Go fly a kite

[GHD]

The guy flying the kites is a Canadian in his 80s.

He comes to the Washington State International Kite Festival every year.

His skin is like leather as he normally flies with his shirt off.

He is deaf, so when he flies we hold our hands up and wave them for applause.

He flies 2 with his hands and the 3rd one is attached to his waist.

Do watch to the end to get the landings, specially the last one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=nr9KrqN_lIg

[DaveB]

Most impressive.. thanks for that

ATB
DaveB

[airboatr]

Indeed, Most captivating.

Thanks for posting.

[TSR2]

That was amazing, and beautiful. What talent. Thanks George (Mrs W love it too)

[Tako_Kichi]

A number of years ago (when I was still an active kite flyer) I had the opportunity to meet Ray as he was staying at a friend's house for a week between kite festivals. He is truly a 'gentleman' of the highest order and a genuine 'Ladies Man' always ready with a compliment and sly wink whenever women are around. Get him among a group of men however and he becomes the bawdiest man you have ever met, cracking jokes that would make a NY prostitute blush!

I even managed to spend a few hours kite flying with him during his stay and several of us flew 'team' with him, flying all our kites in formation with Ray calling the 'moves'. What a blast!

He's of British descent and settled in Canada after travelling the world as a stoker in the Merchant Navy. His wife passed away a few years ago and Ray now travels the world going from kite festival to kite festival with the festival organizer's paying his costs to get there and providing hotel accommodation and meals for the duration of his stay. He's circumnavigated the globe several times during his lifetime and as the original poster said his skin is indeed just like old leather from the hours of exposure he gets every day.

EDIT:

I had a poke around on an old HD and found a photo of a group of us flying with Ray.



I'm the one on the left flying a kite of my own design and construction while the others are all flying kites belonging to Ray that he normally flies as part of his routine (Ray is obviously the shirtless one on the right! ). The shot was taken just after a thunderstorm had passed through the area and you can see the thunder-heads in the distance.

[Tomliner]

Beautiful.Made me think of Angel fish swimming in an aquarium. EricT

[nigelb]

Great video and I enjoyed the music also! Thanks for posting.

Nigel²