October 2001

Here is is a photo of half of the flying field, the single line side...the fields have perfectly flat clean green grass... NO GOPHER holes anywhere! I don't know why its so foggy looking it was a clear blue sky day.

 Here is a shot of inside the hotel of a huge flag banner that Glen and Tanna Haynes made, the flags on the banner are full size!

Its great to see all the friends from everywhere... The opening reception was outside and the food was... Well salad and beef stew! But we had fun and tho I put many tickets in the raffle bags I won nothing! Here is a shot of the reception location.

That's an old Northern Pacific steam engine and tender under the shed.. All the raffle items were set up along the train.. It went till about 8:30 with the temp a very nice 75 degrees

I took a picture of Lam Hock's new creation, sorry for crappy photo but you get the idea, he said it took him three months to build, thought you'd like to see it eh S.M.? 

The fields were busy today too. Here is a shot around two o'clock

well I had a couple of field shots but they don't seem to be transferring to this page, I'll try again tomorrow... sigh!

 I gotta say to those of you that didn't come made a big  mistake... this hotel is great for the AKA convention. the huge lobby is perfect for indoor flying... that seems to be going on at all times great spaces for gathering and talking. the bar is large and friendly with 16 oz 1.00 beers! seminar spaces are good food is good staff are very friendly... I cant think of a convention since seaside where  the site was this good... and yet another day and night of perfect weather!... I do wish the winds were a little more consistent, but I suppose I am spoiled with coastal winds at home.

And here is one of the pilots meeting.... there was allot more people than it looks like from this picture! Darrin and Susan Skinner ran the sport kite competitions, that's Mike Gillard speaking. 

Look at that grass! this park is 50 acres and allowed nice big fields!

Today when we got back from the field there was a Japanese couple in the lobby painting kite skins the traditional way with sumi inks, he painted about 10 or 12 on the floor on washi paper... this guy can paint...but alas the photos didn't come out good. They were also selling kites... nice kites and had a bunch of em hanging , this photo may show some of em... I really do need a decent camera! The kite in the middle is about 5 feet, I didn't ask how much it was.......

All the while this was going on, with dozens of people about Cory was working hard catching fly's! Cory says he has lost 100 pounds... to me he looks too skinny!

Spent a few hours in the AKA business meeting.... my first time on the BOD side of the table.... hmmmmm. No photos tho.

The bar was crammed full of fun tonight and had a hard time pulling my self out by midnight so I could get to this and bed as tomorrow I have to do what I came to do! One last photo... Everyone loves sunsets and Montana has some pretty nice ones, caught this one last night.

Update I just heard that Miguel and I are TBA! Cool that means we are at least 3rd and will get a trophy!  It sure felt like we did lousy but I guess only kinda lousy!

Dan, you should be here they had your room ready.. And the maid comes in every day and cleans up for you!

Here is a shot from early this morning as the MIB was starting.

Tonight is the opening of the fly mart AND the indoor fly I'm going to get some photos of both...

Bob Hogan is doing updates on the KONE site, HIS camera is WAY better than my freebie, check em out here  http://www.kone.org/  by the way the large American flag in one of his photos is MINE  flying on the line of my new 252 (out of site in shot)

The fly market was fun, got lots of goodies and stuff for club raffles! Lots of friends visiting, here is a couple photos from the fly mart.

Vic Eshpeter and Al Sparling checking things out as well.

Tanna Haynes and Mel Hickman havin' too much fun selling out all the old AKA merchandise... at times Mell was throwing things across the room...he says NOTHING is going home with him... I told him I would take everything that wasn't sold or given away by Saturday... our local clubs will have raffle stuff billions.

Visited with old pal Mary Gabby who is mugging for the camera, Jon Burkhart in yellow shirt.

I took a bunch of pictures in the bar but this is the only one that came out of Tom, Susan and Darrin talking.

Tomorrow the Masters Ballet and the masters Pairs Ballet... I'm going to sleep now!

This is probably starting to load pretty slow... I get these photos compressed when I get home by Andy and that should speed it up once again.

Miguel Rodriguez about to start his bid in MIB... he didn't place... one of the few times I managed to beat him!  Top three Lam Hoac, Reed Wolcot and me... I think anyway... this was the only photo I managed to takeout on the fields Friday sorry... But I did get some of the silent auction and great auction. Looking into the silent auction room from the banquet room.

There was tons of good stuff, row after row... none of my bids were successful. Aaron got a cool  3 stack of Jeff Howard's Gnats... something I wanted badly!

There was hundreds of items in a bag raffle too... I didn't get the kite light strips I really wanted either! That's Charm Lindauer and Kevin Shannon in front.

The Banquet was one of the best I have ever attended... food wise anyway there was steak, pork roast. and great chicken, tons of salad stuff... even I had my fill! Here is a picture just before the food was brought out.

Armadillo kite being auctioned, one of the dozens of beautiful kites available. Most kites went for big bucks, I'm thinking the Association will live for another year!

I had a weak moment and bought one of Lam's indoor kites, its a great little kite. If I ever manage to do half of what he can do with it I will be as happy as he looks here... I think MY U.S. bucks in his pocket put this smile on his face!

Last night was great fun, flew my new kite in the lobby... and my Gnat from my ears! Played in the bar and never got to sleep before 2:00 am... this havin' fun stuff is exhausting!

First I gotta say that I... ME actually got the second place trophy in masters individual Ballet... I never thought I had a chance to place yet alone get the second place, Reed Wolcot got the first and Lam got the third all by a very small points spread. I didn't see the numbers but they said like a .04 between us... COOL

There they are, second in MIB and third in masters pairs precision.

Close up!...ok nuf gloating. I tried to get a photo of all the entered in peoples choice. Some of the kites were hung over or near huge lights that ruined the shots but here are the ones that came out ok. I don't know who made all of them, sorry.

This beautiful kite was made by Adrianne Balmer. (apologies had the name wrong).

A cool patriotic cellular (sorry don't recall who made it. If you know let me know.)

Here is a much better shot of Lam Hoac's  Rok. He WON peoples choice with his entry. Very nice kite!

This only shows about half of this kite. Sam Houston won Grand Champion with this baby... it was huge and beautiful!

Ann Ritter and Scott Skinner help Sam Ritter hang his huge Rok. I think he won something like best frame/bridle and best flier.

Here is a nice kite with a butterfly on it, to bad the lights ruined this shot.

These 5 kites (flown in a stack) were made by Deb Lenzen, she says she never sewed a stitch in her life till last October, AND she is a big fan of my flying style...I think she got a second place with these.

That's all for now ...its 3;40 am I'm turning in!

Hey this is fun! when I got home I had an e-mail from Deb Lenzen and she wants  me to amend the caption above to...with her permission I will paste her new caption here..

Thanks for the photo. Caption should be amended to say, "AND she is a big fan of my flying style AND OF ME. Her kites took a 2nd in the train category and received the highest overall score in visual appeal. She said I was her inspiration for the visually appealing stuff."

Hey I think she likes me! Sure wish she didn't live in North Dakota!

Location: Beach North of the pier in Pismo For more information contact: 
Glen Rothstein and "The Sky's The Limit" Kite Shop located at 761 Dolliver St. Pismo Beach, CA 93433 (805) 773-8697
Sponsored by: The COC Sanctioned and promoted by: The AKA
Our event will consist of:

1. An open fly zone with judging and prizes, no entry required.
2. A large kite display area by "The Sky's The Limit."
3. A Stunt kite demonstration area with a dual line fly clinic.
4. A children's fly area and contest, registration required.
5. A Rokkaku battle.
6. A parabear and candy drop.

All being overlooked by 1,000s of spectators enjoying wine tasting, fine music, and art on the pier.

The pier was packed with spectators all day enjoying the show  (photo taken early in am)  Brian Todd setting up his kites.....  man can he fly that utopia!

And this shot is looking down the beach at where the big kites will be flying...

What a great place for a kite fly.... The P.A. was a little inadequate but we could hear it...it was up top at the hotel, here is Dan Whitney Lording over the beach from the P.A. area.

Glen Rothstein on the mic. Room behind them was the fliers hospitality room..... Patio to Dans right was where the BBQ pork, chicken and ham was BBQ'd they also  cooked up some killer beans and served us all a great lunch  complete with two great salads AND  gallons of sodas AND BEER...I cant remember when I have been so well fed at a kite festival....O YES I can  Guadalupe Island!                                            

Dan brought his MOM!  I think this is the first time his mom saw him fly his kites at an event like this! Here is the GWTW table.

Gone With The Mom!   Dan's mom at his left ( in red) and his BROTHER across the table and his sister in law enjoying the great lunch they put out for us...

Also on hand for the festivities was Susan Shampo and Allen Stroh, Ron Despojado,  Mark Jeanette and Ben Lumas, Miguel Rodriguez, Brian Todd, Dan Whitney Alex  Herzog the 8 year old, the whole crack o noon fliers, Karen Gustafsen, Bill Habler and his  handsome girlfriend, Jim Strealy, Ol Don from San Diego ,NCKC's raisin kings Everet and Joyce Irving and son in law , Dan Rubish, Glen Rothstien and his pal Bill, and a beach full of folks I don't know!

 I tried to do both fields, ya know, running back and forth from the big kites to the demo fields and I was pretty disappointed with the results...people just don't care that you were out there at the crack of dawn digging in sand anchors....the second you turn your back some jackass will put an anchor a few feet from where your is, ignoring your line stretched out  with a  that huge pile of ripstop at the other end........then they have the freeking nerve to say something  snippy like whats the matter with YOUR  or your kite doesn't play well with others.... .I would never anchor my kite anywhere where someone else's is or where there  obviously isn't enough room for it to move without taking out others kites.....but I guess that's just me!..  I put my kite away......nuff of that!

I did get my wristwatch up and it flew nicely for several hours over the BBQ area.

The wrist watch too far away for cheapie camera to focus ! I did enjoy hearing the comments  from people passing by...Time to fly!  Gee time flies!    got the time?

I got the 252 up for a while before the jackass took over my spot.

We all had a great time and THANKS billions to James and Kendra Warner for puttin it all together.. If you are ever in Pismo Beach stop in their kite shop "The Skies the Limit"..  and say hello ! 

         

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This page was last updated March 14, 2003 01:04 AM