DAY 297

DAY 297
01.26.08
TREE 137

I drove to Butchertown around 3pm after picking up some beer. 

I got beer for the Halfway To Forecastle pre-party.  Tonight I’m going to see Band of Horses… (time passes)… I saw them, they were awesome and so was VHS or Beta.  Plus Barack Obama won the South Carolina primary by a landslide!  So a good night indeed. 

So this tree in Butchertown is another November tree but I didn’t want to go over to Indiana without getting a hold of Norman first and I never did.  So it was the most convenient for the night’s events.  Well, when I drove up

I could tell right away something was different. 

The tree looked too far from the building.  Then I noticed some fresh stubs. 

It had been pruned!  A lot.  When I walked up I could still see saw dust on the ground.  It was done very recently.  I was very curious to see how this would affect my climb.  Would I reach the ribbon?  I went around to the other side and both low limbs I used the first climb were gone.  This was going to be difficult, I thought.  But I felt optimistic.  I grabbed the edge of the stump of a branch with the tips of my fingers and pulled myself up.  Then I reached one arm over the split of the two main leaders and wiggled up.  Once on my feet I looked up.  The best option I had was a bad one… right toward the power lines.  They were so close and it just looked so dangerous.  Last time I said I had to go close to danger to avoid it.  Well, this time I decided to just plain avoid it.  I slowly wedged myself upward then shimmied up the safe branch. 

It actually wasn’t too bad considering all the lost limbs.  I got up to my ribbon and looked around at all the stubs.  They really took a lot.  There was no way in hell to even get close to the roof now. 

I ripped off the ribbon

and took some pictures. 

Then I scanned my options for possibly climbing higher.  There were some small limbs that offered questionable strength.  I really wanted to but decided against it.  I wouldn’t have gained that much height anyway.  And I was already happy with the climb and its increase in difficulty.  It made the whole reclimb very interesting.  Would I have chosen this tree ow as a new climb?  It’s hard to say.  Anyway, I took in the view of this cold grey day and laughed one more time about the cut limbs.  It really made for a good climb and a good story.  I climbed back down with no problems and was ready for a great night of good music. 

1-27-09:  That was such a good show.  Band of Horses is still one of my favorite bands.  I remember going to the show early with MaryLiz to see the guitarist from BoH playsome solo songs.  Then we went back to her apartment on Baxter and watched the results come in for the primary.  Then we watched Obama give one of his awesome victory speeches… well I fell asleep, but I heard it was awesome.  Then we went back to the show and I just sang at the top of my lungs to my favorite songs.  I can only imagine the people around me loved it.  I also remember staying longer than both MaryLiz and Drew.  I hung out with Norm and his friends till I was ready to leave.  I walked alone down Lexington towards MaryLiz’s place.  As I went I heard steps getting closer.  I looked behind me and this obviously drunk guy was gaining on me.  When he got up to me I stopped and he stopped.  I asked for him to continue on ahead of me and he refused.  I insisted and again he refused.  I told him if he didn’t I wasn’t going anywhere.  He finally went on but crossed the street.  I starting walking again a little nervous.  Then I got to my truck at MaryLiz’s and went home.  Turns out, just after I left, that same guy had followed me and went up the steps to MaryLiz’s apartment and walked right in.  Drew thought it was me and said, hey, but the guy didn’t respond.  Drew got up and went to check it out, saw this strange drunk guy and asked him to leave, and thankfully he did.  What a weird dude.

—

Last Sunday, January 25th, I had a long exhaustive day.  Though it was very cold I decided to bike to Flip City Gymnastics off of Preston for indoor parkour training with Math.  We went hard for 2 hours.  Then, all sweaty, I layered back up and biked slowly over to George Rogers Clark Park.  The last time I was there I had spotted this couple of trees right next to each other. 

One was smaller with a good shimmying trunk, while the other was simply massive.  The top of the small tree intersected with a large branch from the tall tree.  I leaned my bike up against the larger tree and looked up at the task ahead. 

My arms and legs were tired but I was getting excited.  I started to shimmy up and encountered some poking, hanging branches that I kept having to push out of my way.  Then I finally got to some small limbs I could hang from.  They were strong but some broken or half dead.  I worked my way up slowly and the rough bark reopening an gash in my hand from yesterday.  Then I reached larger and stronger limbs and climbed was a little easier.  I went up to the top of the small tree and saw my branch to transfer to the big tree. 

It was all scarred and bulging from rubbing against the smaller tree for years. 

I transferred over with relative ease and then prepared myself for a whole different kind of climb.  In this massive tree the branches were much larger and further apart.  Many times I had to reach for one with my arms, hang, and then rotate my body to the top of it and then climb to my feet.  I also had to shimmy up a few sections where there were no limbs in reach.  I noticed as I approached the top that I had gained an audience.  there were some kids playing basketball nearby but had stopped and were watching me.  Knowing that they were watching I really wanted to get to the top.  I moved past some really tough spots but my adrenaline was rushing and aiding in my ascent. 

I finally got to the very top and heard a yell. 

I looked down and one the of the kids was jumping up and down, screaming and waving his arms. 

I raised my right arm and gave a reciprocal shake of accomplishment.  Then I got to my shooting.  I had a lot to shoot since I was so high. 

I was easily 80 feet above the ground.  I could barely see my bike below.

I could see downtown

and even the highest hill in Iroquois Park. 

There was St. X high school nearby,

and some hospitals. 

It was really incredible. 

It felt so good, even with my blood spreading all over my hand.  I finished shooting at the top and sat a while to take it all in.  The kids had since walked out of sight.  I couldn’t believe I made it to the top of this monster.  I saw the possibility but this is one of those climbs that I still think is scary and incredibly challenging.  I loved it.  I climbed down and the sleet got harder. 

I paused a few more times as I went to get different images from the climb.

  Then I transferred back into the smaller tree.  A couple with their dog walked by under me.  The woman spotted me and asked if I knew how to get down.  I smiled at the silliness of this question and assured her I knew exactly how I was going to get down.  She asked if I were sure.  Of course, I replied.  She walked on looking unconvinced.  I went quickly down the branches and then slid down the trunk.  What a great accomplishment!  I took many more pictures of the trees and then my mom called.  She wanted to meet me for dinner in 45 minutes at Cafe LouLou.  I figured 45 minutes is exactly what I needed to bike there.  So went and wore myself out.  Sleet hit my face as I sweat through two t-shirts, a hooded sweatshirt, a down vest, and my fleece jacket.  I also had on lined workout pants and insulated ski pants.  Oh, and one pair of sweat-wicking socks and one pair of wool socks.  I could barely hold myself up to eat.  I barely was able to bike home, but made it fine.  I showered and crashed about 9pm.  What a day and what a climb.