Kinderdijk

The weather is better. No rain but a strong wind. This is our first outing. We all go to the mills of Kinderdijk. This outing is important because there is a contest on this theme. but first a little history ..
 

Kinderdijk is situated in a polder at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers.

Between 1366 and 1369, two canals are dug through the Alblasserwaard by the sweat of one's brow. They should allow to evacuate excess rainwater into the river Lek. When the canals were no longer to cope with rising water levels, 16 windmills were constructed,  around 174, to drain the polder.
This group of 16 mills is the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands.

Nowadays, modern pumping station have taken over the function that the windmills. These 19 windmills sited in close proximity to each other, form an impressive symbol of the struggle of dutch against the encroaching water.

The windmills of Kinderdijk are one of the best known Dutch tourist sites. They were placed on the list of UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.
   
In front, Christian Bécot - behind him, Bill Blake
Wolfgang Bieck and Ralf Beutnagel do not fight, but untangling their lines and their rigs
Coming from Italy, Riccardo Pedone highly concentrated - Also uses a balloon (see his photos)
     
We have all eyes on something, hardware, video feedback, the kite or the orientation of the nacelle. Ralf above and Riccardo (photo P. Mouchague).
Right, Christian 3 rigs simultaneously on the line. Patrick and Patricia (Wokipi team) are being counted! Photo of Riccardo
   
2 KAP of Christian Bécot
Mills of Riccardo
   
Ralf Beutnagel
Group of Kapers by Hans Elbers

All the work of the beautiful windmills is now done
by these machines! by Bill Blake
     
Aldo Hoeben: The 360x180 degree panorama consists of 7 images taken from the kite rig, plus a couple taken from the ground
after I landed the kite to fill in the missing pieces of sky.
 

Everyone can choose one of his pictures of windmills of Kinderdijk to present the competition Kapined/10. They are printed on paper and then exposed in the lobby near the meeting room.

Brooks Leffler via Skype (left) who has chosen the best picture. And Wolfgang Bieck who won the first prize. He says he has a new method for successful pictures: soak the camera with the rig a few minutes in water, it gives the picture look better!

Do not follow any advice, even from elder. To know a little better Wolfgang : His Website.

Other awards have been handed, and the French are doing well:
     
Emmanuel Colonnier for the creation of an online forum , Pierre Lesage, Bernard-Noël Chagny, and an "almost French" Hans Elbers, who has just joined our forum. He had a prize for his debut very promising activity in KAP. See His Website

François Periault, président du Cerf-Volant Club de France, has offered a badge CVCF to all those who have award. Nice initiative for the promotion of our club!