Teston in need of a Dopero

Today, Bill and I decided to give the club meeting a miss and go to Mote Park. Best laid plans and all that, I got to Mote Park to find a funfare on the field. So we made a decision to go on to Teston. Teston is a lovely place, but a real pig to fly with a huge elm tree in the field, well know for eating kites, and with the wind in the wrong direction, cuting out the breeze from the field.

Still it was worth a try, and while Bill played with some brazilian fighters bought at Dieppe, I decided to try some KAP. Because of the light wind, I decided to use my favourite Premiere Rokakku, with the focus pattern. I just got it sitting above the trees, but needed to constantly tend it to keep it out of the damn things. So attaching the rig to the line and getting set up was "challenging".

Eventually we got set up and let out some line to try and get some more lift, but not a lot was happening, As I went across the field I got right in the shadow of the tree and that was it. Everything came rushing to the ground.

So a re-launch was necessary, and after a while I got high enough to get a couple of worthwhile shots. But it was a constant struggle, and I couldn't move downwind at all. Oh Peter, where is my maxi Dopero. If ever it was needed it was today.

Nice day though, relaxing and pleasant.

Dieppe, etc.

Well, we're back from Dieppe after a long weekend of fun frolics and a certain amount of medicinal red wine. We were unable to get a hotel in Dieppe, so had to settle for one in Quiberville, a little fishing village about 10 miles away. Arriving on the Friday evening and conditions were pretty perfect, so I put up the flowform and immediately discovered it was going nowhere with the tails on, so took them off and managed to get enough lift to raise a camera.

Saturday started out pretty miserable, but warm. It took us about half an hour to drive into Dieppe. Parking was a piece of cake, and we were on site by 10am. Dieppe has a magnificent array of ethnic kites you will never see in this country. It is worth the trip just to see wau bulans flying and buzzing. But of course, who shold we bump into but Mike and Linda from Kiteworld, Half of Brighton Kite Flyers and Martin from Suffolk kite flyers. They'd put on a pretty good display of flotail deltas.

Saturday night we struggled to find a reataurant, and Matt being vegetarian was a problem. We found a restaurant with space, but they didn't have anything on the menu for him and refused to cook him an omlette, so he walked out! Ho humm.

Sunday dawned pretty miserable, but still warm. The weather brightened considerably in the afternoon. This was to be a day of culture for KKF. We did a tour of the castle and museum, several bars and and cafes. We also flew some kites and watched some others, before heading back to Quiberville for dinner. Her lies another problem. Along with most of France, the place is closed on a SUnday. We did manage to find one retaurant that was willing to serve us though, and even willing to cook an omlette!

Come Monday and time to head for home. Rising early to glorious weather after a breakfast and checking out we decided to go and fly before heading back home. Having just finished loading the car, the first spots of rain were felt, which preceded a downpour. Matt being young and brave was determined to fly. Bill and I were happy to watch!

And so back to blighty for a well earned rest before going back to work. We'll be heading back in two years time I guess.