Watch Your Knuckles

by Ron Green
(Arkansas, U.S.A.)

Grandson and I had built a few Dopero kites to fly, but the weather was either too bad or no wind. So the other day it was about 20 degrees F. with a fairly strong wind.

Wind chill was or had to be around 15 degrees or to me it felt like 5 degrees. But when you have a chance to fly what is a few degrees. LOL.

I could not find my kite winder so we used a cheap one that had 2 knobs on one end and a handle on the other, no way to stop the line, you just used the knobs to crank in the line or let line out.

The 2 skewer 22 inch, just would not let me adjust it's bridle, or the wind was just to strong, it took a good nose dive. But did not really hurt it much. So I put on a tail help it settle down a little, I think it was cold too. Then it ripped in a couple of places, but must like flying in the cold, cause it just flew great. But I put him away so he would not get hurt any more.

Then my grandson wanted to fly the big 2 skewer kite, I used 24" skewers, so that made it 4 feet tall. Ok I used 48" dowell, I cheated. I offered it to the wind and it took it for a good flight, no tail needed. I wanted to take a few pictures, so my grandson took over the kite. I told him to let out more line, well the wind gusted and took off with the kite, the 2 knobs just kept spinning around beating his knuckles, I am looking for the kite in the camera and all I heard was Help! Grampa Help!

So the moral of the story is when it is cold make sure you wear gloves, and be careful of the cheap line winders.

The end of the story is the Kites Tim makes and show how to make is great fun for the whole family.