DAY 78
06.21.07
TREE 87With two shows coming up and the busy house to run all by myself I’m feeling a little busy, stressed but happy. I’m getting my work done and skimping on the house a little, but I’m okay with that. So before my first install at Actors Theatre I parked by the Skate Park because I saw what I thought was a decent tree. Upon closer inspection it didn’t cut it. Not big enough or interesting. So I walked back towards the truck, which just so happened to be parked right next to a tree I had eyed a few times before but concluded it impossible because the first limb is too high to reach. But being determined and ever more capable of accomplishing feats of climbing I gave it another close look. I noticed the bark is thick, ridged and tough. I tested the grip and it was great. So I climbed, holding with flexed fingertips, inching up my feet and before I knew it that first branch was in reach. The next step from there the trunk stopped and split into three or four major branches. I started on one, was quickly out of options and moved to another. I got up higher in this tree than I thought I was going to. I was on level with the second tier highway that passed near by. But I had forgotten to get new ribbon so I searched my pockets. With four rubber bands and a broken orange lighter I fashioned my mark. I took a few pictures, took a phone call, and decided to make my way down. It was a really fun climb, a great accomplishment, and a beautiful and productive day.
6-24-08: I have nothing to say about that entry above… do you? I feel like people aren’t commenting anymore. I hope I haven’t been losing viewers due to monotony or bad videos or irregular posting. I guess what I am saying is, you making a comment, be it stupid, short, a question, a shared story, something completely unrelated to tree climbing, whatever, it lets me know you are reading my blog and it makes me feel good. Even if you know me and see me everyday I would love your comments on here so others may read them. There is no reason to be self-conscious about it. Try it once, it’s painless, and actually makes me feel stupendous!
So, get ready forsome pictures. On Friday, 6-20, Ben and I went across the Golden Gate Bridge and went to Muir Woods. I nice and fantastical place set in a ravine where giant redwoods were saved from loggers. After the big fire in San Francisco people wanted to cut the trees down to rebuild the city, but thanks to one rich man with a kinship with mother nature, the trees were saved.
On our hike I say this huge fallen trunk hanging horizontally over a ditch. Nothing held it up but it was sticking about 40 feet out from where it touches ground. I was drawn to it immediately and began to walk carefully out on it. It wobbled, bounced and shook as I went. It also got skinnier and skinnier until I had to get down on all fours to finish my way to the end. I sat on my butt and bounced away as Ben watched. Other people walking the trail also stopped and took pictures of me. I had so much fun I just thought I’d make this my climb for the day. So I took pictures and a video. I will also post other pictures from our time in Muir Woods.
Climbing a tree everyday
