Recap of 2003
Willards Whizzer
idea of a recap of the year, so let the floodgates open. Since it is the
holiday season and I never got around to writing a trip report for IAAPA and
that week in Orlando, I thought I'd skip right to the end of the year stuff
with a quick recap along with some of the year's surprises (see other posting).
It was a great year for me that saw me add my #1 and #2 steel coasters to my
list (Expedition GeForce and Montu), as well as a new #1 on the wooden side
(Phoenix, though I had ridden before, leaped to the top of my list). Actually
"great" doesn't really do it justice. In addition to several trips across the
country, I was able to spend almost three weeks in Europe. Then a surprising
week in Orlando was added to the mix late in the year. But the year was as
much about friends, especially new ones, and other people I met along the way.
I think I can honestly say that I have never had this many friends at any point
in my life. And it's especially amazing considering that many of them I did
not even know a year ago. Needless to say, I think I will be hard pressed to
top this year.
Recap of 2003
New Year's Day at SCBB
Kicked off the year hoping to meet Steven Wilson's challenge of riding a
coaster a month with some hand-slapping Giant Dipper rides at the Boardwalk.
It was a cold, but clear day. Perfect for starting the coaster year off on the
right foot. Though the group was somewhat small, I know that all that attended
had a blast. And I already know of several people who are looking forward to
it next week. (Dang! 2004 begins next Thursday.)
Started the year on the right foot by getting my first ring ever into the
clown's mouth on the Carousel. Looking back, I think that was the key to the
whole year. :-)
Winter Coaster Solace
First trip to experience Knott's event. The weather for the weekend was
gorgeous again. (I'm going to be jealous if I end up leaving California
weather.) Warm enough to do Perilous Plunge at least. Ghostrider was good as
usual, but Xcelerator, and their ride crew's enthusiasm, were the stars of the
event. The only "disappointment" was that Tree Top Racers at Adventure City
down the road was down for rehab when we tried to make a quick side trip after
lunch.
The Solace trip also included a brief stop at Universal for one last ET ride
among other things (still hate BTTF ride) and a trip to Tommy's for a double
chiliburger. Wrapped up the weekend with an X ride at SFMM on my way back
home.
Birthday trip to BG and SCBB
April brought a trip to Bonfante Gardens and the Beach Boardwalk on my
birthday. (Even the trip along the Boardwalk on the Sky Rider was appropriate
as we randomly boarded a chair that was numbered the same as my age.) Between
the two parks I don't think I've ever eaten that much in one day. Think my
first fried candy bar at the Boardwalk sent me over the edge though. Of course
this followed, a pre-trip bagel, tri-tip BBQ lunch and pie at BG, corn dog and
coke and ice cream Sandae at SCBB (yes, that's misspelled on purpose). But
what a better way to spend the birthday!
SchlitterCon/Fiesta Fest
What a great two day event! They don't call it Texas hospitality for nothing.
Pound-for-pound, the most fun I had at an event this year. Had a great time
making some new friends in my adopted Southcentral region. And what can I say
about the parks except if you haven't been to either you should get to San
Antonio. Don't "Remember the Alamo." You *should* be remembering
Schlitterbahn and Fiesta Texas.
Con
I wrote a glowing trip report for this year's Coaster Con, which also included
some pre-Con rides on new-to-me top 10 coasters Nitro, Lightning Racer, and
Phoenix as well as another "unique" experience at Knoebels (see thanks below).
Time has not erased any of those great memories, especially because of the
great people I met and spent time with. BGW was already one of my favorite
parks. Rain could not dampen that. PKD did everything it could to become one
of my favorite parks. Simply amazing experience there. I wish that it could
have gone on for another week. Cedar Point has some big shoes to fill this
year.
Pres Con
The trip was supposed to be all about Lakeside, and it was. Lakeside was
everything I wanted it to be and more. In a strange way it reminds me of the
Drive-In theater we used to go to as kids. I guess that's the part of Lakeside
that touches you the most. Its tapping into your childhood memories.
But saying the trip was *only* about Lakeside would be vastly selling the trip
short as it also included fun with friends at a great water park with unique
attractions (Hyland Hills Water World), a great trip into the Rockies and an
injury on Winter Park's alpine slide (I still have the souvenir scar to prove
it), multiple squirrel vs. ride encounters, and just overall good times
throughout. Between the Winter Park visit during the day and the night rides
at Lakeside that evening, Friday was just an AMAZING day. Another event/visit
that I wish could have just gone on forever.
State Fair/Stealth Goodbye
The end of great summer brought two surprisingly fun events in the same week.
In a year of a lot of firsts, my first trip to the California State Fair
included a small group of NorCalers (hey, I made up a word) having a great time
with some Hi Miler and Mouse ERT. Oh yeah, those freaky flat rides that RCS
has weren't too bad either. Summer ended on Labor Day with a great group of
people saying goodbye PGA's Stealth. The day ended much too early for me.
My own private ECO
Another lengthy trip report that has already been detailed, so I won't wax on
here. In a three week trip to Europe, there's always going to be some highs
and lows. (Rome, a train ride through the Alps, Europa Park, and real Belgian
waffles the highs. Brussels and being sick for a lot of the trip definitely
the lows.) My overriding wish is that I could have joined last year's crew on
the trip. The parks would have been much more fun with a group. Though as I
have said, I wouldn't change this year a bit. "I like to party. Mmhmm.
Everybody does. Make luv and listen to the music. You've gotta let yourself
go ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh." (Room 5)
IAAPA
A fun week as much for my first visits to IOA, BGT, WDW, and USF and the people
I was with as for the trade show. The highlight of the actual trade show for
me, not that I was "star struck" or anything, was that I got the chance to talk
with Michael Boodley for a while at the GCI booth. That being said, I'm still
amazed at the number of people (enthusiast or no) who were there during the
week that I *didn't* get to see. The IOA event on Sunday alone felt like a
blur. Kept thinking I'd run into more people during the week at WDW or IAAPA
or have more time, but it never happened.
As I mentioned, even though I didn't do an official trip report, I won't try to
add one in here either. Suffice it to say that at the risk of repeating
myself, it was an event/trip that I will never forget. I had some great
experiences. Not sure when I will get the chance to go again, but hopefully
sometime in the not too distant future.
Whew! What a year it was! At the risk of sounding sappy, I want to thank all
of the great people who made this a year to remember, including Sam, Wendy,
Gerry, Tim, Jeffrey, David, Scott, John, Mark, Mike "Propellerhead", Brian,
Kevin "Airtime Junkie", Darren, Steven, Jeff, David and all others I have left
out in name, but not in thought. Many of the aforementioned people, along with
several others, I did not know before this year. Several have become good
friends. Always nice when life throws those little surprises your way.
Thank you to those hosts that went the extra mile: Schlitterbahn, Paramount's
Kings Dominion, Lakeside, and Ray Cammack Shows. Special shout out to
Knoebel's Phoenix ride operator Jeff who took the time on break to actually
walk back underneath the coaster and find my rental car keys that had been lost
during a particularly good back-seat ride. These parks and people personify
what good customer service is all about.
Finally, thank you to the peeps of RRC. To use an old phrase, you put the
"fun" in dysfunctional. I can honestly say that this hobby has become more fun
for me, and I have met a lot of people, because of this community. Hope that
the future brings the chance to meet more RRC people outside of the confines of
cyberspace.
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and happy 2004!!!
Jerry
"C'mon and take a Free Ride." -- Edgar Winter Group