DAY 133

DAY 133
08.15.07
TREE 50

I had stuff to do around the Mary Anderson Center today and was a little frustrated that the tree I am supposed to reclimb is located in Cherokee Park. But as I have stuck to the order, I must go where the next tree beckons. So I hopped in my truck just before noon and drove over to the park. I parked by Hogan’s Fountain, walked directly to the tree and that feeling of familiarity came over me. All those minute details from the first climb came rushing back. The first step is difficult, the branches are so numerous it gets crowded, the twig offshoots poke, etc. So I jump, grab that first little dying branch and kick a pile of dead twigs out of the way. I move up through these tangled grey limbs, constantly adjusting my foot and handholds as I solve the puzzle of a safe ascent. I pass the point where I had scared a squirrel last time. I pause and look around, listen for little animal sounds, but it is quiet up here today. I continue upwards as the branches spread out and get thinner. The blue ribbon is in sight and I remember how hard it was the last time, getting to that high spot and holding still for Aaryn to take my picture. Not so difficult this time, and I am determined to improve on my previous achievement I climb slightly higher getting my head above a bunch of leaves allowing me a great view over this part of the park. I steadied my feet and leaned into a branch to free my hands and take some pictures. Then I climbed down, breaking many limbs as I was not in the mood to snake through while getting poked over and over. Good climb, but not the same feeling of accomplishment this time around.

There is Hogan’s Fountain.  I write of this place often and I don’t think I have ever posted a picture that has it in it.





8-16-08:  Blogging got away from me yesterday so I am doubling up today.  I unfortunately have no special insights to add to last years entry.  It was what it was.  What I can share with you was something else that happened that same day last year. 

One of the residents was a woman potter named Anne-Bridget Gary.  She is one of the most unique people I have ever met.  She was full of energy, always, and she liked to give people gifts.  One day I came back to my room and there was a potted plant and some tea bags on the floor.  She told me the plant was a tree for me because I like trees.  The tea was for me because tea is good.  She drank a lot of tea and would throw 40 or so tea bowls every morning at 5 am.  She was a great and intense guest and the house.  She also worked like crazy and at the end of her stay invited all sorts of people for a Japanese tea ceremony/demo/presentation of the work she had been working on over the past 2 weeks.  In these pictures are some good friends I made at the Mount like Father Paul and Sarah Frederick. 



Her work is intense just like her.  It was about the loss of her mother.  That is one thing I have missed about staying at the Mary Anderson Center, all the great people I met while staying there.  Artists are just so nice and easy to talk to.  Thanks to all of you who made my 7 months there so enjoyable.

Now for Thursday’s climb at George Rogers Clark Park.  At parkour on Wednesday night Josh told me about this park off Poplar Level Road by St. X.  I never go around that area and didn’t know there was a park there.  He told me about the big trees there and spoke specifically of 2.  One that was fenced off and the other with a limb that goes straight out for 30 feet from the trunk.  I went the next day to go check it out.  I saw the fenced in tree and it looked a little difficult to climb anyway.  But not too far from there was the other tree he referred to. 

That long branch called to me.  It drooped down at the end offering the perfect entry. 

Then I crawled to the trunk over moss and animal crap.  From the trunk I went out another limb that was slightly higher but also dropped down to the ground. 

I had to maneuver through some dead limbs but I eventually made my way back to the ground.  Here was my path:

As I was working my way towards the ground there were three people and a dog nearby.  I wonder what they thought of my appearing out of nowhere?

I took a bunch of pictures and I think they turned out pretty nice.  I’ll include them below and then say fair well for this entry.