Saturday's NFKA fly was held at Fort Flagler, in an open
field with a good view of Admiralty Inlet and Port Townsend in the
distance. Though rain sometimes threatened, it never
arrived, and the conditions were variable winds from 3-8 mph all
afternoon, averaging about 5mph. Eight competitors arrived
and agreed on a round robin with three points per match, winner
determined by total points. The competition was extremely
close, with six out of eight flyers getting at least 10 points.
The competition resembled nothing so much as a Hollywood
"B" movie Western saloon brawl, with colorful characters
and wild action.
"Texas" Larry Walker, in the role of the gimpy sherrif's deputy, waded in with a loud clearphane fighter - and since we all heard him coming, he didn't sneak up on the field. He ended up being thrown over the bar into the mirror and rows of whiskey bottles. We found out later he wasn't unconscious, but lying back there out of sight swilling the local rotgut.
Richard Hurd, in the role of the riverboat gambler with four aces and a derringer up his sleeve, attacked us with his "Hello Honey" kite, which flies well, but has been offending the eyes of NFKA flyers since 1999 with its intentionally ugly graphic. He had a hot start, but was chatting with bystanders instead of concentrating on his flying, and ended up knocked out under a table with cards, ugly kite and derringer strewn around him.
John MacKenzie, in the role of the the crazy old prospector, hitched his mule with the carbon rods, bamboo and orcon outside, pulled out a volenteen, and walked into the meelee. He ended up flying back out through the swinging doors and landing in the water trough outside.
Brian Johnsen, in the role of the honky-tonk piano player, pulled out a mylar Falcon kite and proceeded to blackjack anyone who came in range while keeping up a bouncy tune. He was finally dropped by a flying whisky bottle, and didn't fully recover until he had a big plate of sushi and a large sake in Port Townsend with the Humphreys that evening.
Tom Humphrey, in the role of Captain Parmenter from "F-Troop", drew his Saber kite and waded in to restore order, only to be hurled back outside through the plate glass window and into the street, where he passed out without getting any help from Sargent O'Rourke, Corporal Agarn, or Calamity Jane.
Ed Alden, in the role of the Sheriff in his white ten-gallon hat, white vest, and furry white chaps, walked in with his vented mylar techno-fighter and proceeded to restore order, except for one other mighty competitor.
Chuck Lund, in a black hat and dusty poncho in the role of the gunslinger with no name, stood toe to toe with sheriff Alden, carrying his mylar kite with butterflies printed on it and asking if Ed thought it was funny! Since they were tied for first, and it was high noon anyway, Chuck and Ed settled it with a best of three gunfight outside. Chuck, doing his best Clint Eastwood imitation, gunned down Ed two to nothing to claim the title. With grins on our faces, we wrapped up the days shooting soon after. Cut, and Print it!
The final results: First Place, Chuck Lund - with 16 points
and a 2-0 fly off win (announcing this is getting repetitive, isn't it?).
Second Place, Ed Alden with 16 points and a sportsmanlike
performance in the fly-off. Third Place, Tom Humphrey with
14 points.
What a great time! We all had good fun, fellowship and many grins. Next time though, we need someone to fill the John Wayne role and take on Chuck fair and square in a legendary kite fight! Any takers?
-This month's cinematographer and unofficial scribe.
Now this is the Law of the Jungle - as old and as true as
the sky; and the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but
the wolf that shall break it must die. -Rudyard Kipling,
from _The Jungle Book_