Weekend in France Kite Buggying

[cj121]

Hi all,
I thought I'd post up the link to some pictures of the weekend I had away on a beach in Northern France, powerkite flying and buggying. There's no action shots, but it gives an idea Someone got some good ones, and I'll find them out and pop one or two on later.

I also got the chance to visit a cigar shop in Belgium, which I'll post up about.

http://photobucket.com/CJLesHemmesMay09

[Robusto]

Looks good, cj!

How fast do you go at top speed?

Is that Les Hemmes de Marck?

If so, I used to drive exchange students over there in a school minibus around Gravelines. After I'd delivered them to their French families, I'd drive down to a beach near where you are, wind down the windows and smoke a couple of great Havanas all on my tod.

All those kids never found out I was a cigar nut!

[cj121]

T'was indeed Lay Em Bryan. The tide coefficients lend themselves to a tide that doesn't come in now and again which is great for this stuff. It p'd down all Friday which made for some bog here and there which affects how you can roll/run. I managed a personal best of 31.9mph, but as you can see, I have a smaller style buggy than most: you can hold more power with a bigger kite. Some of the lads reached the late forties (mph). Scary shit when your bum is five inches off the floor and you have no brakes.


On the Sunday morning, the wind was blowing mid 20's gusting to over 30mph, which can, err, propel one

I've a few links to friend's photos/helmet cams if anyone wants them posting up on here. Don't want to impose though.

Great spot to enjoy a stick mate, you keep your secret

[Robusto]

I'd like to see some of those shots.

Turns out one of the first A Level French group lads I taught and took over to Gravelines spotted some cigar reference on my Facebook and he's into stogies and humidors, too.

That's fine by me!

[Boss Hog]

Nice post, Looks exciting too. How did you get into that?

Interesting to see what people get up outside of the cigar realm. Maybe I should post some dishes and a few cakes of mine up.

[Mr Moore]

I'm diggin your chosen sport there CJ.
Wouldn't mind seeing a few of them cakes boss man !

[larrysputnik]

Looks like fun. I shall want to try that some day too. Good pics.

[Robusto]

Cakes?!?
Oh yes please!
Show us some of your foods, Boss!

[Deano]

Man that looks sweet. I wouldn't mind having a go at that.

[cj121]

@Boss: I bought a kite last January for my niece to have ago (yeah reet) as she lived with us for a while and the rest is history. The collection grew form a stunt kite to the powerkites that I fly today to power the buggy. I've had three of them, progressing up in size/quality. There's some bug bits of kit as you can see. It's a real buzz, but can be scary depending on the wind, conditions and what you're trying to do. There's loads to learn...slowing down, stopping and turning being important

Boss, it'd be nice to see your cakey bits mate, as long as you don't get your baps out.

@Robusto: I'll get the lilnkypoos up soon.

@Deano: anytime mate, but don't come in your suit (so to speak)!! It'd be best to have a 'static' fly, with no buggy/board to get a feel for it. If you want to take the plunge and get a basic kite Deano for a bit of fun, keep in touch and I'll advise what would be a good starting point. Second hand bargains can be had and are generally well looked after. Iguess you'd be looking to spend between 50-100 for a reasonalbe sized, qualilty, second hand one.

@Mr. Moore, cheers mate, it is a blast. I'm only about 8 months into buggying, but it's good fun.

[nicwing]

hey CJ, La France is nice but a bit of a way to go, where can you do this in England, my local kite flying spot is a bit bumpy!!

[Stevieboy]

Looks great CJ and something I'd love to try. How would it suit a relatively unfit, middle-aged man like myself? What level of fitness if any do you need?

Any good websites? Apparently beaches in Fife up here in Bonny Scotland can be pretty good for this. Is the kit expensive? Sorry for all the questions but it seems like a good thing for me and the family...speaking of which, how old would the kids need to be?

[Boss Hog]

Cakes?!?
Oh yes please!
Show us some of your foods, Boss!

Ok, then food and cakes up soon

[nicwing]

Ok, then food and cakes up soon

Now you are talking, any chance of starting with a Tart Tatin or a nice seed cake.

[cj121]

hey CJ, La France is nice but a bit of a way to go, where can you do this in England, my local kite flying spot is a bit bumpy!!

It depends where you live Nic, I guess. Anywhere really. Southern lads go to Camber Sands or Greatstone I think.