DAY 350
03.19.08
TREE 179 Brilliantly I picked up Charlotte and drove to Bardstown Road to speed walk for exercise and look for help wanted signs. Only it was cold and really fucking rainy all day. We walked a little, sometimes fast, but mostly we stopped into places to warm up. It didn’t really go as expected and I never found a job. I kind of figured that would happen. What was good, though, was that I still had to climb a tree. (That was sarcastic) But really I think I just complained about it because that was the mood of the day. So after giving up on walking we drove down to River Road and over to Cox’s Park. Well, technically it’s that other park across the street. We parked in a lot and wondered what the other two or three cars were doing here, joking that maybe I’d get picked up by one of them… ’cause, you know, I got picked up by a guy once, anyway. We walked through the rain and puddles and I told Charlotte that the first time I climbed this tree it was raining and there was still a little snow on the trees. This is the tree I climbed before me and Will’s Christmas party to pick mistletoe. The conditions today are very similar only no snow and the Ohio River is flooding.
TREE 179 Brilliantly I picked up Charlotte and drove to Bardstown Road to speed walk for exercise and look for help wanted signs. Only it was cold and really fucking rainy all day. We walked a little, sometimes fast, but mostly we stopped into places to warm up. It didn’t really go as expected and I never found a job. I kind of figured that would happen. What was good, though, was that I still had to climb a tree. (That was sarcastic) But really I think I just complained about it because that was the mood of the day. So after giving up on walking we drove down to River Road and over to Cox’s Park. Well, technically it’s that other park across the street. We parked in a lot and wondered what the other two or three cars were doing here, joking that maybe I’d get picked up by one of them… ’cause, you know, I got picked up by a guy once, anyway. We walked through the rain and puddles and I told Charlotte that the first time I climbed this tree it was raining and there was still a little snow on the trees. This is the tree I climbed before me and Will’s Christmas party to pick mistletoe. The conditions today are very similar only no snow and the Ohio River is flooding.
I got to the tree and stood in the mud. I looked up at the tree, the pinkribbon not very high up, and the first two major limbs growing off the side of the trunk. I cursed and then reached up my left hand and grabbed the knot hole. The grip was really strong but I had nothing else. This tree is covered in green mossy growth and is wet and slippery as hell. I decided to grip that hole with my right hand and pulled my body up. Then I squeezed the trunk with my legs causing my knees to get soaked. Then I released my right hand from its grip and hooked my arm around the right limb. I didn’t have much of a hold and struggled there for a while to get up. I wriggled until I had most of my upper body leaning toward my right side and somehow released my left hand, got one foot on that knot hole, and pushed up to where I could get to my feet. That ordeal had soaked the front of my pants. As I began to move slowly up these large, slippery branches the wind began to pick up.
It was getting so strong it was moving me in the tree. And it was cold! My hands, wet from the tree, began to sting from that freezing wind. It was as bad as climbing in 15 degree weather. I couldn’t believe it. It just came out of no where, or perhaps from off the raging brown river a hundred feet away and getting closer.
I went up the left of the tree then moved across the middle to the right. Up another limb and I made it to that skinny branch where I had been before to pick my mistletoe.
I pulled off the ribbon and held it up in my fist to show Charlotte my victory.
Then I saw some mistletoe from the place I had picked before. I pulled off a few sprigs and threw them down to Charlotte to hold.
Only the wind took them 20-30 feet away into the puddle filled grass. Then I did my best to take pictures without getting my camera soaked. It was a challenge but I wanted to record the flooding.
It was an amazing sight. Plus, we also saw a huge crane fly in and down to the encroaching flood water. My camera lens got wet and my hands were going numb. I had to get down. So, carefully, I reversed my steps down the slippery branches and dropped to the mud. I was soaked through my clothes, hands ached and I was covered in green stuff. We walked and laughed about our experience and by the time we got back to my truck, the wind had completely died down. I thought maybe the west wind was testing me or something.
What a crazy day. I climbed though and I felt lucky to have climbed this tree and witness the flooding first hand. It was amazing to see.
3-25-09: I miss hanging out with Charlotte. She needs to move back to Louisville. Charlotte, if you’re reading this, COME BACK!!!
Can you believe the flooding? Life is nothing but a series of disasters. Not really, but we’ve had a lot in the last few years. Weather related destruction makes for interesting photos and tree climbs.
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March 19th 2009. Thursday night it BBC Taproom night. I went up there to meet up with all my friends. I only wanted one beer since I had made plans for the night. Natalie brought her digital camera for another Yancey photo shoot. After some good beer, talking to friends, and just beating Drew in darts, Natalie, Norman, and I left to get ready. I rushed back home on my bike. I changed into my light suit and grabbed my camera and waited for Nat and Norm to pick me up.
They arrived and we headed to Eva Bandman Park which is right off River Road by the sand plant near the railroad crossing. We parked in the back and walked into the woods right next to the river.
Natalie was concerned about the endless strip of bright white lights across the river at the boat factory. I told her not to worry and I showed them were I was going to be climbing first.
I started with the fallen tree I climbed a few weeks ago with Josh. The one he made a video of. Natalie set up her camera on the tripod and I asked Norm to film me with my camera.
It was pretty scary. I shimmied up the long leaning trunk. That went fine. I crawled over the crest and started to slid down the split limb. As I neared the tree this branch was leaning against I felt the branch slip an inch. With all the bright lights on my body I couldn’t see past 2 or 3 feet and had no idea how far the ground was. I was in no way prepared to ride out a falling tree. So I picked it up and got to the other tree. I hugged it and slid to the ground. Video at double speed.
The picture came out a little dark but it looked awesome. (Again, not showing you the pictures now, you’ll have to see them at my opening at Zephyr on the first Friday of October.) After that I felt like I could keep going so I looked for a small, young tree to climb up and bend down to the ground. We found a good one and we set up. When I went for it, I could get the tree to bend to the opening. It kept falling crooked and getting hung up in another tree. I just dangled from my hands and was stuck. I looked over my shoulder and realized the tree I was hung up on was close enough for me to reach. So I just transferred over and slid down. It was a serendipitous result and a great photo. Video at double speed.
I did a couple shots climbing on an arching branch and bending it to the ground. They came out okay. But all the shooting put Natalie in the perfect range to make the best looking picture. I spotted two trees that leaned out and the branches crossed each other. I knew it was going to be an awesome climb. Nat set up again and then I went for it. It was a little scary again climbing a new tree and not being able to see much beyond my arms reach, but I made it and it was the best picture of the night.
Another great and successful Yancey shoot. Thanks again to Norman and Natalie for the help. I couldn’t do it without you guys.