putting up 12 more poles to fill out the tipi
Monday, September 03, 2007
3 pm
I got up from my shady spot and walked around looking at the poles on the ground. One by one I selected the poles and the fork in the tripod where I'd put each of them. I carried them over to the tripod and set them down so the butt end was where I wanted it to finally reside. I had a circle to make. Right now I only had a triangle on the ground, but the poles would eventually form a perfect circle. I hoped.
I went to the end of the new pole, lifted it up, walking closer to it as it rose above my head. Then I looked up at the end, high in the air above me and at the tripod tips, which formed spots for poles. Then I lowered the pole until it lodged in the fork.
I repeated that twice, filling one gap between two tripod poles, then moved to the second opening in the tripod. Three of the poles weren’t tall enough. They were less than 19 feet long, so they’d not fit up to the top of the tripod. I had to wait till there were more poles up, so the fork wouldn't be so far away anymore.
It took forever to do this. I went slowly. I wanted to keep a leisurely pace so I wouldn't get worn out before I was done.
I went over to sit in the shade and drink water many times. Cars of cottagers on their way back to the city passed by, often with people whipping their heads around to see what I'd done.
Some of the poles were quite heavy. One was very long. I wanted to attach a Canada flag to the end of it before putting it up, but thought it would probably get wrapped up in the other pole ends.
It took a lot of work to move the nine more poles and put them in place. I enjoyed sitting and looking at my handiwork admiring the lovely cedar wood! There’s such a feeling of success and accomplishment that comes from building a tipi. I can’t describe it, but it makes me feel like I’ve achieved something of great worth!
3 pm
I got up from my shady spot and walked around looking at the poles on the ground. One by one I selected the poles and the fork in the tripod where I'd put each of them. I carried them over to the tripod and set them down so the butt end was where I wanted it to finally reside. I had a circle to make. Right now I only had a triangle on the ground, but the poles would eventually form a perfect circle. I hoped.
I went to the end of the new pole, lifted it up, walking closer to it as it rose above my head. Then I looked up at the end, high in the air above me and at the tripod tips, which formed spots for poles. Then I lowered the pole until it lodged in the fork.
I repeated that twice, filling one gap between two tripod poles, then moved to the second opening in the tripod. Three of the poles weren’t tall enough. They were less than 19 feet long, so they’d not fit up to the top of the tripod. I had to wait till there were more poles up, so the fork wouldn't be so far away anymore.
It took forever to do this. I went slowly. I wanted to keep a leisurely pace so I wouldn't get worn out before I was done.
I went over to sit in the shade and drink water many times. Cars of cottagers on their way back to the city passed by, often with people whipping their heads around to see what I'd done.
Some of the poles were quite heavy. One was very long. I wanted to attach a Canada flag to the end of it before putting it up, but thought it would probably get wrapped up in the other pole ends.
It took a lot of work to move the nine more poles and put them in place. I enjoyed sitting and looking at my handiwork admiring the lovely cedar wood! There’s such a feeling of success and accomplishment that comes from building a tipi. I can’t describe it, but it makes me feel like I’ve achieved something of great worth!