Philrad71

My camera cracked on Diamondback when in a zippered pocket, so I could certainly envision that happening on Skyrush with a smart phone. I also have never seen zippered pockets open themselves on coasters before, but SFGAdv might want to argue that point with you, Bert! Michael bought me a hard Lowepro camera case that straps on to my belt - that has been wonderful to use. You can adjust where it is on your belt so that it is accommodating for most type of coaster restraints without it hurting my stomach in any way (although I haven't tried it on Skyrush).

^^ Glad that you were finally able to get there and you and your wife enjoyed your visit! Yeah, that was definitely a fluke thing when the truck driver hit those utility lines during your previous attempt, but as others have said, there isn't a lot that will shut the rides down. I have been pondering the idea of taking a trek out there tomorrow as I could use a spirit boost right about now. The weather looks like it's going to be nice and comfortable, so I may venture out for a few hours and bring the camera along so that I can do a litte PTR for everyone. My plan would also be to hit Schickalay's again. Their Greek dog was very good, but my Dad said that I need to try the gyro. A gyro and a cold can of Southern Tier 2XIPA sounds like a pretty good lunch to me!

Oh! I also avoid Hot Tubs! Human soup with a bunch of half naked strangers never really appealed to me. Human soup...I like that!

^ It will be interesting to see, that's for sure. Given all the flack that Sea World takes now, they probably wouldn't touch Marineland with a 10' pole. I could definitely see the interest in perhaps acquiring/rescuing the marine life if the park gets sold, but I could almost see this turning into another Crystal Beach where the park is sold, torn down and condos built in it's place. Hopefully not, because I would love nothing more than to see someone buy it and turn it into an actual theme park destination...but I feel that this might be a pipe dream at this point.

Not trying to play Debbie Downer here, but I ended up contracting hot tub folliculitis from the hot tub at Soak City after some time at the swim-up bar. The day after we were there, I got all of these welts on my body and when I went to my doctor, she asked if I had been in a hot tub recently. And that's why I avoid public hot tubs and lakes anymore. It's my dumb luck that I get stuff like that...and yeah, I'd be the one with that would probably inhale that brain-eating amoeba!

Hi Bert - I meant to send this out a few weeks ago, but for obvious reasons, I didn't have time. The owner of Marineland passed away on June 23rd...should be interesting to see what becomes of the park now. Link

Blue green algae is a huge problem in the lakes around here, including Lake Erie. Unfortunately, a lot of the beaches on Lake Erie (between Erie and Buffalo) are closed more than they are open due to high amounts of bacteria in the water. The later in the summer and the warmer the lakes get, the worse the algae and bacteria get. You hit it at the right time where bacteria levels were likely low. I had a co-worker friend that almost died from ingesting water in our lake while water-skiing a few years ago, so it's definitely a risk that you take if you want to go lake swimming around here anymore. I used to swim in Lake Erie all the time when I was growing up, but not anymore. I'm with Elissa in that I would rather swim in chlorinated water and do water slides than take the risk, but that's just me. I'm glad that you and your wife had a great time at CP and got to enjoy the beach though!

Great report, Jordy - Toverland's new areas look amazing!

Another awesome report - thank you for posting. The dark rides...just wow. And Octopus Panic has to be up there with one of the best flat ride names out there. Sorry for the double post - got an internal server error and didn't realize that it actually posted the first one. Or I could just say that your report is so awesome that it needed two comments. lol

Another awesome report - thank you for posting. The dark rides...just wow. And Octopus Panic has to be up there with one of the best flat ride names out there.

Just getting caught back up on your report, Pam....I LOVE it! BGT is my tie for #1 park with CP - both are so completely different, but both are just so amazingly fun. I can never tire of reading PTR's of this park and you have some amazing shots and very interesting and funny captions. I admit that I chickened out the first time that I saw Falcon's Fury as the thought of facing straight down just seemed terrifying to me. When I thought that I finally had the guts to ride it on our next visit, it went down every time that I got near it! Discovery Cove is another bucket list item for me. Michael and I were discussing going there when we went to Florida last December, but the weather was simply too cold to make a day of it. Now that he has passed, I am going to make a strong effort to get back there in the not so distant future. And as far as aged meat goes, there is nothing wrong with it...and no, I'm not a cannibal! Looking forward to your next installment!

Thank you, Andrew...it was a pleasure meeting up with you in Branson and I hope that I can recover those photos so that I can post them. I remember Michael commenting after we left on what a nice man you were and that he (as well as I) really enjoyed having a few beers with you at Branson Landing. Also, thank you Chuck, Andy and Adam...I very much appreciate the condolences.

What if the Reese's Challenge redo is throwing everyone off and they plan on RMC'ing Lightning Racer where peanut butter and chocolate race? Yeah, it's a really dumb idea because the coaster is already awesome and Wildcat just plain sucks...but it's certainly something to ponder - hehe. I know, I know...I'll just banish myself over to the Darien Lake thread now for a time-out and sip me some Six Flags 'Cuda Falls Kool-Aid (with double the vodka) and check back in tomorrow.

Great report so far, Larry! CGA always seemed to be one of the more "incomplete" looking CF parks in the chain. Disappointing to hear about SFDK as that is one of the few remaining SF parks on my bucket list. Hopefully they will get themselves straightened out before I visit (which likely won't be for a while).

Love it so far!

^ Thank you so much, Liz...hugs right back to you too!

Awwww....thank you Bert...that was lovely! Thank you for the condolences! Thank you, Samuel...very well said! Thank you for the kind words! Thank you, David...SFOG is on the bucket list and now that you are back in Atlanta (I think?), I will let you know when I plan on getting down that way. It would be nice to get together for a day to ride some coasters!

^^^ Thank you so much, Mark...yes, we did have a very special relationship and did TONS of traveling to other places besides amusement parks. ^^Thank you, I LOVE your trip reports too! That is very sweet of you to mention your friends. We knew going in that the age difference could potentially come back to bite us later, but we didn't care. We just went out and did everything that we could do...and boy did we cram a lot into our 15 years together. ^ Thank you, Jordy! For anyone that wants to see his obituary to see what type of special guy that he really was, below is the link. There you will get to understand some of his history and background...an amazing man, that's for sure! Michael's Obituary

You might want to mention this in the CW thread and get the locals take on Halloweekends. CW draws in more attendance annually than CP and crowds have always been huge on any weekend that I have ever visited. While I have never visited on Halloweekends, I would imagine it's probably twice as crazy as a regular weekend. If you did a Friday or Sunday, it might not be as bad...however, I would avoid Saturday like the plague unless you want to get FL+.

^ I also had a great front row ride on Predator a couple of years ago riding in the front doing that same trick. I was prepared for the worst and actually came away with a very fun ride.

^ Thank you - I appreciate that.

Thank you all so much for the kind and heartfelt sentiments...words cannot express. Luckily Michael and I were able to cram in tons of theme parks, vacations and just have tons of fun during our 15 year relationship - as well as enjoy our loving friends and family. My only regret is that we didn't get a chance to meet more of you during this time. We did get to WCB, Banshee Bash and Leviathan Bash and both of us couldn't gush enough about what a great job that Robb and Elissa and the parks did to put on such amazing events. The ERT, meals, presentations, gifts, games, walk-backs...and that god damned hilarious water cup challenge on Back Lot at CW with Michael, my Dad and another TPR member (who's name I can't recollect) is something that I will forever cherish. We were fortunate enough to never have any drama with anyone and people just loved us for who we were, despite everyone knowing (and perhaps being a bit perplexed) of the age difference. Yeah, it's strange to many, but when it's real love as anyone that knew us understood...it all made sense. We just fit. My dream was to be able for us to go on a TPR tour and our main focus was Japan. It's fitting that the TPR tour just finished up yet another amazing tour of Japan and I really enjoyed reading every report through these very tough past few weeks. It was a savior whilst sitting through endless days/nights in the hospital before we were able to move him back home. My hope is that one day I will be able to enjoy a similar trip, or another trip to Germany for Oktoberfest with TPR. I will make it a goal to save the money to do so... and you have my word that there will be no drama from me! Again, thank you for all that you do - and thank you to all of my dear friends at TPR for being there for me during this very difficult time. Peace and love to all...

It is with a heavy heart to announce that Michael passed away last Friday at 2:15 PM at home, peacefully surrounded by myself and several family members. This trip to Branson was unfortunately our final trip together. Even worse is the fact that my computer shit the bed a week before and I fear that I may have lost what photos of this trip that I had yet to post. I have an IT friend that is going to work on recovery, but for now, I need to focus on my recovery as this one hurts really bad. If I can get the photos back, I would try my best to finish this report as a tribute to one of the kindest, most caring and loving individuals that this planet has ever seen. I vow to keep carrying on and keep enjoying life and as soon as I am able, I will be hitting the road to some theme parks and will post another TR as a tribute to the man that I loved so dearly. I know that this is what he would want me to do.

Beer, food and coasters...the best kind of trip report. Looking forward to more!

^ Yep...now that I recall, that is 100% true. I guess that we just always ended up waiting a while because we were "lucky" enough for it to break down half a dozen times while we were in line - same with TTD.