Month: April 2016

The Earth Day Celebration

This past weekend was the annual Earth Day Celebration at Fort Macon State Park.  It brings out several government agencies, local non-profits and businesses to educate and promote good environmental stewardship.  There were activities and demonstrations for kids and adults and live music. Civil War re-enactors were also present to assist with cannon firings and historical demonstrations.  The Carolina Kite Club was asked to put a lot of color in the sky down on the beach for the visitors.

The days prior to this event were sunny, warm and blustery.  That is to say the winds were ranging from 14 to 20 mph.  We were all hoping those strong winds would calm enough so we could fill the sky with large kites and long tails.  Temperatures dropped a little on the day of the fly but the winds did not.  Ever the hopeful group, we took the kites we planned on flying and went down to the beach.

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Our first order of business was to put up the banners.  After they were up, we began to think this was not such a good idea.  Wind gauges were measuring 18 to 22 mph and the sand was beginning to blow across the surface of the beach.  One intrepid flyer did launch a large HQ flowform with long tube tails and then immediately went and added extra sand to the anchor.  Another put up a mesh delta which handled the wind quite well.  I anchored out my large ground bouncer caterpillar.  The rest of the group decided it was too much wind but would wait a while and see if anything changed.

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And change it did.  The wind got stronger.  The wind was now blowing 25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. We huddled behind a dune to get out of the blowing sand and watched the banners bend almost down to the ground.  That was it!  We all packed up and called it a day.

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It is such a disappointment when you’re asked to fly at an event and then are unable to.  Even when it is through no fault of your own.  We just hope that the organizers understand and know that we will be back to try again at the next Earth Day Celebration.

Fair Winds All.

Back To Our Roots

The club kite fly this week was called because of weather.  We have become weather wimps in our “old age”.  However, the call of our addiction was so great that we went out on the next pretty day and had the beach to ourselves.

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We went “back to our roots” and flew only single line kites.  My husband put up his Ghost Delta and I selected some of my White Bird dragon kites.  I’m continually trying to expand my collection of White Bird dragons.  These were three that you don’t see too often.  They put on a show in the sky no matter what pattern in on the sail.

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White Bird Dragon Kite – Sun Face
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White Bird Dragon – Dolphin
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White Bird Dragon – Zebra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ghost Delta is made by Gomberg Kites.  It comes in other colors but the white seems to be the favorite.  Like the dragons, the flowing tails really make a statement in the sky.

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Gomberg Kites Ghost Delta

Flying in the evening is a relaxing end to any day.  As the sun went down and the air began to chill, we packed up and strolled to the truck.  We were already making plans for our next flying day.

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Fair Winds All.

 

 

New Additions To The Kite Bag

Wind was strong this past kite club fly day and the sun was out.  Woohoo!  However, it was chilly and the last day that the grandkids were down for a visit.  So there was no kite flying for us this weekend.

There was kiting activity of another sort in our house recently.  I have added two new Revolution kites to the kite bag.  The first is a kite I saw in a photograph from the KTAI (Kite Trade Association International) convention.  Only a small segment of it was visible but it was enough for me to want to see the whole thing and maybe see if I could get one like it.  As it turns out, our local kite shop owners came home with it and I got to see it close up.  Than only made me want one even more.  A quick phone call was all it took.  I am now the proud owner of the red geisha Revolution.  The kite skin was designed and printed by Los Hermanos Gonzalez in Spain.  Then it went to Revolution Kites in California to be bridled and framed.  And finally to me in NC.

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The second Revolution kite is really a piece of history.  The first Revolution kites were called the Neos Omega.  It was only after a law suit regarding the use of the name that Revolution Kites became as we know it today.  There weren’t too many kites made before the name change.  One of those originals is now mine.  Because of the size of a reinforcement in the center “V” of the kite, it has been identified as one of the first 80 kites made.  The first 20 kites had no reinforcement at all so that makes this kite one of only 60.  And it comes to me new and un-flown.

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I have been asked of I will fly the Neos Omega.  The answer is yes but only for special exhibition purposes.  I have plenty of others to fly day-to-day.

Fair Winds All.

 

 

Banners At Sunrise

Our last time on the beach wasn’t for flying kites.  It was for flying banners.  Several of the area churches have an outdoor sunrise service on Easter Sunday.  Our church in Atlantic Beach, NC is no exception.  However, this service is held at the public beach access on the sand.  For the past few years, we have erected white banners as a marker and a backdrop for that service.

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The skies were cloudy but the rain held off until after the service.  After having a potluck breakfast with friends at the church, we headed off to Fort Macon to fly kites on a holiday kite club fly.  However, the rain began and the fly was cancelled.  We returned home and took a nap.  Sunrise comes way too early.

Fair Winds All.