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GO FLY A KITE
Have you ever been told to "Go fly a kite?" You have if you've read the bumper
sticker on Kenny McGibbon's truck! You see/ Kenny is the one who is so often down on
the beach flying his remarkable kites. He enjoys it so much he likes to see others enjoy
it too! We've been wanting to talk to him about it for a long time and finally did the
other day.
We learned, for one thing, that he and his wife, Betsy, along with their "hyper"
cocker, Smokey, have been living in their house on Walnut Court for just about four years,
and never a word in the Shore Line about them! They are busy people and we haven't caught
up with Betsy yeti Betsy works days at Cherry Point where she is a production assistant.
Kenny is an electrician there but his hours are usually in the evening. Makes it hard
to see them both at the same time. Kenny works for NADEP—on the Harriers.
Asked how they came to build in Pine Knoll Shores, Ifenny said that he had been sta
tioned at Fort Macon when in the Coast Guard and came to know the area. Once out and
working at Cherry Point he'met Betsy. She's from New Bern but she was living in Havelock
at the time. They were married in '83 and lived in Emerald Isle while they were waiting
for their house to be finished. He couldn't help noticing the quietness, the proximity
to the beach and the overall attractiveness of Pine Knoll Shores because his parents
are Ruth and Charlie McGibbon who were already settled here. Like the elder McGibbons,
Kenny and Betsy are sun lovers.
Our interview took place in the rec room which pays tribute to the Tarheels and
to Miller Lite. You can see other interesting things there too. There are a box kite—
with wings, not the old fashioned kind—and a six pack, diamond shaped kite small enough
to be fitted on the ceiling,an antique ice chest, a pinball machine, to name a few.
Lots of fun to be had in there.
Next to the rec room is the shop where Kenny does wood working, his second hobby.
Right now he's working on a blanket chest. He's made lots of tables, a mirror, and even
a curio cabinet. "They make great gifts", he says. I guess so!!
But if you haven't seen him flying his kites come along to the beach, preferably
on a day with a breeze off the water and when the tide is low in the morning—maybe around
11 a.m. He has many kinds—even a miniature 5 inch Delta which can fJLy too. Or you
may see him at Triple S pier when the tide is high. He welcomes observers, even lets
them fly one sometimes. It gives him a chance to watch the full effect, something he
can't do while is flying them.
We learned a lot about kites and kiting. The Carolina Kite Club meets at Fort Macon
on Sundays. The American Kiteflyers Association publishes a magazine and sponsors com
petitions. Kenny took a third 'in the Individual Novice Division at Myrtle Beach. He
used his Delta with the 8 foot wings. He had to fly it in a spiral configuration and
then reverse it staying with the dimensions prescribed.
At the beach you might see him flying the big six pack, a string of 4 foot kites,
5 feet apart with tails 70 feet long. Such graceful arcs it forms! Or it might be the
Delta with the 8 foot wing span which can turn on a point forming a right angle. The
trick kites are controlled by two lines, right and left, with only 150 feet of line to
work with. Nothing elementary about this exhibition! Come watch. It's a beautiful
sight to see!
M.C.K.