This weekend was the Smithsonian Kite Festival, one of the opening events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year’s theme was the art and history of Chinese kites. Two weeks ago we went to the National Air and Space Museum and watched a kite master build a dragon kite, saw some indoor flying demonstrations, and joined a horde of children making their own kites.
When I was a kid we often went to Muir Beach in Marin County (SF Bay Area) to fly a kite. I do not recall ever having a problem flying there and I guess that is because it was always freezing and windy. The biggest problem was the wind breaking the sticks and having to bring duct tape. Being an expert in kite repair in my youth, when I bought a new kite a few months ago I knew I was ready to move up to the pros.
We arrived at the National Mall on Saturday around 11am to find a couple thousand kids and their parents flying all sorts of kites. There was not much of a breeze, but every ladybug, My Little Pony, and butterfly flew well. My stunt kite did not. Twice it lurched up, did some sort of quick death spiral, and crashed down. I think we all privately realized that I should have started with a one-string kite these children are all professionals.
The answer is probably to find a large empty field for practice, and private shame, but the only ones I can think of are at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center annex and Bolling Air Force Base. Something tells me the MPs will not appreciate the idea of me taking down Marine One but I suppose I can ask (if I can fly my kite).
By next year I’ll be ready to set a single line unicorn aloft. It will be magical.
No comments yet.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI