The weather last week was super...and provided just the right opportunity for creative play. Thatcher Mines, who is spending several months on Ocracoke this winter with his family, went to the dump and salvaged various bicycle parts and other components to adapt a skateboard and construct a "kite trike" with his children. Here are several photos of them "kite-riding" down the winter beach.
You can see more photos and two videos of their project
here.
Our current Ocracoke Newsletter is a 1938 article about Capt. Gary
Bragg, waterfowl hunting, and wooden decoy carving. You can read it
here:
http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112116.htm.
Wow, spending several months on OI. What is he an entrepreneur, free spirit some sort of Translator, idea generator sort of guy?( successful at that I suppose) I bet he has a positive social media presence that makes it so. The dump, he found those things at the dump? BTW I have a book on kites (how to build) by a Harold Ridgway-- and that kite in the picture looks like a box kite is it?
ReplyDeletehttp://mobile.dudasite.com/site/ocracokecurrent?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocracokecurrent.com%2F143629&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#2515
DeleteThatcher is an American living in Finland. His parents live here on Ocracoke. I inserted a link to an interview I did recently about the family.
I am wondering who is "Anonymous, at 8:13am" is. Sometimes it's hard to post your name on the blog comments even if logged in. Who are you that wrote the 1st post, "Wow, spending several months on OI...." I would like to know more about the book you mentioned and who you are. Thanks! - Art Mines
DeleteIf one uses a search engine and finds trusted sites for the information, one can learn a great deal. The Ocracoke Current article featuring your family, made me think -- similarly to the Durrell's on Corfu your family's adventure is cast in a 21st century framework.(It is a PBS mini-series, the Crown, what's that, I want to see Corfu) And I mean that in a good way, living on an island sounds like an adventure in itself. Anyway, Mr. Ridgway's book has many diagrams and has a chapter on the history of kites. Early kites were made of bamboo and silk in China. Sounds lovely. Perhaps some readers are willing to look in used book stores across the land and find a copy to send you. It only cost me a dime and I love a bargain. Sorry I, I be keepin' mine. Anon 8:13am
DeleteNot bloody likely. The kite is a variation of a parafoil, a soft kite inflated by the wind, with no spars and controlled by two flying lines. It can be steered left and right to achieve maximum pull. Not your grandfather's kite.
ReplyDeleteThatcher here.
ReplyDeleteVery cool to see the interest, curiosity and knowledge of us and kites here :).
Yes, both Reetta and I are entrepreneurs working in media. Mary’s lovely article tells much more, but basically we’re here taking advantage of the end of our baby leave (thank you, Finland!).
The kite is indeed a small self-inflating two-line foil. Bought it here from Kitty Hawk Kites, and it was the surprising pull that made me think back to kite buggies we played with when I was a kid living in New Zealand, and decided to build something.
Version one was built completely from found trash and some bolts/etc from the Hardware Store. After a first early success we upgraded the back wheels+axle from the rusty double-wide stroller with bought wheelbarrow wheels and a thick piece of threaded bar for the axle. Maybe $50 worth of stuff. Commercial buggies cost about $1000.
We’ve been riding it in different wind and it’s great fun. It rolls very well on hard sand next to the water, and has done 20+ mph, which I believe is speeding on the beach here :)
I’d like to get a larger used 4-line kitesurfing kite, which will give better control and allow, given the right wind, to ride up and down the beach. At the moment it’s a one-way trip and we need a car/truck to for support.
Anyone want to ride? Feel free to find me on FB and we’d be happy to take you out for an adventure.
https://www.facebook.com/thatcher.mines
PSS Kiteplans.org may help in the mean time.
DeleteNice tip and thanks for the Link!
Deletelooks like what we use to rent at myrtle beach a few summers ago...looks like a good homemade one _ BUT that seat has to go!...you should have used the seat from the bike you cut up...OUCH! you did a good job though. (was that ballast on your back to keep you form taking off or a inflatable life jacket if you hit the water? have fun.
ReplyDeleteWhen you were a kid living in New Zealand? Wow. Did you fly kites with Peter Lynn? Isn't he the chap who INVENTED the kite buggy years ago. Ahh, those were the days, huh?
ReplyDeleteHe was (is!) a ledgend. Apparently very friendly and did spend a lot of time in some of the bars in our area, but alas, never met. Drop me a fb note--sounds like we should meet :)
DeleteI first met Peter about 40 years ago in Ocean City, Maryland. (Before you were born?) A youthful group of kitefliers, we all got stinking drunk in the bar of the hotel. Peter is an innovative kite designer and a well regarded human being. Yes, we should (might) meet, but I am spending the winter in Florida. Maybe some other time. --Dekiteman
DeleteЯ изучал русский язык 50 лет назад в школе (в колледже). Da, Ya govoryu po-russkij . . . nemnogo. --Dekiteman
DeleteДа, ладно;)! -- We're going to be in the Miami area for work/pleasure 11-22 Feb. :)
DeleteI'm beginning to drool...Ahh huh
ReplyDeletemy delayem eto vse vremya v Rossii, ne sostavilo bol'shogo truda. poluchit' zhizn' priyatelya
ReplyDeleteHi, all — would really like to connect with kitesurfers who might be on the island at the moment. David mentioned Randal, who I haven't been able to get through to. Anyone else around?
ReplyDeleteYou will have more luck finding kitesurfers if you go up to Hatteras, especially Canada Hole. --Dekiteman
DeleteKitesurfing is such an adrenaline rush, and your post captures that excitement perfectly! The gear recommendations are super helpful—especially for beginners trying to balance safety and performance.
ReplyDelete