DAY 293
01.22.08
TREE 125 & 126
One more day off from work today to regain my strength. I took the morning slow and easy and I’m really starting to feel normal again. After a good part of the day had gone by I drove the Mount. I stopped in at the clay studio just in time to say goodbye to Norm as he was leaving. Then I walked across the field by the lake to the edge of the wood. I remember choosing these trees for their relatively low possible height, yet a nice transfer set up. Plus, last time it was a rainy day. At least today there is only some slight snow flurries. I stepped up onto tree #125’s crotch where the two main leaders split. Fro there I grabbed the limb from tree #126 that grows right into #125. I hung and lifted my feet and hooked my heels. Then I quickly climbed backwards toward the second trunk. I really felt like an animal. I righted myself and climbed to my feet. Then I worked efficiently up each step being sure to not put all my weight on the dead limbs of which there are quite a few. The whole top of this tree ends in a pointy, decaying, black shard of a limb.
As I went up I used a branch from a thirst tree nearby as a stepping stone. Though I touched it, I’m not really counting it as three trees today. I don’t think that step was entirely necessary. Anyway… I got up the my white ribbon which is higher than I remembered.
What I do remember from the first time was that I did climb higher than I first thought I could. But I didn’t climb higher on this go ’round. I took pictures of the now covered lake
and surroundings.
It was cold but I felt warm, still and calm up in the tree. I put my camera way and put the ribbon in my pocket.
I stood there and looked around the bare woods for creatures,
but they were all hidden to me. Then I began to climb and slide down the tree. I kept feeling more and more like a while tree animal. I felt so comfortable and moved so easily in this tree it felt natural. My thoughts could wander as my body did what came natural. I got down to that low limb and crawled backward hanging upside down back to the first tree. I let my legs drop and my feet went right to the branch. I jumped off the tree to the grass and once again became human. Back to my life after this wonderful escape.
1-27-09: The image just above is of trees 16, 17, and 18 from Part 1 of the project. Even over the course of the last year my blog has changed in many ways. My entries have definitely got a lot longer and not so embarrassingly bad. And I hope more enjoyable. Many more images too.
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Last Wednesday, January 21st, Norm and I worked a half day in New Castle on the porch, then had to drive back into Louisville so I could work my shift at Zephyr Gallery. I left at 6pm, went home, at some food and went out to UofL for parkour. That was good but short lived since I wanted to get back for the premiere of Lost. Drew got home and joined me for the 2 hour event. Then, once it finished and left the typical cliffhanger, I headed out to climb a tree. It was cold, I was tired, and I wanted an easy tree close by. I walked down Quincy which is the alley road behind my house. When I got to Adams I took a left towards the interstate.
I chose to climb a small sycamore by the back fence of the trucking lot.
It was well lit from the lot’s bright lamps.
I climbed into the tree limbs and kept a watchful eye out for anyone who might see me. I climbed up to where a main branch was topped and other branches continued to grow out. I did spot a cat amid the parked trucking containers. It spotted me and sat to watch. I got to the top of the branch I was on and took out my camera. I tried to get a shot of the cat but it was so hard with all the limbs in the way. I got the typical shots out,
up,
down,
and around.
Then I wanted to get home so I could just get to sleep. I scurried down the branches to the ground and dropped. I backed up from the tree to get a shot of the whole tree.
I had to lay down on the sidewalk to get a good angle and prevent blurriness. As I lied there I got a wave of sleepiness. I struggled to get up and walk home. I immediately got ready for bed as I knew I would be getting up early the next day to go back to New Castle with Norman.
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