My First Dowel Kite

by Carl
(Nassau, The Bahamas)

I used to make kites when I was smaller. Some were poorly constructed and refused to fly. As I got older and more experienced, I started to build better quality kites and their flying characteristics improved.

Recently, I spent a weekend making the Dowel Dopero. It flew great! I laid on my back and watched it dancing in the air. Then I let it out to 400 feet. The kite was "sleeping" in the air! I was so proud.

Guess what? I let out even more string! Yep, I flew it at 800 feet. It looked tiny up there. When I finally decided to reel it in, it started to flip.

No! I kept pulling it in and it crashed a few hundred feet away. I was so angry. Why did I have it so high in the first place. It was impossible to find it in the trees, and I only managed to salvage some string. It was only dowels and plastic anyway, so, I made a new one and a Dowel Sled.