DAY 250

DAY 250
12.10.07
TREE 174

Since I didn’t get to climb that tree at Tom Sawyer Park Friday… no, Saturday, because of the cop, I did today.  I was heading into town anyway for a meeting… which got canceled.  I made alternate plans.  I left the house so I would have the last bit of day light for my climb.  But a semi rolled over on my exit ramp to the Gene Snyder and I had to take the long way around.  It also didn’t help that it was rush hour.  By the time I did park and run over to my tree it was really starting to turn dark.  These last few days have been so dark and gloomy it’s hard to tell the difference anyway.  So I was rushing, but not too fast.  This poplar was leafless, tall, and straight.  It has a nice thick trunk.  I put my arms around, then my legs and inched upward to the first branch.  The rest of the climb was a good, quick puzzle.  I moved around the branches with a nice flow.  It helps to climb trees like this poplar that don’t have a lot of little twigs that poke and get in the way.  The strong, thick limbs are sturdy and dependable, though quite dirty in the damp weather.  I could feel the grime building up on my hands.  I moved up all the way to a nice perch at the very top. 

Most of the tree’s flower-like seed pods are toward the top.  They often get caught in my hoodie pouch and then split into a bunch of little pieces.  It is funny how many times I’ll be at home and pick a piece of bark or a twig or seed out of my clothes.  A common occurrence for me but I bet not for most people.  The hazy low clouds made for low visibility but still a beautiful view. 

The near distant trees faded into dark mists and the car lights and street lamps started to get fuzzy halos. 

I tied my hot pink ribbon and took some pictures. 

 A single SUV in the parking lot sat with the lights on. 

I wondered and kind of hoped the driver of that vehicle could see me.  In this bare monster I stuck out in the thin limbs at the peak. 

Or at least I think I did.  I always assume people don’t look up but sometimes I hope they do.  Except cops.  Anyway, I rocked back and forth once I put my camera away and enjoyed my vantage point. 

I looked around and noticed just next to me, out 20 or 30 feet lower, was an oak with most of its orange-brown leaves still covering it.  I got my camera back out to capture the strong color so low below me. 

Then I climbed down.  I retained the quick smooth flow just in case I was being watched and then I dropped to the ground.  I looked at my hands and they were black.  Just covered.  Besides the pine tree in the back of my parents’ house in the rain, I don’t think my hands have been this dirty.  I wiped them off as best I could in the tufts of green wet grass.  Then I grabbed a leaf from below the tree. 

I hopped in my truck and drive by the person in the SUV to see if they might make a face.  But they were reading.  Oh well, still a great climb all to myself. 

12-14-08:  I keep mentioning my dirty hands but fail to take pictures of them.  They really were completely black.  Then after I vigorously wipe them the black stays in the cracks and lines of my hands.  It’s pretty cool looking, actually. 

This entry also shows me desiring to be a show off.  I teter often between to the two extremes of wanting to go unnoticed and wanting to be seen.  But if I think I am being watched it definitely changes the way I climb.  I try to go faster and make it look as effortless as possible.  Like this guy. 

 

Drew found this last night.  This guy is amazing.  And he does some parkour moves and other crazy shit I haven’t even seen current traceurs do.  The tree climb he does just makes me crazy.  Especially the jump down.  I would never do that.  Though now I want to try.  I am way to concerned with my safety.  I would like to climb that fast though.  I just need to find the right tree and practice. 

I worked another day on the barn with Norman on Tuesday then headed home.  I was tired again from the long day on my feet and was having trouble getting up the energy to go out and climb a tree.  I wanted something close and easy.  I wanted to eat and shower but wasn’t going to do any of that until I climbed.  I just got so hungry I made myself suit up and head outside.  I just walked out the back of my house to Cabel Street towards Adams.  The only things along that road are a shipping place

and a warehouse for lifts (not sure what those are). 

There is a little incline with trees.  I had climbed there about a month ago.  The incline goes up to a fence and on the other side is a field of decaying cars.  I walked and searched for a tree.  Just after the shipping gate, right next to a utility pole with a sign that says NO DUMPING I saw a tree perfect for climbing. 

I was surprised I had never seen it before.  I walked through some high weeds to the base and started to climb in the entangled low limbs.  I moved up slowly through the branches to where the trunk spit in two.  

I chose my side and continued higher until I couldn’t climb anymore. 

The night was strangely bright. 

It almost looked like those nights after a big snowfall. 

Sometimes late at night I’ll go into the kitchen of my house and look out the window and see bright light.  I think it is a combination of all the bright lights at the shipping yard plus all the light pollution from downtown so nearby. 

I took a bunch of pictures trying to capture the odd luminous night. 

I saw some trucks go in and out, a few cars went by, and then I started to climb down. 

It felt so good to find such a nice tree so close.  And it was great to have my tree climb out of the way.  Now I was free to eat, shower, and get to bed without worry.