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the engine sputtered, then it threw a rod

For days now the predictions have been forecasting big winds for today. The storm that was already creating.a mess in Atlanta and closing parts of I-75, would not be to north central Florida until later tonight, so for now it was just some nice wind.

The wind built to a fairly steady fifteen by ten o'clock and I could see the palms taking a beating off and on for a few hours. I finally headed out at one, grabbed some Krystal's and headed for the field. I swear, as I pulled into the parking lot, the leaves on the trees stopped moving, but as a I walked across the field, it started again and I found a good spot to setup.

There is no absence of wind today, it is brisk, but it is also choppy, like waves crashing on the beach. That coupled with the treeline is making the wind stir. When the wind steadies out, the turbulence goes away. But when the wind speeds up and the slows down, it becomes a struggle to fly. While I was setting up the revolution, the wind changed direction forty five degrees, so the midday lull was probably adding to the unpredictable nature of the wind.

I set the kite upright and the wind held it in place as it tugged on the handles staked to the ground eighty feet away. I walked to the handles and turned around only to find the kite was lying face down on the ground. I walked back and reset it upright again. As I walked back it fell again as I felt the wind change direction yet again.

I pulled the kite into the air and it flew and lulled and landed. Rinse repeat. Before long I had moved about 20 yards closer to the treeline. I could hear a small delta kite fluttering in the sky directly above me, It was piloted by a couple, and they had it up above the treeline and it was flying strong. Soon after that everything smoothed out and the strong steady wind over powered the tree line and filled the park. I walked as I flew and moved back to my launch site and then a bit further.

It was great to fly the Rev although it was choppy at times, It would feel like I had a sputtering engine while going down a rocky road. and then it would smooth back out again. After a little bit more I was finally able to depend on the wind, and started flying some patterns as I warmed up. Just about that time I noticed the delta kite floating in my view. It was a little higher than before and blowing free as it headed for the trees that were just downwind.

For a moment, I pondered whether I should try to catch it with the Rev or not. I only had a moment though as the delta kites handle caught the Rev's bridle and they became fast friends.

The kite lines held fast and something had clipped the bungie cord holding the bridle and the socket for the upright rod. I could get the Rev to do some things but mostly it was a captive of the small delta kite that was a high above it, pulling hard.

The Rev was impossible to fly down to the ground, so I staked the handles and walked it down. The Rev bridle and the delta kites handle had spun quite a web of line. I separated it bit by bit eventually breaking the deltas line and retying it to its handle.

I hunted down the vertical rod about 30 feet away and packed the Rev until I can get another bungie. But I still wanted to fly and the wind was really going well, so I laid out the symphony 2.1 and up it went. This kite is all fun and it can really pull hard. I had a short but good workout before packing up and heading back to work.

A fun and eventful lunchtime kite adventure.

Kites Flown:

Kites Flown:

Revolution B-series Standard

HQ Symphony Beach 2.1m

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Wednesday January 30th, 2013

Two Kites, No Waiting

Kites Flown: