Oh the humanity

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Stan said:
PKD on the way to CP for the FIRST time. I swear I almost wet myself when I glimpsed SOB!

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You meant PKI. You'd be going quite the long way around to get to Sandusky from Doswell, VA:)

Well I've driven by several coasters that I've never ridden that don't peak my interest. The Sea Dragon at Wyandot Lake being a great example. Also the Funtown and Enchanted Forrest just south of Salem, OR. But there has been a couple of times that I wish I could have stopped.

I once went on a camping trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Driving from StL we went right by what is now SFGAm. It was the year Batman opened. Oh how I wanted to go. Don't know if I'll ever make it. Hopefully.

I also passed right by Coaster in Vancouver. It was the offseason and we were heading up to Whistler for some String Cheese and mountain fun. Passed by on purpose so I could stare at the rides. But alas I've never been to B.C. during the summer.

But the one that I know for 100% certain that I'll never get back to is Dreamworld in Australia. It was the year that Tower of Terror opened up and we drove right by on our way to Surfer's Paradise. Also saw Seaworld and the SBNO Luna Park in Sydney.

I hope to get back to SFMM one day, but if not I missed Viper (closed), Psyclone (closed), Flashback (closed), Deja Vu (missed opening by 2 weeks), and X. Not that all of those are great coasters, but it always sucks when you make it to a new park and leave several credits short from what you expected.

Mine is the Deja Vu's - Been to SFOG twice and SFMM once since they were installed and still haven't gotten a ride.

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It's only a 2 day drive from Seattle to LA, I've done it.

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Would you guys really break that into two days? What is it - like 1000 or 1100 miles? Lightweights! :)

I've done Orlando to Allentown (1050 miles) in just over 14 hours - and that's with small children (ages 5 & 1 at the time)

Does that qualify as child abuse? ;)

Mine would have to be Hulk...I would add Kraken and Dueling Dragons, but I couldn't actually see them from the road. I have been to Orlando often for business and sometimes I just pass through on my way somewhere else and just don't have the time to stop. It's very frustrating being in and around Orlando and not being able to stop and enjoy the millions of things that there are to do :(

Sean

I missed 5 coasters at SFMM last January. Fortunately, X wasn't one of them, but still, now I've got to go back to that crappy park.

Oh the humanity. ;)

Truly though, I was very bummed to miss the Giant Dipper in San Diego on that same trip...all the rides were closed for winter maintenance. :(

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Lord Gonchar said:

I've done Orlando to Allentown (1050 miles) in just over 14 hours - and that's with small children (ages 5 & 1 at the time)

Does that qualify as child abuse?

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Not if they're sedated... ;)

How about parks you have been near but never went to?

I took a cross country trip about ten years ago....from Pennsylvania to Las Vegas and back. I can count dozens of parks I could of went to but at that time I didn't know most of them existed, or didn't really care. I wasn't in the "enthusiast" frame of mind (yet...lol).

If I were to take the same trip today I would do it MUCH differently. Actually I will take that same trip again.......someday. I do remember passing by SFFT and the Canyon Blaster in Las Vegas. Of course I lived in Philly for six years and only went to Great Adventure and Morey's. :-D

Oh well, get 'em next time.

-Tina

*** Edited 1/31/2004 5:48:18 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

I go by parks all the time that I want to go to but haven't got to yet, the main reason is its either the offseason or time is to tight.

LG, you're talking to a guy that drives across the country in 3 days. Still, I am not driving 1000 miles to actually go to SFMM (of all places) the next day. I like my brain cells a little more than that.

If hardcore driving lunacy is what you crave, take a ride with Bass(istist). He'll make "travelling" mincemeat out of you. ;)

Tina, if that is what you are interested to know, I was right next to Americana last year in May, and of course it wasn't open.

That hurt.

Nasai - you missed R:UE and M:TR, too! ;)

mOOSH [well...someone had to say it!]

Who says I missed R:UE? I stayed at the campground, remember?

Regarding M:TR, I don't like to go upside down!

Ooh, I've finally got one!

When I was about five I was majorly ready for coasters, but not tall enough(stupid short parents). We went to Lake Winnie every summer. I had to wait through two summers of torture before I could get my first ride on the Cannonball(48 inches at last!) scared and ready.

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Ahh..Relief.

I'd have to say the one that got away was Texas Tornado, but judging by the lastest and last Robb Alvey video, I don't know if I was missing much. It seems really slow on the video. Of course, it seems to hit a block brake after every element.

I was afraid mine would be Xcellerator at KBF, not because it wasn't open, but because... like most ACE members I am a bit big around the middle. This is usually not a problem except that I am also a bit tall, which makes riding ANY B&M nearly impossible... damn between the legs seatbelt...

Yes, I know I need to lose some wieght... if for no other reason than so I won't be lumped in with the Smorgasbord Club of America that is ACE.. (Oh, too late, I'm already a member... damn)

Fortunately, we had a crew that was willing to see if they could get me into the seat. And they did. :-) I got to ride six times in a row (it was a tuesday in early may... no lines.) The only problem? Ghostie was closed. My wife is a big Wooden Coaster fan and she would really have loved Ghostie. Oh well, next trip.

-Escher (Also from the Coaster Wasteland of Seattle)

Mine is similar to Peabody's. On the way back to Nebraska from Charlotte and pressed for time, my sister and I passed right by the exit to Opryland. Although I had never been I figured I'd get there eventually. I lived one state away for crying out loud. Oh well we know how the story ends don't we.

As for Drachen Fire I did ride it before and after it's reprofiling, however seeing it standing there waiting to run again only to die was painful. I actually thought this was a great coaster. It seemed that even though BGW said it would not run again at the park as long as it stood there was always that slight chance. Now the vacant lot is a sad reminder.

If anyone from BGW is looking for suggestions on what to do with that lot I have an idea and it's not a woodie. Land of the Dragons is a nice kids area but is a little too small. Perhaps DF's site could be a future kids area expansion. As nice as BGW is,it's lacking in the kids dept. especially the jr. coaster dept.

Ok let the bashing of this 35 year old father of 2 begin. one day you'll be old and understand that seeing your kids have fun has taken a more important roll in your life than thillseeking

No, that's a good idea too.....a killer (not literally :) )kids area is a very important part of a park and can even change a good park into a great park (see PKI).

April 2000, we didn't get our "SOB isn't ready" postcard in time, so we drove down to Cinci for the special sp opening weekend, and stayed at the Comfort Suites around the corner. What a shock to get off the highway and see the crane in the middle of SOB, and a gap in the track.

With two days to kill, we check out the hotel attraction guide. What's this Americana place?

Then couldn't convince the wife to consider Camden, which I haven't been to since 78 or 79.

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nasai said:

Tina, if that is what you are interested to know, I was right next to Americana last year in May, and of course it wasn't open.

That hurt.

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OUCH! That would of hurt! Hopefully you will get to experience the Eagle soon. Maybe not this year but soon. :-/

-Tina