|
From: |
shan
lung <| www.flickr.com |
| www.flickr.com |
|
|
Tink
harness flying
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanlung/sets/682623/
Folks,
you are all welcome to the URL above for photos
of
Tinkerbell, her latest harness arrangements, the
flying
done in the school nearby, the perch
arrangement
on the motorbike and the flying that she
did
with us on the last weekend at Alishan and Jade
mountain.
I
can only give a brief description here to try to
describe
what you are going to see.
The
first photo is the one I used in Tinkerbell's
webpage.
The harness body strap (BS) was the earlier
style
with bowline at both ends. This was taken in one
of
the Chiayi city park with Chinese pavilion in the
background.
http://www.realknots.com/knots/sloops.htm
Then
three weeks ago, Tinkerbell finally penetrated
the
secret of undoing the bowline. I changed the knot
to
double figure of eight loops at both ends. To
make
doubly safe, I whipped the ends of the line with
50kg
fishing line that Tink must undo to get to undo
the
knot itself.
The
chest leash attachment is threaded through which
is
fast and easy thus forcing the loop to lock against
the
chest. If the leash break off, and Tink fly off,
this
leash arrangment offers Tink a chance to undo her
harness
herself.
The
next 3 photos show firstly, how it looks like if
not
tightened. The next photo shows it when
tightened.
The next shows the harness with the chest
leash
attachment (to the point with the black swivel
pin
joints. After initially experimenting with paper
clips,
I now use fishing line clips.
The
next sequence of shots were taken in the nearby
school.
I now always start with a easy recall from
4-5
feet after making sure that Tink is at ease by
testing
her with sunflower seeds as treats. I then go
to
longer and longer distances. I never do more than
2
recalls from any one position as after 3 recalls
from
the same place, Tink indicated her unhappiness.
Some
shots were taken in the school quadrangle with 5
storey
blocks around us. Tink sometimes like to see
the
view from higher up ignoring her recalls until she
felt
like coming back to me. She then may fly in
circle
around me (captured in photo) and land back on
me.
If you cannot see her, follow the white line and
that
speck in grey is Tink!
The
next sequence of shots show Tink riding with me on
my
bike with the foothills and mountains of Alishan in
the
background. There is a closeup shot with me
holding
the leash attachemt to the motorbike. That
allows
her a fair bit of movement and prevent spook
from
becoming fatal and that she can remain on the
perch.
The towel is to keep my bags clean. You can
see
her carrier cage in case it gets too cold or if it
rains
or if she tells me she want to get off the
perch.
We
were then in this meadow like setting with cosmos
flowers
(if wrong, blame my wife as she told me) and
mountains
in the background. Tinkerbell goes through
her
various recalls to cheers and claps of delighted
onlookers.
The
last sequence of shots were taken at Tatajia at
Jade
mountain. It is a pity the sequence of her
turning
180 degree in mid air to land above my
shoulders.
I
hope you enjoy these shots.
I
had to get them off to you folks now.
This
coming friday-sunday, we will be taking a train
to
TaiTung on the Eastern side of Taiwan. I then will
rent
a car to take us up the coastal road to that
incredible
Taroko Gorge. This time, Tinkerbell will
be
coming with us unlike the last time.
=====
With
warmest regards
Shanlung
Joy
- wife, Tinkerbell - CAG & surrogate daughter
earlier
emails and photo links on Tink -
http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9