DAY 40

DAY 40
05.14.07
TREE 46

I headed back to Cherokee Park for today’s climb. I know I’ve been saying over and over how beautiful it is here everyday, but really, today was perfect, a truly perfect day. I headed up to Hogan’s Fountain where there were countless people enjoying the park, and even more climbable trees. I picked one right by the bathroom building just because the branches were so low and inviting. The climb was easy but the mobility around the branches was good. Once down, I couldn’t stop there. I climbed a few more trees. One in particular was extremely challenging, high, and rewarding. I am definitely going back there again and again.

5-14-08:  I definitely should have taken pictures of the other trees I climbed that day.  Especially the one I said was rewarding because it was such a better climb than the one pictured.  But since I had tied my ribbon up in that tree I did not.  However, those trees I climb that I feel exist outside the project are nice and carefree, and I feel no pressure to achieve any certain height or need to record the experience.  It feels much more true to the sensibility of climbing as a child.  No intention but to just climb into a tree and have a good time. 

Last night, hanging with Charlotte and eventually Will and Basil, I climbed a tree off Baxter by the Walgreens parking lot.  Charlotte and I had just finished out sweet treats at the homemade pie and icecream kitchen and we were waiting for Will and Basil to finish their workout at the gym around the corner.  I chose a tree with a mangled mess of limbs.  It seemed so many limbs were competing for survival and many had lost out but still held on.  I broke many of those dead limbs as I snaked up to the top.  As I took pictures on the top branch I told Charlotte to back up and see if she could spot me.  When I could see her across the street she was looking way too low.  I called out for your look up higher and I shook my limb.  She was very surprised that I was at the very top.  This is the only picture that turned out well due to the dark light of night: