DAY 252

DAY 252
12.12.07
TREE 176

It got cold again. And the rain was supposed to come all day. Everyone at work was planning for it. They asked me if I planned on coming of it was raining. I said no. Any reason not to come to work at this job is a good reason. They said if I woke up and it’s raining to just call in and leave a message. So I woke up a little after 5:30am and it didn’t sound like it was raining. But my heart was in a day off so I went down stairs, opened the front door, and heard a light rain. Yes! I called in and went back to sleep. I got up around 10 and it was grey outside but the rain had stopped. Should I go to work late? No. I had said I had my phone on me and to call if they needed me. So I got busy working on my Zephyr Gallery Apprenticeship application. It’s a damn good thing I had the day off because it took all day. I didn’t get off the computer till after dark. But I got that thing finished. I ate dinner with my mom and then turned my sights to climbing a tree. I wasn’t going to walk, I planned to drive. I had the rest stop in my mind again. I hopped in my truck and set out and on my way kept my eyes peeled as I went down 393. If I didn’t have to go very far I wouldn’t. I drove by the Oldham County pool and saw a bunch of trucks and cars in the parking lot.

I quickly turned in and parked. Then I got out and walked over towards the playground.

The first tree I saw, silhouetted against the hazy lights of the state correctional facility in the distance was my tree. Tall, straight, and with a decent path up. When I got up close I noticed the lowest limb was a bit of a reach and the bark was really thin and shaggy. It just peeled right off when I grabbed it. I had to wrap my arms and legs around really tight and then started to shimmy using whatever knots and rough spots I could find to grip. By the time I reached the first limb and got myself to my feet the tips of my fingers were tingling with pain and near numbness. I began to climb up and had to avoid a lot of dead limbs and figure out some clever techniques to progress upwards. But I kept pushing it and got up to the top.

It was a difficult climb up but not as bad as the tree just paces away from the other day. I tied my ribbon and took pictures.

I kept watching for people because ever once in a while someone would come out and I would stay still and lean in close to the trunk. Once the lot was clear I began the climb down. This was a little difficult in the dark. When going down it’s hard to see and test dead limbs. I have to go from memory. So it was a little slow and scary. At one point, only 15 feet from the top a cop car rolled up, went past the lot and checked out a car parked in the back by the pool.

I had my left foot on one limb with my leg bent so far my heel was touching my crotch. Plus my left arm was hooked around the trunk while my other limbs just dangled. The cop took his time and I waited, still. It was a long time for that position and I think I strained something in my arm. Finally he left and I went down the rest of the way. It was easy really. Only the top was scary. It’s a mental thing… it makes it harder if the drop is bigger. Even if I know I’m completely capable of the move, I hesitate. Anyway, a good climb but I just hate having to hide. I wish I were more like the character from the book The Baron in the Trees and everyone accepted my presence in them.

12-16-08:   I don’t know why I fear cops so much. I am not exactly sure what they could really do to me if they caught me in a tree. I just hate that feeling of being told not to do something. Plus if I like a certain area and I get caught then I feel like I can’t return to that place. And during this project I re-climbed all these trees so I wanted to the freedom to come back and do so. I always wondered if anyone spotted any of my ribbons at the tops of trees and tried to figure out how they got there. I can only imagine they had some disbelief that it was from someone free climbing to the top. I may never know.

Last Thursday Norm and I had another day siding the barn in the Knobs. We got off work and headed to my house to clean up and then head to Sarah Frederick’s place for dinner. While Norman was showering I ran outside to find a tree. When I stepped outside I looked out and saw one of the most colorful and awesome sunsets I’ve seen around here. I yelled for Drew and Norman to come check it out and they seemed less enthused about as I. I ran down Cabel Street towards Adams and took a left towards downtown. As I ran and started to get very tired fast I spotted another sycamore very near the one I climbed about a week before.

I rushed over and climbed up as fast as I could so I could get a bunch of pictures of the sky. I whipped out my camera and started shooting all over the place.

I kept looking at the results and continued to be disappointed over and over. There is something about the camera that doesn’t capture the full intensity of the color and light. I did get some nice shots in retrospect but while I was in that tree they just couldn’t hold a candle.

Then after exhausting the distant landscape I focused closer.

When I was done shooting I tucked my camera safely away in my zip-up coat pocket and climbed swiftly back down. I was glad I was able to witness the sunset and I thought about all the people who missed it. Maybe they don’t care, or maybe if some saw it they were unimpressed, but for me I treasure everyone I see.