Kite Day!

The has been a sign up along the road for weeks announcing "Kite Day."  Sponsored by the Calvert Marine Museum and Wings Over Washington Kite Club this annual event takes place in the field across from the museum.

The event draws quite a few families, and I suspect the unusually warm 90F day may have kept some away.  There were still a good number of folk flying a variety of kites in the fluctuating breeze.



 Beyond the entrance to the field there were a few of the WOW Club members showing off their sport kites.  These are the dual line steerable kites that dart left and right, and spin at the whim of the pilot.  You can see them poised for take-off in the shot to the left.

I was drawn more to the families flying further toward the river.



There were quite few designs flying, including some crafted in the museum with the help of the WOW guys.  They looked like large sheets of paper with strings attached 2/3s of the way up the sides.  The little splotch in the upper right corner of the photo with the black/ multi-colored kite has one that was flying quite high.

There were a number of kites being launched, and some families that were already done and calling it a day.

 I initially thought the little girl was trying to fly the kite, but was only trying to catch up with dad and her brothers.




I'm assuming the Kite Club guys had the big shade umbrellas... a really good call.

One of the "Paper" kites that were made

The sequence of small photos to the right and left, are for the launch of a kite with a really long tail.


I didn't get a chance to talk to the lady flying this one, but she looks older than most of the other flyers.

Kites are for everyone!  Though I know not everyone is a fan.

I mentioned the tail is really long, and it was very near a family with a cute little boy that was taking everything in.

I had a chance to chat with them for a few minutes and take a few pictures.

I'm hoping Mom and Dad find this blog.


































It's a Navy town after all, and you need the Blue Angels to provide top cover.  Behind the pilot is a proud wife.







 Before arriving at the field, I had thought this post would be about the different kites, the colors the movement.  I had intended to bring my "backpacking" kite.  It's nylon and doesn't need any bracing. It has two layers with opening in the front edge and smaller openings at the trailing edge, so it 'inflates' in a manner of speaking.  Well I left it in the truck, so I didn't think I'd be flying anything.


I didn't think I would become part of the story.  But while taking a few pictures of another family, the woman said.. "Do you have any tips?!" while tying to get their kite airborne.  I really didn't, have any,  but offered to help - which meant walking upwind for a distance and jogging back to get the kite in the air.

I'm the one w/ blue shirt and hat; Photo courtesy of my wife Deborah.







 Success!

 I also spoke with one of the WOW guys for a few minutes.  I learned that there are kites for any wind speed, including INDOORS.  He's definitely into kites and owns more than 60!

Let me close with saying that this was more than I could have hoped for.  More than finding some colorful kites, and nice (maybe a bit warm) weather, I found that Solomons brings out the best in people.  I even had a chance to fly a kite for a few seconds.  I'm grateful for all these things, and especially for having Deb there to share in it all.

 The closing photo is one of my abstract takes.  The kite was anchored to the figure 8 which was anchored to the ground.

Thanks for coming along, and I hope you'll leave some feedback.

Blessings,
Brian