There has been way too long a lapse between times I could get a few hours [or even minutes!] to go fly my kites. Thankfully I have had a couple days to remedy the withdrawl symptoms Ive been experiencing. I’ve wondered why my left hand is tingling a lot, and thumb cramps periodically……because it hasnt been paying out kite line enough to stay limber!! YEAH, that it! LOL!!
So I went out a few weeks ago with my 91 year old Dad to fly a bit, figuring the freshair and some sun wouldn’t do any harm to either of us- in fact that was july 4th, we had seen the small town parade and eager to not go back into 4 walls, went to fly!
I had put up a couple “EEZE PEEZE little single liners, and was wrangling a larger delta with some awesome 50 foot tails, and developed a squirrels nest, [easy when launching from a wheelchair!!]. Just as I was getting a little air under the sail, a local policeman arrived, spoke with Dad a bit by the van, and then I see him heading straight out to me with a determined look on his face. From the countenance I knew this had to be no good, and it wasn’t. Apparently some one in the hospital building called dispatch to have us evicted from the wonderfully maintained field surrounding the parking lots, complete with a cement walking path !! This arrangement makes it most convenient for a wheelchair to surround the entire field and set up a launch.
We politely left, but first I pleaded my case! What was I harming?? The kites were not over any structures or the parking lot [which was empty]. And the area was set up for exercise [walkers all the time], and was I being discriminated against because my exercise was different? From a wheelchair??? The cop was sympathetic, but “had to do his job”
The next day, you know who I was calling right?? The hospital administrators!! YEP, and I did receive permission to fly on th e field!! ONE WIN FOR THE KITERS!
Since then, I have not had lots of good days available to get away and go fly. But I have had a couple days with southernly breezes, which lends to a different field. check some of the kites I managed to get aloft when my friends brought their kids out to “play kites” with me, unfortunately winds were diminishing, and mostly we were gathering and packing those that came down.
This is a derivative of a Flow Tail I made several years ago on the Guff Coast. It likes a firm breeze to carry all that organza. was not doing it last trip, but today we had a firm 14mph breeze, stayed up all afternoon along with my Ron Gibian designed large diamond Angelfish kite. The Navaho styled delta Rattlesnake lifted those 50foot tails very handily.
A few more pics of kite events i’ve managed to attend this summer. Unfortunately it is Nebraska, and middle September, far fewer days ahead like it was today, 90 degrees and steady SSE breezes, sunny and very “summerish”. maybe we can squeeze in a couple more before Jack Frost starts nipping at noses.
I have promised a young man a birthday gift of a dual line sport kite, but I want to give him a head start with a little one-on-one training first.
Wickedrevs Windy World 