DAY 94

DAY 94
07.07.07
TREE 4 & 5

Rachel and I drove downtown to reclimb a few trees before heading to Coach G’s retirement party at Hays Kennedy Park. Unlike my first climb with Will, it was very hot today. We parked on the street and walked over to the first tree by the parking garage. It is a very different feel to walk with a purpose. I’ve spent the last 3 months just wandering around looking for good climbing trees. Now I know exactly where I’m going and don’t take too much time. I think I’d like to change that mentality. It may be easier once Rachel has left and we don’t have so many activities planned. And it doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed the climbs, it just feels of a different mindset that isn’t as open to my surroundings and isn’t as relaxing. But I digress.

Up the first tree I went quick and easy with Rach right behind me. I had to fight a few more leaves and limbs then last time. Especially when jumping into the top level of the garage. Then once Rachel had joined me I bee-lined it to the other tree. Up on the ledge and into the second tree. This climb was also quick and easy, my upper body strength markedly improved. I then concerned myself with helping Rachel climb down. Only with her great flexibility she had no difficulty moving from the distant branch crotches. Pretty much a hot, quick, and easy reclimb. No tag to take down, but still a great feeling. Especially to enjoy Rachel’s feeling of accomplishment in succeeding in the climb.

7-9-08:  When Rachel finally started to accomplish the same feats of climbing that I was I could see how excited she was getting.  She came down from the trees and really felt pumped.  That is one of the best feelings about this project and my tree work in general.  Yeah, its a great feeling for myself when I climb, but when I get others to try it, and they love it… when I can see they understand what I have been trying to describe, it’s awesome.  I feel as though I have inspired others to create an experience that is not all together new, but re-invigorated.  Many people have climbed trees before, but as an adult, taking it to a bit more of an extreme, it becomes something completely new, exciting, and can beinterpreted differently as an adult with our knowledge, memory, and increased strength.  I really suggest getting out there and finding a good tree to climb.  And try to get to the top. 

First, I would like to apologize for my absence.  I hate to get away from blogging daily and I also hate to think it might worry people even though I tell them not to.  I helped Father Paul drive a U-Haul to Burlington, NC Yesterday.  He moved there from Mount St. Francis is Indiana to be closer to his family, particularly his mother.  I got to see the house he is staying in and meet the 3 other friars he is living with.  They are all very nice and gave me a great welcome.  I got to see around town and I also climbed a huge oak which I will tell you about it a future entry soon to come.  I spent the night there then flew back today.  So now, tonight, I will be catching up on my missed days.

So to the climb from… Sunday July 6th.  I woke up early and headed straight over to Cherokee Park.  I didn’t even eat breakfast, I just threw clothes on and grabbed my camera.  I wanted to get out and get it done.  I parked in the lot just off Lexington Road near Grinstead and walked maybe 100 feet to a sycamore I had seen on a walk a few days earlier with Father Paul.  I wanted to make a new kind of video so I climbed up, attached the camera to the top of the trunk and started the video (at 5x speed).  Then I climbed down, then back up and stopped the video.  Then I had to climb back down so I technically climbed it twice.  The sycamore bark is really flaking and shedding right now.  It was releasing a lot of that white powder that makes me cough and sneeze.  I had a fit of coughing as I drove back to my apartment.  The video:

And I took a couple pictures up in the top of the tree after I took the camera off the trunk: