DAY 93
07.06.07
TREE 3Rachel and I have been very busy relaxing, hanging out with friends, and enjoying this semi-vacation time. In between running around we fit in a daily reclimb. Today’s was in Seneca Park. When I climbed this tree first, it was another cold day with budding, light green leaves. Now the summer heat and humidity are raging and the trees are thick with dark green leaves. This climb was fun and easier this time around. And it was easier to identify the limbs that have died from the lightning. One in particular was full with orange, dead leaves. A very beautiful contrast to the green. I got up to my mark, pulled it off and did not climb higher due to dead branches. Rachel did a very good climb as well and got up to the mark. This tree had many good limbs that made for a fun climb. And I got down by reaching to a horizontal branch then swinging and dropping to the ground. A good climb.
7-6-08: This is the day Rachel really started to climb. It was really nice to have someone willing to go all the way to the top with me.Yesterday I had a nice interaction. I drove over to Cherokee Triangle to climb a tree since I had never really checked that area out before. I brought along my tripod and I wanted to make a high speed video. I set the camera up on the trunk of a skinny tree about 50 feet from this large, tall beech tree. I set the 10 second timer and moved quickly over to the beech tree. The climb was a good challenge. At one section I tried to climb up and out on a limb to make it high but found it was a dead end. So I had to backtrack to the trunk and find another way. I got up very high, near the top, but didn’t stay long. I just swayed a little while hoping it would show in the video and then I made my way down. About half way a jeep cherokee pulled up near the base of my tree. A couple got out and began to set up a grill near the basket ball court. I jumped to the ground and went and retrieved my camera. I was about ready to walk to my truck when I saw the guy was looking at me. He asked, “were you free climbing?” I told him I was and approached him. I told him I made a video and he asked to see it. The woman joined in the conversation as I began to explain my dailyclimb project and blog. They were very enthusiastic and kept saying how I was going to be famous someday and be on tv. I gave them my card with the blog address on it and they asked for my autograph. I didn’t have pen, but it was very flattering for them to ask. I very much appreciate their lofty expectations of the rewards they think my project may bring. I can only hope that more people react to my work and climbing the same way those two did.
On the video, the camera seems to get a very strange heartbeat like fluctuation. I can’t tell you what caused that but I can tell you I think it’s kinda neat. Maybe a little annoying too… but oh well. Also you can see the couples care pull up at the end of the video.
