DAY 296
01.25.08
TREE 130
Instead of going to climb right after work I just went home. Plans were shaping up and I wanted to make the climb fit in as conveniently as possible. And since I was going to be going to the Late Seating at Actors Theatre with Will and his new friend, Annie, at 10:30pm I thought I’d wait till later to climb. And though I’ve been trying to climb more in daylight I had climbed this tree in the dark so I knew I could do it again. It was the pine I climbed the day of Carden’s wedding. The shots of the lit up tennis courts were pretty amazing. I had dinner with my parents and then headed to Seneca Park. I parked my truck and walked straight to my tree. I went righ up and began to climb. One thing I quickly noticed was that the tennis court lights were off. Figures, since it’s winter and so cold, but it was very dark. I went up the sections of growth holding on to the thickest branches.
Some spots were a little tough. Since I don’t climb pines very much, the feel of the limbs is less comfortable. I am more focused and aware of each move. I think it’s because on a deciduous tree each branch has its own unique shape and characteristics, plus its relationship to others nearby create lasting memories of movement. But on this tree I remember so few individual limbs. Only the ones that are very different and grow up
or are rubbing and crossing other limbs. I think that from the start, I don’t take the care to remember each section of limbs. But what I lack in intimate knowledge of the tree it makes up for it in height and mobility. These trees are almost always the easiest to reach incredible heights and be so close to the very top. At the top of this tree I had a nice seat and looked around at the park.
The lack of tennis court lights actually forced my to look beyond in the distance.
I noticed spot lights in the clouds above. Later that night I discovered their origin at Slugger Field. I also noticed that I could see the downtown skyline.
Unfortunately I couldn’t stay still enough to get any good pictures in focus. But I tried. Being at the very top leaves no steady limbs to lean against for stability. So I put my camera away, paused, and climbed back down. I like pine trees and the climbs I have in them, but I always get sappy. It just seems impossible to avoid.
1-27-09: I really wish those tennis courts would have been lit. The small image at the top is also one of my top 5 favorites from the entire project. I am almost to 10,000 images and I think I really like about 20. I need to go through them and pick them out but that could take a while.
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Last Saturday, January 24th, there was a chance that Norm and I were going to head back to New Castle to finish the porch. I got ready for parkour anyway and soon got the call from Norm that is wasn’t going to happen. So I spent a long time out with the guys at the waterfront jumping around on stuff. Then Julio and I went to Skyline Chili for the cheese coney’s. He dropped me off and I piddled around with Drew. I was hoping that some plans might come up for the night but it seemed Drew was in for the night. I finally got off my ass and went to climb a tree. I drove down River Road to Zorn Avenue and parked behind the Marathon station by the Ramada Inn.
I had seen some trees along the road in weeks past and figured tonight would be as good as any to get out there and try one. I walked behind the gas station and sneaked into the woods.
I saw there was a van by the car wash station with doors open.
It appeared there was a guy working on it on a Saturday night. Fun. I just had to be sure to stay out of his sight. I picked my tree which was an oak just covered in old vines. I really wanted to get a picture of the trunk but I didn’t take one before climbing and my camera had died before I climbed back down. The damn cold weather had returned over night. I started to climb using what rigid vines I could find then transferred my grip to the few dead limbs that would hold my weight. It was a little uncertain, but I got past the rough start to reach some really strong branches. I made sure to stay on the opposite side of the trunk from the gas station and stay as quiet as possible. That was really quite difficult because all the twigs around me were dead and brittle and ready to snap and fall at any slight movement. I was snaking through with great care but couldn’t avoid breaking some. I got up into the high branches and picked my main leader to follow to the top.
I was exposed at this point and just kept looking below me to the cars at the pumps and the workman in the car wash. I reached my high point and felt pretty hidden. I took pictures with some trouble of the darker surroundings,
but managed to get a good shot of the station
and nearby highway intersection.
I really wanted to get a shot of the water tower nearby since there were so many lights and cars there for the block tie event for the opening of Dinner Works. But the branches were in my way. I was able to get a nice shot of the boat store a little down River Road,
and some good shots elsewhere.
Then I wanted to climb down. But the workman was out from inside the car wash and was loading his van. I waited thinking he would be done and drive away. He had closed his doors and shut the car wash but then just sat in his van. I waited a few more minutes and he still hadn’t budged. I called Julio to see if he was up to anything and he was with the Norton’s and some lawyer friends at a bar. Not wanting to wait anymore I just started to climb down keeping a close eye on the guy in his van. I broke a lot twigs as I came down but I made it down without getting spotted. It was a cold and challenging climb with so many dead limbs and vines in the way, but it felt good to have gotten up and down without detection.