Yesterday we learned not to trust weather forecasts that say conditions are nice in McMurdo. Because they aren’t. By which I mean our flight was delayed again.
Ed and I spent the day starting on Ed’s dream of learning to kite surf. We took the bus out to New Brighton and visited a kite sports and appliance store (the appliances are the money maker). For our introductory lesson (on land) we mostly learned to control the kite. We also spent a little time with a board, not entirely unlike a skateboard. We achieved small spurts of wind-powered motion!
![New Brighton New Brighton • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15600131101/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5609/15600131101_87c2901112_m.jpg)
New Brighton
![At the pier At the pier • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982050904/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5600/14982050904_d02c340e57_m.jpg)
At the pier
![Seabird Seabird • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982049274/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3946/14982049274_dfccf03042_m.jpg)
Seabird
For a lunch/tide break, we took a walk around
![Ed controls the kite Ed controls the kite • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15579112386/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3951/15579112386_c1d1a02d26_m.jpg)
Ed controls the kite
![Going low Going low • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982043124/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5605/14982043124_64fb4cbb54_m.jpg)
Going low
![Practice moving with the kite Practice moving with the kite • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15417191460/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3952/15417191460_a18ecf02e6_m.jpg)
Practice moving with the kite
![Concentration Concentration • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982042274/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3955/14982042274_61aeb2fc08_m.jpg)
Concentration
![I wait to launch I wait to launch • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982626133/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3934/14982626133_294e0d608e_m.jpg)
I wait to launch
![A modicum of control A modicum of control • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982624813/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5599/14982624813_e2b13afeae_m.jpg)
A modicum of control
![Our instructor, Peter, tests the sand Our instructor, Peter, tests the sand • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15416148619/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5609/15416148619_46103ca577_m.jpg)
Our instructor, Peter, tests the sand
And makes it look easy
![Ed launches Ed launches • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15416778127/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3947/15416778127_74a09469b9_m.jpg)
Ed launches
For his turn on the board
![Gets the kite under control Gets the kite under control • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15600108511/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5612/15600108511_d890da8f90_m.jpg)
Gets the kite under control
![Mounts Mounts • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15417173450/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5599/15417173450_4bcb0c8434_m.jpg)
Mounts
![Prepares to generate some power Prepares to generate some power • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15603618112/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3937/15603618112_e57dcbf629_m.jpg)
Prepares to generate some power
![And goes! And goes! • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982617553/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5611/14982617553_e5e53cb2fa_m.jpg)
And goes!
![My turn My turn • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15416659538/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3952/15416659538_53671f5d2b_m.jpg)
My turn
![Practicing getting power Practicing getting power • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982613033/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5600/14982613033_6f8e95ce1f_m.jpg)
Practicing getting power
While (sometimes) not losing control of the kite
![Slowly improving Slowly improving • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15579084246/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3950/15579084246_fa0882f45f_m.jpg)
Slowly improving
![Time for the board Time for the board • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982614953/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3934/14982614953_a536fc1259_m.jpg)
Time for the board
![I go a little! I go a little! • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/14982019744/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5616/14982019744_969cc11d0f_m.jpg)
I go a little!
Not fast or far, due to low wind and lack of skill
![Revocery Revocery • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27717602@N03/15416763557/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5606/15416763557_90dd634225_m.jpg)
Revocery
Getting the kite back under control, after ditching the board
Leave a Reply