aren't they. And you think Marines are nothing but dumb grunts.

????

I'm still not sure what to do. The ten day forecast for the entire easr coast is cold. I have to head further south, but how far?

Passed 130K miles on the car so I have to cross fingers there. If it dies, that city is my new home.

Good night

Warm and cozy in my sleeping bag listening to the pitter patter of rain on the roof of the car. I hope to sleep well tonight. It should not drop below freezing all night. YEA

Breakfast

You can understand why I keep forgetting to post this. First, you have to remember that I never waste food. I even ate the fish that Betsy made when she mistook cinnamon for paprika. hmmmmm I had a breakfast sandwich at Dunkin Donuts the other morning. I watched the woman take this thing out of a heat pan that looked like a target you would use for skeet, except that it was whitish. She then took an english muffin and "toasted it" You know that point at which a piece of bread loses its softness but just before it begins to become a crisp piece of toast and becomes like glue instead. She was able to get my muffin to that point without even trying. The woman was an expert. So I have this whitish rubbery thing in a gluey english muffin with some orange slime on top (I assume that was the cheese) and honestly thought it was the worst thing I ever tasted.

THEN I TRIED A CROISSANDWICH FROM BK LOUNGE. I am honestly shocked that the French have not declared war on us for merely using a derivative of a French word to describe this totally unedible mystery item. I know what I ordered. I honestly did not know what I received. It looked like some type of bread.... maybe. There was something pink that could have been ham. But anything resembling an egg was missing and it made me long for the days of the skeet target from DD. I honestly threw most of it away before I tried to eat a piece before throwing the rest away.

Next time I'll just throw the money down a sewer and avoid the middleman.

A Paean to Stupidity

So Guy and I hiked in the Petersburg Battleground Park today and I thought of all the wasted lives. When I was in High School everyone in a history class received a war and a cause as a project. We had to take that cause and argue either that it was the sole cause of the war or was not a cause in the slightest. I got the Civil War and economics. What a no brainer. You have a country, the US, invade another country, the CSA, depose it's leader, Jefferson Davis, because the attacking country needed the natural resources of the attacked country to feed its economy, the textiles that the Northern factories used to manufacture goods to sell to Europe and back to the South. It's a good thing that we learned so much over the past 150 years and we would never attack another country, Iraq, depose its leader, Hussein, for a natural resource that fueled our economy, oil. OOOPPPPS, not a very good example, eh?

Well, look at it this way. It's not like we can use the billions that we are spending in Iraq each month to help our economy. It's not as if all the medics and corpsmen, engineers, air traffic controllers, mechanics, etc have any skills that we could use to rebuild our decrepit infrastructure and moribund manufacturing sector. OOOPPPPS, another bad example, eh? I warned you with the title of the post!!!!

Rut Row

Fredericksburg was actually colder than NY last night and the forecast lows will rival them for the next few days. Even as far south as Florence, SC the lows are now projected to be in the 20's. No matter what, it will be wet, so I will stay in the Emporia/Petersburg area today and see what changes.

Virginia

It should be ashamed of itself. The first southbound rest stop is in Fredericksburg which is about an hour and a half into the state. Not very safety conscious in Virginia, are they. I created a link to a site that has every rest stop in every state. It's off to the side and is for your edification.

I'm Good

At least I follow my own advice. I'm about an hour north of Baltimore and it's about 6 PM. I'm going to eat a sandwich and take Guy for a long walk after I write a couple of BLOG entries. No reason to hit DC before 8. It looks as if I will have to go at least to Fredericksburg, Va. It's funny but I don't want to leave the Northeast. Maybe, Phil was wrong and we'll have an early spring and I can move north again.

Rethinking

What do the regular homeless do? You know, the ones you meet on the street with their hands out. I am headed south because I just don't feel like being cold constantly and I keep seeing 13 and 15 and 11 as the lows for the next few days. At least I have a car and can go into a restaurant and get a bowl of hot soup if I want. And I sleep out of the elements, albeit ice does form on the inside of my windshield at nite.

Depressing

I've sent out one resume in the last week and it was a stretch. SIGH

What to do

It's 2PM and I'm in an Apple Store and the weather forecast is looking worse and worse. The problem is that I will have to head far south or far north to escape this one. I'm not sure that I can handle the temperatures north of here but I'm not looking forward to 8 hours of driving south. I checked and the libraries have WiFi in most of the places I'm looking. I guess I'll have to suck up the expense and head south. I was getting comfortable up here. O well, if I head as far south as Florence SC I'll be warm.

Checked in

Well, I'm in my motel room. Nice and warm, showered, and laying around waiting for the Super Bowl. It's an extended stay hotel so I bought some chicken and noodles and they are simmering on the stove now. HMMMMMM.

UGH

I guess the Super Bowl was OK. I was drifting in and out, but I must say that the commercials were full of misogynistic tripe. For the second week I have to admit that I sleep better in the car than I do on this bed. But I am warm so getting up to use the facilities is no problem.

However, my worst fears are materializing. Heavy snow forecast for Wednesday. It's “supposed” to blanket the area. Now I'm not sure if I should stay put or head south. And I mean North Carolina at the least. I'll head a little south today and wait till the forecast solidifies. The problem is not just the snow. The only thing that I have to keep from going mad with boredom is the hiking that we are doing. Even the inch or so that we got last week is still around and makes many of the paths treacherous. A few inches will put an indefinite hiatus on our hiking. :>(

Open Up - It's the cops

Well it finally happened. Got a knock on the window at 3 AM. Bright light in the face, large man asking me to step out of the car. In all honesty he was very polite. He kept asking if I was OK. I guess if I slurred my words or looked bleary eyed he might not have been so nice. But when I told him that the car was my home he asked for my Driver's License and told me to get back in the car to keep warm. A couple of minutes later he came back, asked me if I was sure that I was OK and if I needed anything. Other than not having a job I told him I was fine. He said to have a nice morning and drove off.

I guess someone saw something so they said something!!!

Modells- what a joke

So I found the Altitude IVs online at Modell.com. Foolish me walks into a Modell store in Harriman and expects to find the shoes in the store. The clerk looks at me like I'm an idiot and says that the online store and box stores are owned by different companies and carry different items. Makes perfect sense to me. NOT!!!!!

Ramsey Outdoor Store

I found this great outdoor place in Ramsey, NJ that carried the Altitude IVs. They have a large selection of anything you could need for hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, etc. The clerk wasn't that knowledgeable about boots but was very helpful. So I now have a good pair of hiking boots that will keep my feet dry.

Hiking Boots

My feet have been getting wet so I bought some Shoo Goo to seal any leaks. However when I turned them over I saw holes in the soles. That's not good. I loved these boots so I looked them up on line to see if I could get another pair. They are Hi-Tec Altitude IIs. I knew that I had had them awhile but had to laugh when I saw that they had been discontinued in 2006. Who knew????? LOL The newest model is the Hi-Tec Altitude IV and I saw that they have the same great ratings as their predecessors. Not that I have $100 to throw away on a pair of boots. But I also can't hike with holey shoes. I'll have to find a place that sells them.