DAY 199
10.20.07
TREE 122
Everytime I drive down I-65 through downtown Louisville I see all these big, nice trees poking up from in-between the buildings. They always look so promising but I never have tried to get to them. Well, since I waited till dark, I thought tonight would be perfect to climb one of those and get the lights of downtown. I drove around a bit and found a good stretch of trees by the Brown School. I parked and walked a long the fence that keeps people away from the highway. I studied the trees in the little park area, but since all the trees on the other side of the fence are up on a hill they seemed so much taller. So I walked along the fence till there were no cars going by and I scaled over to the other side. It’s exciting to feel like I’m somewhere I shouldn’t be. I walked along these trees looking for the most interesting climb and best view. I chose a Sweetgum tree.
It was wasy in and pretty easy up. Lots of branches to choose from and a lot of twigs in the way. At the top I pushed up to the high thin branches, wrapped my leg around a limb and secured myself for pictures. I got some good ones. Lots of good skyline shots with all the colors of downtown lights.
I tried to get a few of the cars rushing past on I-65 with the big hospital behind it.
It becomes a whole different thing to do long exposures on such a high point in the tree because even if I’m perfectly still, the tree can still sway. I tied my ribbon and grabbed a couple of leaves and put them in my mouth.
Now I know that the tree’s name is appropriate. It was sweet. I climbed down and was ready for the night. Though this tree wasn’t too challenging, it was a great climb. Thrilling with an incredible view. I loved it.
10-24-08: Ugh! I hate getting behind. But I went to Ohio for my opening in Dublin then stayed a few days with Cassandra and Jason in Akron. It was a lovely trip and I still climbed everyday, I just let the blogging go and get all backed up so now I have to catch up.
I really like that picture at the top with Colonel Sanders’ monstrous picture on the side of the building. Could it be anywhere else but here in Louisville? I don’t think so. Maybe Japan. I hear they like KFC there.
Last Sunday it was nice and sunny and I biked to Cherokee to climb a tree. I chose to not go into the park and just stayed on the edge by the intersection of Grinstead and Lexington.
There is a pond nearby that always has a few fisherpeople on the banks. I spotted a nice tall maple with a dual trunk but then saw a huge tree in a hilly field across the pond.
I started to walk towards it as if being pulled by a magnetic tractor beam. Then a golfer walked by the tree with his clubs and I figured I should probably stay off the course while there are many golfers on it. So I went back to the maple and sized it up. I had to shimmy up the trunk and pick my side so when I reached the first branch about 15 or so feet up I would be able to grab and go. Once in the limbs it was a great climb. I looked up to see which side of the tree went higher, transferred over, then continued up.
The leaves are really starting to change now and there are still some seed helicopters (or whirligigs as I like to call them) at the ends of the limbs. I got up very near the top and took pictures of all that I could see.
It was a lovely day. On the way down I shook a couple of branches to watch all the seeds float down in a hoard. I tried to take a video of it but that failed miserably, then I was out of memory. I climbed down to where the limbs stopped then slid down the trunk to the ground. I would like to climb this one again sometime.
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