The Zilker Park Kite Festival, 2007

Sunday was one of Austin's annual fun-for-all (and free!) events, the Zilker Park Kite Festival, the 79th edition. We've been to a few of the recent ones; it's many (but not too many) people, an assortment of dogs, many kites aloft, fresh air, sunshine, and a generally good time to be outside. Plus there is a display of giant (and always impressive) kites, which alone are worth seeing.

This year we decided not to fight for parking and availed ourselves of the free downtown parking garage and shuttle buses; for the kids this just added to the adventure. On the short drive through Austin, we passed by the rubble and remains of the Intel iSore, blown up last weekend (on purpose; post coming soon; video is complex to me), so that was interesting.

We got to Zilker Park about noon, soon joined up with Amalie's friend Noah and his family (Steve, Sarah, baby Lucy), and minutes later (I'd hiked off for a few quick pictures of the giant kites from a different view) Carson wandered off. I wasn't gone ten minutes, but when I came back only Steve was with all our gear, and before he could explain what had happened, a Festival attendant came back with Carson, solo. Some quick cell calls rounded up everyone else, and he was kept under watchful eye the rest of our time there.

Part of the Giant Kite display -- stingray, dog, shark, elephant head, squid.

We set up base camp at the edge of the large field overlooking the skyline, and I was granted leave to walk about for more picture-taking. I did a large loop, skirting the main field and walking back up to the giant kite display field and circling it. Then I made the mistake of deciding to buy a sandwich, the line wait during which my beard got noticably thicker. Finally I got back to base camp; Val had left to follow Carson's free-roaming. They eventually went as far as the Mopac footbridge, so that was probably a 2-mile hike on their part; more, knowing how Carson meanders.

Kites against the Austin skyline, including the Frost Tower.

Noah & family took their leave -- it was nearly 2:00 -- and we left soon after, taking more time to watch the giant kites (provided by Gomberg Kite Productions International -- fun site; surf around to find The World's Largest Kite, entertaining kite disasters, and more). The squid, I thought, was particularly amazing -- huge, yes, but also graceful and quite a clever design. It was fun to watch in much the same way observing fire or waterfalls or even fish are -- they are beautiful, almost hypnotically fluid in motion, and there's always a good chance that something surprising will happen, some unexpected shape or shift that evokes something deep in personal or racial memory, even if you're not exactly sure just what. (I'm pretty sure this was the 50 foot squid; a longer one is available, but it just didn't seem to be that huge. Still beautiful.)

The Stingray and Squid demonstrate Synchronized Sailing.

We trundled on to the shuttle buses (they were school buses, and I honestly cannot recall the last time I was on one of those), got back to the car, and drove for home. Both kids dozed off on the way. The Zilker Park Kite Fest on a perfect day -- one could hardly ask for more.