DAY 110

DAY 110
07.23.07
TREE 21

I headed into Louisville to go to Seneca Park to reclimb the tree on the edge of the road. The park was crowded with people but luckily this time there wasn’t an annoying person yelling at their unresponsive dog. I started up the tree the same as before. I stepped onto a wooden post that lines the path and jumped against the trunk grabbing onto the first big branch. This large, expansive tree has three or four main branches that shoot way up. I chose the one with my ribbon and climbed up. It was slow and methodical like last time. I had to be careful using steep branches as footholds and some knot stubs for handholds. I got to my mark and looked to continue higher but couldn’t. This was really as high as I could go, but I saw potential on other main limbs. So I climbed down to the main split and continued up, but only a few feet before I reached a dead end. I tried another branch and that was worse for options. I guess I just wasn’t meant to get higher in this monster. So slowly and carefully I maneuvered down and jumped out. Though I didn’t get higher I liked the challenging exploration of alternative paths in this beautiful and massive tree.

7-23-08:  I wonder if I could get higher now?  Or, if I couldn’t now, would I be able to in a year?  I have wondered if I would always improve or if my increasing abilities would plateau.  I can continue to get stronger, and that would help.  But mostly I think it’s my willingness to take risks.  The more I climb and take risks the more likely I will try harder and crazier things in the future.  If I let my current scrapes heal and go to that tree prepared with long sleeves, pants, and a strong will, I just may be able to get higher.  And if not sooner… I will later.

Okay, so I already explained my day yesterday in the last entry: painting a deck, Norman’s, etc.  Well, Norman’s niece and nephew,  Marietta and Silas,  who are about 3 and 5 were quite excited that I might climb a tree after dinner.  They kept asking me to get out there and I was tired, sore, and full.  I wanted an easy climb, a nice tree with lots of branches, but I have been at Norman’s many times and know the tree around there are tall with few branches.  It was going to be a struggle to find a tree.  But Silas had one picked out.  It’s a tree Norman had climbed to hang a pogo contraption for the kids to play on.  I believe it’s a sycamore with a severe lean but few branches.  I was not in the mood to shimmy so I passed.  The kids had to go home soon and I didn’t want to disappoint them so I picked this small tree and figured I’d just climb up it like a poll.  I gave my camera to Silas and asked him to film me.  At first he didn’t seem to to want to, but he eventually warmed to the idea.  I got the video going and told him to just keep me in the screen.  I also told him he could say whatever he wanted into the camera.  So up I went but not too far, maybe ten feet, before a few slips of my hands and I was ready to come down.  I looked down at Silas and the camera was not pointed at me.  I got him to adjust his angle and then I slid down like on a fireman’s poll.  I took a picture of the tree and of Silas then was done.  Thanks, Silas, for the great film work!