DAY 109
07.22.07
TREE 20The first time I climbed this tree I didn’t have the best experience. I think it was the only time I felt like it was a chore. It scared me that that was the case and that doing a daily project like this may turn into that. Luckily it never happened again. Every tree since then has been enjoyable and though I may sometimes get frustrated or annoyed by certain climbs they still all give me a sense of peace and connectedness with the tree and nature, and it reaffirms how much I enjoy climbing trees.
I approached this tree with a determination to get higher than the first time and to not answer my phone during the climb. I got up and in easily and headed towards my ribbon. At one point I grabbed a dead limb that was hanging down by the trunk and ripped it off and threw it to the ground. I continued to climb up and got to my previous high point. I ripped down my orange tape marker and looked around for a path further up. I did get about one branch higher. About to where the trunk splits into thin branches. Then I noticed a huge collection of scurrying ants carrying their eggs. That dead branch I ripped off was apparently their house. I basically tore their front door off and they were fleeing for survival. Unfortunately their location was my only option for continuing higher. But I did not want to get eaten alive by a bunch of angry ants so I quit my quest upward. As I climbed down I moved out on the limbs and saw an old basketball post close by. So I transfered to the old rusted posts and hoisted myself down and dropped to the ground. I felt better about the climb but felt kind of bad for messing with the ants’ home.
7-23-08: I didn’t get to blog yesterday due to a certain chain of events and my exhaustion at the end of the day. I got up early to go to Indiana to start painting a deck. I worked from 9 to 5:30 and did all the railings by brush so my back was pretty sore. I was driving home and called Norman to see if he wanted to get dinner. He called me back and said that his parents were having a fish fry and invited me. So I drove over there, had an unbelievable meal… literally one of the tastiest meals in a long time. Plus homemade strawberry icecream for dessert. I hung out a while and by the time I got home I was too tired to blog for an hour.
I imagine you don’t remember, but the first time I climbed this tree Rachel called while I was in it and she was upset to I climbed down. That is why I said I was going to avoid phone calls. Usually I take calls and sometimes make them. Norman seems to have a knack for called me while I’m in a tree. If you have ever talked to me while in a tree, how does it make you feel? Most people want to let me go like they’re imposing on my activity. I actually like to talk as long as I am in a comfortable position to do so. If I’m not I usually can’t get to my phone to answer it in the first place.
Also, I have never climbed a tree that didn’t have ants. Except for in the winter. That means there are a lot of ants in the world. A LOT!
I will now discuss my tree climb on Monday, July 21st. I drove most of the day with my parents back from West Virginia. When we got to my parents place I went out behind the house to the woods to find a tree. I thought I had seen one with some good branches but I couldn’t reach them. I tried to shimmy but my legs are still recovering from the day before when I shimmied and scratched the crap out of my legs and arms. So I walked along to this other tree that had two main trunks. I thought it would be neat to make a video of me scooting up between the trunks. Only it turned out to be way difficult. I was aiming for these small branches to stop but before I got there I noticed a small young tree in grabbing distance. I got a hold of it and when I moved it those limbs I was aiming for actually belonged to the small tree and not the one I was on. I was tired, losing strength, and with that I decided the climb was done and slid down. A little disappointing but it was a climb.
Climbing a tree everyday
