2/26 Strawberry Moonlight Session

[Kenny]

Around 7 - 8 hardy souls turned up around 5:30 for the moonlight session. Chris had a tub of vaseline for our faces. It was a good thing because it was cold. I doubled up on my thermals and then added a down sweater and hand warmers. I stayed toasty. It was also the maiden voyage for my strut-less kite, the Cloud 17. I still have to adjust the line lengths to prevent back-stalling, but I was able to ride.

The wind slowly died as we watched the sun go down, but just as it was getting dark it started up again. The moon took its time rising so several drivers aimed their headlights on the field as 3 of us zipped back and forth. The stars were out and Orion's belt was clear in the night sky. Around 8, the moon started to poke up over the horizon. Some clouds obscured it a bit at first, but then it came up in its full glory. The headlights switched off and kites started going up in the air. We ranged up onto the higher area. We laughed, we howled, it was awesome flying under a full moon.

I decided that I wanted to do some gliding and rode downwind to the gliding hill. It was bony and windswept on top, but plenty of fresh at the base. I had a great time there by my lonesome. It was cool gliding in the moonlight. After about an hour of riding, I decided to head back upwind, but when I came off the hill I realized that it would take forever to get back, so I rode right up onto the bank of the road and landed my kite in the middle of a desolate I-40. Packed it up and walked back.

It was a surreal evening. I want to do it again!

[matt dadam]

That sounds like a great experience. I'm impressed with the crew that stuck it out for the full moon session!