DAY 249
12.09.07
TREE 173
It was kind of crumby today. I slept in, didn’t do a whole lot, but thought I’d climb before it got dark. I didn’t feel like walking around outside the house so I got in my truck and started to drive. I didn’t want to go into Louisville either so I took a left on 146 towards La Grange.
Everything just looked grey. I got to the center of town and parked by the county jail. There was a good tree but seeing as how security might be heavy around the town jail I skipped that idea. I never got out of my truck though. This American Life was on NPR and I was just sitting listening to it. Then I drove down to the Kroger and filled up with gas. As I drove there I crossed over I-71. The trees along the highway are always excellent. Not that I know from experience, but just driving by them day after day I know there are so many good ones out there. So I left the gas station and parked at the Cracker Barrel.
I parked in the back corner which was just 50 feet or so from the off ramp. I took my bright red raincoat off first. It wasn’t raining at the moment and without all the leaves on the trees I would stick out like a huge human cardinal if I had it on. The less attention the better. I hopped the metal guard rail then the other. There were a few trees in this triangular area between the off ramp, I-71, and the overpass.
One tree looked perfect and I went right up to it and pulled myself up. I often wind my way around a trunk like a spiral to get up to the next limb. This tree was a good example of that. By the time I got the where the trunk began to split off I had gone around more than twice. The limbs were a little slick but not too bad. Some spots were tricky but I solved that by looking out from the trunk to find an alternate limb to climb up. Since limbs grow up at an angle and others straight out they often times merge and cross each other. I utilize that aspect more when coming down, but occassionally when going up of I can’t find another limb on the trunk close enough to reach. I got to thetop and the cool air felt good.
I tied my ribbon and shot pictures.
Then I rocked and swayed. I wondered if anyone driving past noticed me or not.
As long as they aren’t cops. I wonder if there is a law against being on the land off the interstate? Not living on it obviously, but playing on it? I imagine it’s frowned upon. I climbed down and grabbed one of the last few leaves that still clung to the tree.
A good climb always helps me feel better about the day and find the beauty in those cold, grey, overcast mid-afternoons.
12-14-08: As you can see I am way behind again. I have been working with Norman all week siding a barn and I just haven’t had the chance to blog. But don’t worry, I have found the time to climb trees. Mostly at night in the bitter cold, but I have not missed a day.
I remember the radio show I was listening to that day. It was about this small Pacific island that was the center of some controversy or government conspiracy. It’s been a year so I don’t remember all the details but I remember being very engrossed in it.
So last Monday I started work on siding the barn with Norman. It is out on this property in the Knobs so after we put a days work in we went back to Norman’s for the night. While Norman was getting cleaned up I climbed a tree near the tree I climbed the Friday before. It was the sycamore I had spotted before. I was in a hurry and not in the mood to search around for a new tree so I just went straight to the sycamore.
At the base of the tree I saw there were some low limbs but they were small and possibly dead. I tested the strength and found a few I could trust and started to climb up. Once I got above those first few small branches the rest were stronger and bigger. And much like a pine tree, they grow in sections over the years. It makes for a good work out. I grab two limbs with my hands, thenpull my body up until I can get a foot on one of the branches I am holding onto.
I did this until I got very near the top of the tree which wasn’t too high since the tree is pretty young. Probably 20 to 25 feet, though it is really hard to tell in the dark. I took out my camera and tried my best to get some pictures without the flash but it is dark out in the country. This is Norm’s house and barn:
And his neighbors:
Luckily there was some bright moonlight to help, but the tree top was thin and hard to keep still.
I also managed to get some shots of cars going by on St. John Church Road.
Then I had to use the flash to get the rest.
I was pretty tired from my first day of work. My legs were ready to be up and my belly needed to be full. I climbed back down and Norm and I headed over to his parents place to have dinner.