Today was a club day for the Nelson Kite Club. We usually meet at Rabbit Island Beach on the low tide to buggy, board, or just fly kites. Today however, the wind and weather was very doubtful, but I decided to take my chances and go. I picked up Ted on my way through town.
When we arrived at the beach there was a very slight westerly blowing along the beach and the rain clouds were threatening. Determined to buggy we both wrapped ourselves in Goretex coats and leggings, pulled out the biggest kites we had (my 8.5m c-quad and Ted's 12.5m c-quad) and started zig-zagging back and forth across the beach. After half and hour or so, the wind changed to northerly and it began to rain. At least the Northerly was coming straight in from the sea, which enabled us to buggy along the beach, instead of across it. Pretty soon we were both soaked, and covered from head to foot in sticky wet sand, and having a great time, grinning from ear to ear. Just before it was time to go (gates closed at 5.30pm) the wind stopped altogether and our kites literally dropped out of the sky. We didn't really mind. After months of no buggyable wind we were pleased to have had a spin even if it meant getting very messy and wet in the process.
On the way home we got talking about cycling and ways we might be able to transport kite buggying gear on a bike. Ted put me onto this invention, the xtracycle. I want one. Could come in very handy in a post peak-oil world! Have a browse around the site. There's even a video of a guy transporting kayaks through the bush on a bicycle.
7:49:04 PM 
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