Today we took the kids down to Zilker park for the Zilker Kite Festival. We sat around in the great weather and watched people fly kites. It was simple fun. And we needed the break after the adventure getting there.
Normally it would take about 20 minutes to get to Zilker from our house. We did not need to be there at any particular time but decided to leave the house around noon. Noon was also the time that the other million people going to Zilker decided to head out. We drove down to the west side of the park and saw the line of cars. We doubled back and headed to 17th street and the free shuttle bus to and from the park. Well, the line of cars to get into the parking garage was short. But the line of people waiting for a bus?
Oh
My
God.
We left and drove over to the east side of the park. As soon as traffic started getting bad we ducked into a side street and parked. We ended up near one of the entrances to the hike and bike trail. We walked about a half mile on the trail and wound up at a field full of kites.
We stayed in the sun just long enough to eat too much Kettle Corn and get a slight sunburn on the back of the neck. After the very pleasant walk back to the car we drove home. After grabbing a quick meal (what is the meal served at 4:00? linner? dunch?) we headed out to our local park to fly some kites.
I found two good kites in the garage. A biplane with some tail damage and a dragon. About half of the streamers on the plane were damaged, but I thought it would still fly.
The local park already had a few others flying kites. We pulled up and started with the biplane. I had some trouble getting the kite to stay in the air. I suppose in hindsight it was the missing streamers. I was able to get it pretty high up and it took a nose dive. I was winding string and walking towards the kite when Becky calls out, "Don’t get it in those trees or the power lines!" What does she think I am, a rookie?
I was about 20 feet away from the kite when this really nice gust came along and launched the kite off the ground. I have been diligently rolling up all the slack in the line as I walk. The kite flew strait up and looped around the bottom power line before I could even think "uh oh".
I was worried that the kite would just keep spinning on the power line so I let out a ton of slack and I got lucky. The line was only wrapped around the power line once and was not crossing itself. I was going to be able to fix this. I wonder if Becky has seen this yet?
Now I need to get the kite to stop flying long enough for me to throw the spool of thread between the bottom and second power line. I wait for the wind to die down and I let out a ton of slack. It is working! The kite is headed down for a soft landing near the ditch. Then another one of those gusts from nowhere kicks up. Did I mention the tree near the ditch? I didn’t? Well mission accomplished with respect to termination of the kite’s flying privileges. It is now wedged into the tree. One problem at a time.
I made a brilliant throw. The spool soars just of the bottom line and I was free from the power line. I wonder if Becky has seen any of this?
I walk over to the tree. Someone was kind enough to leave a boulder about 4 feet high right under the section of the tree that is currently holding the kite ransom. I climb up and finishing winding up all the slack. I quickly get the main part of the kite free. The remaining streamers have decided that streaming for the tree is a better gig. The only way to get the biplane free means I let the streamers stay with the tree.
I walk back to base camp with the streamerless biplane. I look at Becky’s face. She saw everything. 
The biplane was not all that stable before all the streamers on the tail were missing. It was horrid now.
Next.. now serving the dragon.
Here the story is not so colorful. I will skip the most boring parts. Andrew and I were able to get the kite all the way up. All the line was out and the dragon was in the air for a long time. Andrew really did a great job. After it had "landed" once with the full line out, I ran to the kite and tossed it in the air for Andrew. He was able to get it back up high in the air and that launch was the longest lasting flight of the day.
