Date:	Fri, 4 Mar 1994 03:10:10 -1000
From:	c.v.dunton@LaRC.NASA.GOV (Charlie Dunton)
Message-Id: <2l7bvi$7hk@reznor.larc.nasa.gov>
Organization: NASA, Langley Research Center
Subject: First law of lurking

Ok, all you lurkers out there. This is the First Law of Lurking.
  "When you attend a kiting event, or any other type of event
   where name tags are in use and you notice a name you recognize
   from Rec.Kites, DO NOT blurt out 'Oh, I know you', because
   if you do, you will blow your cover." 8-)

Seriously, it was a pleasure to meet Rec.Kites own Ann Rock at last
months Maryland Kite Society Winter Retreat. It also gave me the
little push I needed to become a posting member after 2 months of
lurking.

I have been involved in kite making and flying since 1979. My
main interest is single line kites in general and Rokkakus
in particular. I have bought several dual line kites over the
years and I enjoy flying them, but strictly as a recreational flyer.

Kiting events where you are likely to find me include the MKS Winter
Retreat, the Smithsonian Kite Festival, and the Wright Kite Festival
in Kitty Hawk, NC. If you see a Rok featuring Chief Sitting Bull and
his namesake at the Smithsonian Festival this year, stop by and
introduce yourself.

Speaking of the Wright Kite Festival, if you are going
to be in the vicinity of the Outer Banks on the third
Saturday in July, grab your kites and come. This is a fun,
Outer-Banks-Laid-Back type of festival held at the Wright
Brothers Memorial from 9am until. Events include an altitude
sprint, most beautiful homebuilt, impromptu ballet, group dinner
at a local eatery, and a night fly on the beach. Generally the
temperature and humidity will climb into the 90's, the wind will
howl during the altitude sprint (20 seconds - 500 feet last year),
drop to near zero for the ballet, and you will probably get at least
one cactus thorn in you foot (wear shoes not sandals!), but everyone
has a good time.

Please pardon one more infomercial, but if you find yourself
on vacation in my part of Virginia (Colonial Williamsburg,
Busch Gardens-The Old Country, Water Country USA) be sure and pack your
kites and visit the Yorktown Battlefield - only 10 miles from
Williamsburg at the end of the Colonial Parkway. With wide open fields,
Park Rangers that leave you alone as long as you stay off the earth works,
and generally a decent breeze off the York River, its a great place to
fly.

PS - The Yorktown Onion (3-4 ft high, large purple flower that blooms in
June) is a protected plant. Get caught with one and you will pay a
VERY large fine.

--
Charlie Dunton
c.v.dunton@larc.nasa.gov

May you never stand in the shadow of your kite.


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