I never intended to post my TRs here, but what the hell this is a special occasion:
I arrived at the park around noon, and the regular lot was 1/4 full at most. I headed in and rode Scorcher first, which was somehow (even as bus as it was today) a 1 train wait. It was a very good ride and I ended up riding two more times within 25 minutes. I then went and checked out the real reason I came to the park: to say goodbye to the Great Gasp. The lines weren't too bad though, about two-three switchbacks in the mid-afternoon, which isn't much more than it was during daily operation. Now, for some last photos.
The lines weren't too bad:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_1.jpg
One last smog-filled view of downtown Atlanta:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_2.jpg
The mini-boats are already gone, and soon too will the Gasp:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_5.jpg
The red, white and blue fits the USA theme well, hopefully the new ride will as well:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_6.jpg
Yours truly:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_7.jpg
(I'm a dork for taking that :lol: )
Well, I did do other parts of the park today. I went and rode Deja Vu in seat 2B, which is actually a good seat to compromise on when the attendants won't let you wait. The wait was only 45 mins which is not bad at all! I can still see without too many obstructions, and that was cool. That was my first ride of the year, and man that thing rocks. I just wish I could ride it more, but between manfuncions and super-long lines, that was only my 4th ride lifetime, one so far every year.
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_8.jpg http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_9.jpg
I then went over and rode the Wheelie, which rocked as usual and it seemed to stay vertical longer than it has been but I'm not sure since I'm borderline Alzheimers.
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_4.jpg
From there I skipped the other three coasters, Ninja because the line was too long, and GASM and Superman because I had ridden them over and over again just two nights before. I crossed through the middle of the park and caught the Dive show for the first time this year. I miss when they used to have the high dive
I was getting hot and it was only 3PM, so I went and rode.. you guessed it, the Great Gasp!
It looks good through the trees, a sight which I will miss:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_10.jpg
Don't look down!
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_12.jpg
From there it was off to ride the train around the park, starting and ending at the Rabun Gap station. I miss the steam, but its still an ok ride.
Once I got off I went and rode Batman twice, with both waits being less than 5 minutes. I also rode Crime Wave which seemed to have a rediculously long cycle for some reason. I was getting very dizzy, which is quite rare for me. I decided to head to the car for some meds. Before leaving though, I did eat at Tondee's, which has fairly good cheesesteaks.
Oh yea, Mind Bender was down, apparently yesterday's rains flooded the lower portion of the track. The train wasn't even on the tracks.
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_photos/aug142005_3.jpg
I got back in the park and headed for Deja Vu. Once I arrived, I saw a maintenence man climing tower #2. Oh crap, I'll come back.
I went and rode the Gasp a time or two again, and then trotted back to see if the Vu had opened, and it did open. However, after about 5 mins, it broke down again, but I stuck in line since it was 6PM, while half the line left. Another 45 minute wait turned into 25, and that's including the down time. Still a great, intense ride. I rode 3B that time, which again is ok and certainly better than an "A" row. 5th ride lifetime, 2nd this year. A new personal record for rides in a year!
Well, by 7PM I was back at the Great Gasp, and I kept riding and riding. In the end, I got 12 rides in the day, and 12 buttons to pass on to children and grand-children. A few more photos:
As the sun sets on the Gasp:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_11.jpg http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_13.jpg http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_14.jpg
Right at 8PM they closed the queue, and here are some of the last public riders for the Great Gasp:
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_15.jpg
The ride ops were very friendly and polite today, and made sure that you enjoyed yourself, but everyone was mum on what was going in for next year (well, duh!). There were a lot of employees that came and rode it at the end of the day, including a security guard who was filming a lot, a bunch of regular employees and other shirt & tie's, and Mr. Taylor, but no sign of Mrs. Aschraft, I thought with her longtime ties to the park taht she would be there. I was one of the last 30 riders to ride the Great Gasp, and they took my name and info and hinted that we will get something special. At first I wasn't sure, then I thought it may be first ride privilages on the new ride (get it.. last on the olf, first on the new) but when she told some folks that they only need head of household, I figured that ruled it out and now I don't know (I cant wait to see though
)
15 million riders later, the Gasp is now done. I left the park tonight not sad because of the removal of the ride that I enjoy, rather, with a smile on my face and some terrific memories. If you live near one of the few parks left with an Intamin parachute tower left, be sure to ride it once in a while, because it's removal can come all too quick.
As I left the park, the skies got eerily colorful, and provided some good backdrops as dusk faded to black, so here are the last photos of the Great Gasp.
http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_16.jpg http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_17.jpg http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_18.jpg http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_19.jpg http://sfog.parktrips.com/august_pho...g142005_20.jpg
August 14, 2005: The end of an era at Six Flags Over Georgia
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