[Closing the book on 2018 kites.]

A few of these kites seem very familiar....   SHBKF

[SS Great Britain]

June 10th, 2018  Revisiting this thanks to Exult.  I am still amazed at the total connection.  It just makes you want to do it.  SHBKF

[Different moods of winter - Wide wind window tricking in light winter winds]

Love the image showing the sun dog.  Most times when I show a sun dog to someone they have never heard of one or noticed the beautiful sight in the sky.  Look up & view the glory I say, the sky is half our world.  SHBKF

[Revolution Reflex XX - Sand flats]

Love the shadows of the kite that are shown but I know it is very difficult to fly looking into the sun to get the images.  I also like that the lines are visibly bowing at times.  Great video of an excellent session.  Thanks, SHBKF

[Down in the dungeon]

Here's an image I tried to take of all the Revs.  Sort of a kite tunnel.  Spent some time assembling them & then trying to stage the picture.  I then stood on the stairway trying to get the angle right.  The Rev collection has grown a bit since then.  I need to do a new group image.

 

Last Christmas I decided to shoot an image with the tree.  This may become a tradition.

SHBKF

[A letter to Invento-HQ and some other old/recent stuff]

I look forward to further thoughts that you wish to share as you continue down the path of your KiteLife.  It now occurs to me that the Tramontana would be a great addition to my kite collection as I already have the tail to pull with the stunning looking kite.  I fly alone most all the time & occasionally have a few spectators.  I notice they watch the longest when I am flying dual line kites with long tails.  They also seem to enjoy stacked kites which I almost always fly with tails.  I can also relate to your comment about concentrating on dual line kites saving four line kites for a later time.  My trying to fly all types has undoubtedly slowed my progress in excelling in any one type.  But the journey is the thing for me, not my level of flying.

Your brother in the sky, SHBKF 

[We've Been Invaded]

Another great blog post.  Love those Goblins.  They must be spectacular flashing across the sky.  Thanks, SHBKF 

[10th Annual Morro Bay Kite Festival (2016)]

Another great kite adventure with impressive images & a great story.  Your comment on the 200 mile drive home reminds me of California's huge size.  The pictures give an idea of the wind strength as even the huge kites are fully flagged out horizontal to the ground.  Thanks again for giving us a feel for what it was like to be there.  SHBKF

[New Additions To The Kite Bag]

Great to see you have two new exotic Sportwings.   I was hoping you would post something about the Neos.  The red geisha kite is spectacular also.  I am also glad to hear you will fly the Neos Omega as I would do the same thing if it were mine.  I really considered getting in on the bidding but held back for some unknown reason.  Now I know the reason.  I am very happy a fellow KiteLife member acquired it.  

Best wishes from out here in the mountains.  SHBKF

[My first promo video (Sea Devil)...]

As time went on & I became a forum member I found that I could get to know these Master Fliers who made the kites dance.  I somehow became a part of the kite community & my KiteLife expanded to include fliers around the world.  This all became possible through little chips of silicon.  That is truly some magic in our lifetimes.  It's wide open & extremely personal all at the same time.  Thanks to all who have contributed along the way as we move through time & space together.  

Madly dance away
Cause remeber underneath you
Is just a sea of air

From Captain Beyond - Dancing Madly Backwards

just out here in the sticks, SHBKF

[My first promo video (Sea Devil)...]

A few years ago this was the first dual line video I viewed that allowed me to really see what was going on.  The black kite was magic.  I knew I needed one.  The views from the side showed the movement of the kite transitioning from one position to the next.  Other videos I had seen were from the flier's perspective & I could not tell which way the nose was facing even.  I had Know Eye Deer how to even begin the journey but I knew I wanted to get there.  Still on that path today.  And I even have my "Black Magic" kite now.

"The Ring Wraiths ride in black, ride on."  SHBKF

[SS Great Britain]

Wow!  I feel you need to be an experienced Rev flier to really understand & appreciate what's going on in this video.  If this doesn't inspire you to fly short lines then get out and fly intermediate lengths until you are ready for some fast paced flyin!  I love this stuff.

I am humbled, SHBKF

[First Meetup of 2016 - March 20]

Really like the image showing three kites in a stormy sky.  Looks like flying days I've enjoyed around here.  Great to see a new blog getting started. Keep going, we are all interested in your thoughts & images.  

Blog on, SHBKF

[Kite Party 14 (2016)]

Thanks Joanna.  I have been eagerly awaiting this post.  Great pictures & commentary of a really special event.  Hope you post many more of your kite adventures.  SHBKF

[Playing Catch-Up II]

It is interesting to read about revisiting kites with the memories that go along with them.  On my way home in the evening yesterday I stopped to fly at an abandoned soft ball field.  It's not a great place to fly but when the wind is out of the west it is at least possible.  So I opened the trunk, pulled out my original Zephyr & gave it a go.   Wind was the usual choppy gusty variable mix of three to eighteen measured just above my head.  Did I make progress toward advanced flying?  Not hardly.  But I did enjoy myself & remembered my early flights with that very kite in many different locations as it was my only decent kite for some time.  Only flew for thirty minutes & stopped before I broke it.  I have used up a number of spares on the old Z in the past.  Sun was going down & the wind died as I left.  Got my kite fix, had a marvelous time.  SHBKF

[Playing Catch-Up]

Nice pictures, I've got considerable catchin' up to do myself.  SHBKF

[Light Wind Flying in the Windy Month....]

Rob, thanks for inspiring me to get a Sky Burner Pro Dancer SUL.  It is my darling & increased my kite flying skills in so many helpful ways.  I've done some pretty crazy flying with mine & I swear it even flew backwards one time.  Hoping the Nirvana WW will be the next step in light wind adventures.  We'll see shortly,  SHBKF

[Kites in the trunk]

Thanks for the comments.  Long work hours have kept me quiet for some time now.  I need to awaken from my winter slumber & soar in the stormy skies.  Yesterday morning I smelled spring on the way.  Later the robins in the yard confirmed it.  SHBKF

[Sometimes a little help goes a long way.]

You're a good man.

[Some December Flying with the Enigma UL...]

Early morning, the house is quiet, the crow caws as I drink my coffee & watch Krijn fly the Enigma in higher winds.  Clarity of thought while all is well & I achieve some insight for my perception.  Flying in light wind is more graceful.  It calms my soul.  Each time you fly the world of wind is a bit different & the kite shows it well.  Higher winds have always excited me but the light wind is subtle & magical when you gently play in the sky.

Just out here in the woods,  SHBKF

[Some December Flying with the Enigma UL...]

Your flying has always mesmerized me.  It's a perfect blend of style & skill.  Wow is insufficient.  Thanks Master,  SHBKF

[some intent - frankie style]

I get ya Frankie. I really like your style. I feel the article was written to help give direction to novice fliers like me. While I have advanced a bit it still helps me to focus my efforts. Intent is still important for my Rev flying plus I am involved with many other types of kites as well. So I use the thought across the spectrum. Your videos are inspiring to me. I am flying short line urban type flying more & more as I find it works well for my local inland condition. Plus I really get a kick out of it. Keep flyin, SHBKF

[some intent - frankie style]

KiteLife magazine's "Flying with Intent" really helped me when I read it a few years ago.  At that point in time I was struggling to just trying keep the kites in the air.  While I still remain a flailer at heart, it helped me along the path & encouraged me to make real progress.  When I applied intent it gave me some direction that was missing from my prior efforts.  I need to go read it again.

Many Thanks, SHBKF

http://kitelife.com/kl-archive/flying-with-intent/

[Can't throw Rev]

Thanks for the blog system John.  "Notes from the field" is my first attempt at a blog.  Some of the appeal to me is that I don't have to start a topic or ask a question nor do I wind up hi-jacking someone's existing topic.  It allows me to ramble on, post pictures, tell a story & so on  I also do not have to be concerned about killing a thread for which I seem to have a special knack of doing.  So if you visit it just realize I am indulging myself a bit.  SHBKF

P.S. All the blogs have great names IMHO.

[Kites in the trunk]

Manufacturer’s specifications

Tube tail, 75’ x 2-1/2” diameter, color - black & white with yellow tip

Bora 7, 49” x 36” with 200” tail, color - Blaze, line 300’ x 80#, wind range 6-25 mph

Quantum, 84” tip to tip, color - Ice, lines 85’ x 150#, wind range 3-25 mph

Zephyr, 92-1/2” tip to tip, color - Inferno, lines 100’ x 90#, wind range 1-17 mph

4D, 58” tip to tip, color - blue, lines 50’ x 50#, wind range 0-15 mph

Micron, 39” tip to tip, color - red, lines 50’ x 50#, wind range 5-25 mph

Zero G, 42” x 47”, color - Flame, line 100’ x 30#, wind range 0-15 mph