Reef Runner

If you are using them fairly regular, I'd leave them hooked up, just for convenience. If you are done with a kite, and you know it's going to be a long time before you'll fly it again, un-hook them if it makes you feel better, and pack the kite away neatly. As many have said, it's more of a personal preference thing, and like Rob mentioned, I've got kites that have been stored for years, with the LE under tension, and I'm not loosing any sleep over them. Personally, I don't think it's a big deal, and if I had the room, and the ability to transport, I'd leave all my kites fully assembled, all the time, both dual line & quad line. Hmmm, an old bread truck would work nicely

And another beauty ! Oh, and it looks more like "Grab", than "Tag"

Yep, on occasion, you can still find a Berry Blue dual line set, here and there. It seems that there are still a few sets out there, if you can locate them. Years ago, I made all of my dual line sets out of Berry Blue and Berry Blue es/55, and eventually began making quad sets, later on. I too, now use LPG, mainly because BB is no longer available in quantity. As best I remember, the original Berry Blue (which was a darker blue) was Spectra 1000, whereas the newer Berry Blue es/55, was Spectra 2000, giving that line a softer feel, and it was a lighter shade of blue. To this day, I still use the very nice, blue wrist straps, that came with the pre-made Berry Blue lines. Berry Blue Spectra 1000 Berry Blue es/55 Spectra 2000 .

So when are you going to add dates to your travel map ?

And he should be............. And how could his interest in flying, "NOT" continue, with a teacher like you ! BTW.........does that "Snoopy" jacket say "FLY INC." or "FLYING"

So now you're into tails..................

Very nice, Sir................very nice !

Very nice Scott..........."American Ingenuity", at it's best !!

Nice kites, but what a beautiful little boy !

Yep, if you are fairly new to quad-line, or any multi-line flying, you'll probably never detect a difference. I used Berry Blue es/55 (for years before they went out of business), and it's never been a problem for me (even though JB doesn't really like BB). In fact, I still have a few sets, both dualie and quad, that I still use, quite often

Oh my...............the count down begins............no turning back now

Ooopps.......sorry ! I forgot that this was Pacolyps's Karma drawing......... (senior moment) Just can't hide "s t u p i d"...........

So, I'm curious.........why do you think you can't you enter ?? U.S. location, Kitelife Subscriber......??

Oh, and that was my very first two line kite, also, even though I never flew it, till long after dualies, and well into quads...........

http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/5408-dual-line-diamond-a-pleasant-surprise/#entry35850 Not a Peter Powell, but still cool...........

You may want to try a longer set (120' x 90lb), if you plan on flying with others. I personally use 100' & 120' sets, most all of the time. The 120' seems to be the preferred length, for team flying. Also (myself NOT included), many people like short line-sets, so there are a lot of folks out there with 30' & 50' sets............It's all personal preference. Do remember, though, the shorter the line, the less reaction time you have, if things start going "south", and likewise, your flight area is a bit more limited. As for LPG not being made any longer, there were some rumors about that, several years back, and it seems that they were true, however, there seems to be an ample supply currently, at most of the larger online kite shops. Here's a post that might shed some light on the subject............from back in 2011. Read this post, and several of the posts that follow: http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/4082-laser-pro-gold-other-spectra-lines/#entry26732

You know, sometimes, the truth just hurts........... I too, am very familiar, with the businesses (that you mentioned). I understand what you are saying, and likewise, I have similar feelings. All great folks ! Communications, for sure, is the key to a good online store & a good customer relationship ! The lack of which, leaves much to be desired.......... However, in defense of those that don't measure up (and not rebutting anything you said), there may be some background circumstances, of which we are all, not aware. Still, the fact remains.......service & communications, are the key, and that first impression can last a lifetime..........

I agree Rob. Sometimes, as people approach from down the beach, I will see them ducking and going out of their way, as they hurry by. This usually occurs, if I'm buzzing a Rev (B2), down near the surf line. Of course, most people have been eying the kite, as they make their approach, and I'm sure it appears somewhat erratic, especially to those that are unfamiliar. Most of the time, I think those people just don't realize, that I am actually controlling the flight of the kite. Now, I've begun, just before people approach, to do a very gentle, inverted landing, right beside their intended path, just so that they can see the kite up close, and see that I have landed it intentionally. Then I'll just stand still, holding the upper lines on my index finger, and allow them to pass by, prior to re-launching. This seems to put some of the ancy one's, at a bit more ease. I find then, that lot's of those same people, on the turn around trip back down the beach, may just walk up behind me, and begin to ask a questions, usually something like "how do you make it do that", or "how long did it take you to learn to fly that". My favorite is, "I didn't realize that you could turn it where you wanted it to go"............ It's just strange the different reactions you get from different people............

Yep, sometimes I'll put up a big sled, or foil, with a 30 - 40 ft tail, and stake it out on the beach, about 75 - 100 ft up. When I do that, I'll have tons of people stopping by to watch, because with the steady wind off the ocean, they just sit there, pinned to the sky, yet close enough to almost touch. A hundred feet really isn't all that high, especially for something that big, so people really get a chance to take a look, up close and personal, and they really seem interested. Then I'll take out a Rev B2, on 100 ft lines, and fly all around and between the big kites, running up and bumping them now and then, and that really gets them.........

Phil, That is an "upgrade" price. You have to give up one of the other frames, that normally comes with the B-series, and then they will upgrade you to a race frame, for $30, normally, but right now, AWOC is running a special upgrade price, of $1. You still have the cost of a regular frame invested in that price..........so it's not really like it is $1

I haven't really been following this topic all that closely, mainly because I'm not all that interested in the whole magic stick thing, even though, as I mentioned in an earlier post, given the right opportunity, I may consider trying a set, just to see what all the hype is about. Either way, I won't be loosing any sleep over the matter, although it may be interesting to see. Now before everyone jumps down my throat, I'm not saying that sticks are bad, or good, because, "I really don't know", but from a common sense standpoint, I've got to somewhat agree with Wayne (who incidentally has tons of creditable "Time on the Lines"), and question why I would want to add "sticks" on a Race frame. As mentioned, isn't that the whole point of the race frame - to get FLEX ? I don't understand why anyone would spend the extra $buck$ on a set of race rods, and then turn around and spend another $30, to stiffen them back up. I must be missing something. And while I'm on a roll, another thing; If you are bound and determined to outfit your race rods (or diamonds, or 2-wraps) with sticks, I'd suggest that you don't use tape, to keep that fitting in place. Tape will start off ok, but eventually, with a little wear and use, it will begin to attract dirt, grass, and sand, and basically create a genuine, sticky mess. If you need a couple of stoppers, either use O-rings, as I think Wayne suggested earlier, or short pieces of surgical tubing. For entirely different reasons, I have short (<1/4") pieces of surgical tubing, on each end, of every rod I own, no matter what size the rod. If it goes into an end cap, it has a piece of surgical tubing on it. These pieces of tubing, when pushed up snugly against the end caps, keeps dirt, grass, and mainly sand, out of the end caps, which can become locked onto the rod, given the right circumstances. Either the surgical tubing, or the O-rings, would likewise work nicely, for holding the "magic stick fitting" in place, if you are having that problem. So, just a couple of observations that I've made. No harm, no foul, just observing & thinking out loud...........

I know this sounds crazy, but the other day, I decided to wash my brand new (unworn) Tilley T3 - in the washing machine, as per the manufacturer's instructions. You are actually supposed to wash them, "quite often". Anyway, when I took it out of the washer, YES, it looked like crap, for sure. Having faith though, I re-shaped it by hand, again as per instructions, and laid it out flat, to begin drying. After a short while, I tried it on, and I thought that surely, I had messed up. It was quite snug. Still, having faith, and relying on the manufacturer's instructions, I sat down, put the hat over my knee, and gave it a good pull. I tried it on again, and now it felt much better, just like they said it would. So now, back to the correct fit, I left it to continue drying, overnight. Next day, voila - perfect hat, perfect fit, perfect look. It's now got that great old, "favorite hat" look & feel, plus, it's now so much softer, and it fits just perfectly. I suppose those Tilley people really do know what they are talking about.............Happy, happy !

Yep, that's just the recipe, as it was written. Great flavor, even without alcohol. When I make it for us, I normally make the mix only, without the vodka, but I double the Tabasco Sauce. I put it in the frig and use it as necessary........

A bit off topic, but I was going to ask that same question. So does the clamato juice, make it a "bloody ceasar" vs a "bloody mary" ? We never distinguished the difference, between the tomato and/or clamato juice. Both yield a tasty "bloody something" (must be a Southern thing) Recipe Courtesy of: Road's End Restaurant on Lake Havasu 2 46 oz cans Tomato or Clamato Juice (Campbells) 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons Tabasco sauce 1 teaspoon Bitters 1 teaspoon celery salt 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 1 fifth Vodka (optional) * Pour over ice, garnish with additional "celery salt" and a "pickled okra" Courtesy of: Road's End Restaurant on Lake Havasu Option: Mix all ingredients above (hold the vodka) in a plastic container with a cap, such as a clean gallon milk jug. Shake thoroughly, and place capped jug in the frig to chill. When ready to serve, add a shot of vodka to a suitable glass of ice, shake Bloody Mary mixture again, then fill glass. Garnish as above.....

April is also "Beer Month"............ ps.......oh, and great video Rob