DAY 288
01.17.08
TREE 118 & 119
I was really looking forward to this climb today. The first experience was just such a good one. I drove to where my mom works right after I got off work. I was thinking there was a chance she might be working and I could have popped in to surprise her. But her call wasn’t there. I know she didn’t work later because she has bell practice. I got off early due to some slight early morning snow fall. Before I left work I got to fill in a ditch in the dark, clean a nasty toilet, sweep, clean, and do other such jobs that really suck. I was more than happy to get off early. I ate my lunch in the cab of my truck in the parking lot by my mom’s work.
When I was all done I changed and walked to the corner of Brownsboro Road and Haldeman. The two trees were waiting for me, and they were wet. When I grabbed the lowest branch I could tell I was going to have to be careful. It felt slick with with damp fungus. As I began to make my way up these sturdy but slippery limbs my hands were turning a blackish green and my pants the same. I snaked through some areas and carefully wiggled up others. There was a nice movement back and forth between the limbs of both trees. As I got higher it became slightly more challenging but I don’t think I went as slow as my first time. And even then it was daytime. I did applaud myself for my persistence . I got up very high. I paused at one point and looked down at a very mossy limb that curved down to another tree. I remember considering it as a possible alternative route down and testing it with my foot. I tested it with my foot this time and it definitely was too weak to transfer to.
At the very top I had a great view! It was nice to be able to see so much more without all the leaves. So many more houses were visible in the neighborhood behind me.
I pulled out my camera and took picture after picture.
Pictures are great in these grey, wet days because colors heightened and not washed out in high contrast. The views down to the ground
and street
were amazing because I was so high up. And the shot down the road is just incredible.
I feel so lucky to see these surroundings from this angle. I put my camera back in my pocket and put the ribbon in my back pocket.
I stood on the small limbs and looked around me for quite a while. I watched a few people enter their home and then come back out with their dog. Not even the dog knew I was up there. I was just too high. I stayed there as long as my feet could handle the pain of my position. Then I began to climb down. There was a lot of sliding and my pants got very green in the crotch. I bet it looked really good. All of me by the end was covered in green stuff and my hands were completely black. What a damn good climb. It’s just so funny, though, to compare these reclimbs and the lack of improvements with my first reclimbs from Part 2 where I improved upon those so much. I have been to the tops of most of these trees. I have no place to go further up.
But I do climb faster, more efficiently, and with no fear.
1-19-09: My mom works at the H&R Block on lower Brownsboro. This will be here 20th year doing tax preparation. In the picture above if the parking lot, can you spot my blue and grey Chevy truck?
Also, I wish I had taken pictures of my clothes and hands so you could see just how dirty I was. There have been times that I couldn’t see any of my skin for the dirt on my hands. Just on the palms anyway.
—
Last Friday was MaryLiz’s last day in the country. She has since arrived in Spain for her new job and we all miss her.
Anyway, I went to Drew’s office downtown to help set up for her going away party. We cleaned, and moved stuff, played some darts, and I went around on my Heeley’s. The evening was close and I needed to go climb. I bundled up and headed out of the building on Main Street and went down to the River. I was walking west down the trail and this tree hit me.
I guess I had never noticed this odd tree before because I am usually on my bike cruising by. Being on foot I had the time to really explore my surroundings. I knew when I saw that crazy trunk that this was my tree.
I climbed up onto it and started to figure my way up the tree.
It had quite a few vines hanging all over and they kept catching my feet. Luckily they were dead and brittle and mostly broke if I pushed through them. I climbed up to the top of this small tree and saw all the long seed pods around me.
With these I could tell this was a catalpa tree. I settled into a secure position and started to take pictures.
I had just missed the sun as it went behind the buildings. But I could see its last rays reflect off the distant tops of the skyscrapers (if you can call Louisville’s downtown buildings "skyscrapers").
It was really cold, about 10 degrees, but the wind wasn’t blowing and it made all the difference. I didn’t have to use my gloves at all. I finished shooting andthen climbed back down.
I wasn’t incredibly high, but it was a decent climb on a very interesting tree. I walked back to help finish setting up.
That night was fun, strange, and bittersweet. It was great to be with such an interesting mix of friends.
I had fun watching The Princess Bride, eating Mediterranean food, and dancing to some really good DJ music with Billy Blank’s Tae-Bo video projected on the wall.
That juxtaposition worked so well. All I had to do was follow Billy and I was a dancing god. Amazing.
Then the night came to a late end.
I got to sleep about two hours before getting back up and dropping MaryLiz off at her mom’s. Drew and I said our sleepy goodbye’s and then left. I’ll miss hanging out with MaryLiz, but I am happy for her great opportunity. At least with today’s technology, it’s easy to stay in touch.