DAY 109

DAY 109
07.22.07
TREE 20

The first time I climbed this tree I didn’t have the best experience. I think it was the only time I felt like it was a chore. It scared me that that was the case and that doing a daily project like this may turn into that. Luckily it never happened again. Every tree since then has been enjoyable and though I may sometimes get frustrated or annoyed by certain climbs they still all give me a sense of peace and connectedness with the tree and nature, and it reaffirms how much I enjoy climbing trees.

I approached this tree with a determination to get higher than the first time and to not answer my phone during the climb. I got up and in easily and headed towards my ribbon. At one point I grabbed a dead limb that was hanging down by the trunk and ripped it off and threw it to the ground. I continued to climb up and got to my previous high point. I ripped down my orange tape marker and looked around for a path further up. I did get about one branch higher. About to where the trunk splits into thin branches. Then I noticed a huge collection of scurrying ants carrying their eggs. That dead branch I ripped off was apparently their house. I basically tore their front door off and they were fleeing for survival. Unfortunately their location was my only option for continuing higher. But I did not want to get eaten alive by a bunch of angry ants so I quit my quest upward. As I climbed down I moved out on the limbs and saw an old basketball post close by. So I transfered to the old rusted posts and hoisted myself down and dropped to the ground. I felt better about the climb but felt kind of bad for messing with the ants’ home.

7-23-08:  I didn’t get to blog yesterday due to a certain chain of events and my exhaustion at the end of the day.  I got up early to go to Indiana to start painting a deck.  I worked from 9 to 5:30 and did all the railings by brush so my back was pretty sore.  I was driving home and called Norman to see if he wanted to get dinner.  He called me back and said that his parents were having a fish fry and invited me.  So I drove over there, had an unbelievable meal… literally one of the tastiest meals in a long time.  Plus homemade strawberry icecream for dessert.  I hung out a while and by the time I got home I was too tired to blog for an hour. 

I imagine you don’t remember, but the first time I climbed this tree Rachel called while I was in it and she was upset to I climbed down.  That is why I said I was going to avoid phone calls.  Usually I take calls and sometimes make them.  Norman seems to have a knack for called me while I’m in a tree.  If you have ever talked to me while in a tree, how does it make you feel?  Most people want to let me go like they’re imposing on my activity.  I actually like to talk as long as I am in a comfortable position to do so.  If I’m not I usually can’t get to my phone to answer it in the first place.

Also, I have never climbed a tree that didn’t have ants.  Except for in the winter.  That means there are a lot of ants in the world.  A LOT!

I will now discuss my tree climb on Monday, July 21st.  I drove most of the day with my parents back from West Virginia.  When we got to my parents place I went out behind the house to the woods to find a tree.  I thought I had seen one with some good branches but I couldn’t reach them.  I tried to shimmy but my legs are still recovering from the day before when I shimmied and scratched the crap out of my legs and arms.  So I walked along to this other tree that had two main trunks.  I thought it would be neat to make a video of me scooting up between the trunks.  Only it turned out to be way difficult.  I was aiming for these small branches to stop but before I got there I noticed a small young tree in grabbing distance.  I got a hold of it and when I moved it those limbs I was aiming for actually belonged to the small tree and not the one I was on.  I was tired, losing strength, and with that I decided the climb was done and slid down.  A little disappointing but it was a climb.