downunder

I can relate to that, I made that dream come true in 2003, I was amazed to be there. I haven't been to Dreamworld since 2003, and that's because I'm not interested, even though I have been to the Gold Coast many times since then. When I last went to Dreamworld they had a small line for Cyclone but only one person operating the whole ride so it took forever, and Giant Drop, although an excellent ride, had a small line but it went very slowly. I've been to Movie World many times since 2003 and can say I have had mixed experiences with service, and ride reliability but I prefer to go there because I like the attractions better. I think the best times to go to the GC parks are weekdays when it isn't school or public holidays.

If memory serves me right - no MCBR. I thought Joker's Jinx ran pretty slow, it really crawled at times when I was there. Even though you get jerked from side to side I much prefer the Flight of Fear versions of this coaster, they are much more aggressive - though if they had OTSR's my opinion would be very different.

^I'm sure that will involve Cannibal Corpse - some of their lyric sheets are banned in Australia because they breach our censorship guidelines. Does anyone still care about the B & M track anymore, strippers are a bit more interesting, well attractive ones at least? I thought strippers only liked Charlie Sheen, but then I realised he is just a big source of dollars for them.

Is that where Terrance produces a paddle and Robb says "thankyou sir, may I please have another". I'm definitely bringing a video camera on the Scandanavia trip. Scandanavian statues are already cowering in anticipation. As for the B & M track, can someone start stalking Intamin track so I can actually get interested?

^Thanks Jason, I just realised by the time I finish the trip report I will probably heading for the airport for the TPR Scandi tour. It's been so much fun to relive the trip through everyone's reports. Jason on your TR it was amazing that after the extreme airtime of Phoenix you finished the ride sitting on the lap of the person next to you - that cracked me up. As far as King's Dominion goes, I do have some views on their views. Busch was close to a perfect park, it was difficult to object to anything there.

I wouldn't be surprised if you were taking on the park's debts for a price tag of $35 million. Like Barings bank was sold for $1 but you had to assume their debts as well. I'm thinking the place should be Hard Luck Park. Obama World might work, I'll be queueing up for the Dread Zeppelin Coaster, the Hillary Clinton Water Ride, Knights in Democratic Satin, Life In The Fiscal Rescue Lane, Maximum GDP, Shake Rattle & Recession Coaster. I'm buying my plane ticket right now.

Balder has been saying your a jolly yellow chicken and that you will be Balder's bitch if you ever show your face in Gothenberg. I wonder if we'll get the same treatment as the last TPR group - welcome to Liesberg, have some booze and hammer nails into our coaster. I want to ride Rita and Regina.

My experience in August 2007 was the opposite, post loop SOB with different trains wasn't too bad but Ghostrider was please make it stop rough. I haven't been on SOB with the loop so can't compare that to Ghostrider.

I rode them both in August 2007 and I thought Ghostrider was rougher, this was post loop removal Son Of Beast, and The Beast back row after the second lift hill - I thought going to be seriously injured. I don't know what's causing the problems with Ghostrider, whether it needs re-tracking and/or new or rehabbed trains.

^I think Wes meant travel out of California and you will find that California is very poor when it comes to wood coasters relatively speaking, and on that front I agree totally. I wish California had El Toro, Phoenix, and Boulder Dash for starters, that would mean a less travel for me.

When I rode it in 2005 in September after it's annual rehab it was fine, a bit jerky but in a fun way. Then I rode it again in August 2007 and it was so bad and rough I couldn't wait to get off. I put it down being just before it's annual rehab but it sounds like it sucks all the time now. I'm also sad to see such a good ride go so far downhill (no pun intended). Knott's are more than welcome to replace Ghostrider with a Maverick clone or a Megalite. But better still just fix it, maybe the GCI guys can work their rehab magic on it on another coaster they didn't build.

I rode Iron Wolf for the first time in 2007, once was enough for a lifetime. It felt like B & M had subcontracted the evil genuises at Vekoma and Togo. That's a shame about Shockwave it looks like a really good coaster, though Whizzer was fun - but that Shockwave removal seemed so unnecessary. If the public really cared, they would have taken to Iron Wolf with blow torches, it would have saved me some misery for starters.

Another B & M Hyper, did Dick Kinzel accidentally erase Intamin's number off his speed dial?

^Me neither, Helen's probably tending to the flocks right now like the Marlboro man of sheep farming.

^I know and the other 11 are over here putting us to shame in the cricket.

They are probably related to her, not hard in NZ. Wasn't Helen Clark that guy who used be PM of NZ?

^You just never know they might be sutting thar thunking what wull be our next attraction - they get Zane's letter and think choice bro' our next attraction.

And we had an epic time That was another awesomely funny trip report! I can't believe it has nearly been six months already! Thanks Ben. Rub it in on Hooters why don't ya. Though we had $2 Margaritas at Chilli's so any girls there started look like Hooters girls after a while.

NZ is definitely not stuck in the 90's, I believe they stepped out of the 1890's a couple of years ago. They did win the Rugby League world cup, they are so superbaaad. P.S. Why so snooty Australia? Or are you trying to deflect your own post-colonial insecurities onto us (yet again)? You know the drill - we accuse you of being backward and loving sheep, and you accuse us of being a bunch of convicts. I'm 1st gen Aussie so the convict thing doesn't apply to me. All in good fun, congrats on sucking slightly less than Australia in the cricket last night.

Great work Matt, I've been dying to know what was in the box since we went there in August. I think Knoebels will make this into a fun ride.

NZ is definitely not stuck in the 90's, I believe they stepped out of the 1890's a couple of years ago. They did win the Rugby League world cup, they are so superbaaad. I'd be interested to know what kind of annual attendance Rainbow's End gets.

Busch Gardens Eurobeer Part 1 of 4 We pulled into the Hilton Garden Inn in Williamsburg which was by far the best hotel of the trip, bravo. It was nice to be in a Hilton that doesn't leave you itching downstairs. Williamsburg looks like a cool place I'd like to visit in the future, especially the historical stuff. But TPR ain't no culture club (well the thunder bus on the other hand) we were there for the Busch. We arrived early and took about most of the night deciding where to go eat, we went to Chilli's and the guys from the Thunder Bus, the one's who don't even like girls, went to Hooters, epic fail from team hetero. We headed off to the park the next morning, which was close, for some positively righteous ERT - Griffon, then Aplengeist, and then a walkthrough of Curse of the Dark Kastle. It was looking good. Next up: Busch II - The Taming of The Delinquent There were plenty of suicidal faces at the end of the tour. Hanno (in the background) believes that if you photograph him you steal his soul, i've got it up on eBay if you want it. But seriously, a BIG THANKYOU, to Busch for a great tour. Bext Instalment - Busch II: The Taming of the Delinquent. This is what the faces of the people in the line looked like when we walked past them with our fast passes. They just didn't understand. More magic, TPR tourists threw themselves in front of the train not wanting to leave. After fifty beers even this looks good, it's a good thing Australian cricketers don't come here. True story, I know a guy who got so drunk he tried chatting up a Christmas Tree. There was a ton of books in the library that were popular with the TPR tourists like "How To Deal With Hairy Palms and Blindness", "Basement Decoration", and "Linux for Lovers". Overdue notices have been sent. The human steadicam works his magic, Axel and Max cower in awe. Have a look down the lens of the master coaster pornographer, someone out there might actually be horny. Busch dude applied a wonderful chop to one insistent videograher's throat for repeatedly filming him like he was trying to do a colonoscopy (who could that be)? Times had been tough for the big trees since their Lord Of The Rings heyday, the wonderful people at Busch saved them from a long walk to the social security office. The TPR tour fawned over the Busch dude's every word like he was a lost and drunken cheerleader. Spiderman was disappointed that he didn't get to kick some butt in the darKastle, he left that for the ride geek polls. I like it with the lights on, the magical busch tour was about to begin. Next it was the Curse of DarKastle backstage tour, we slipped in the backdoor for some ride geek paradise. Those bushes look like they need a trim but it's too late for this train. We call it bush bashing down under and not the type that has been in fashion recently. The location may change but the B & M loop stays the same, it's like Vekoma without pain. Down she goes, I just love how every ride is shrouded in bush at Busch. Aplengeist was big and beautiful though a little cranky in the morning. Not tight but a lot of fun anyway. Next up it was Alpengeist, Busch had great theming especially the theming provided by mother nature. The skier is a life size replica of Hanno in the off season trying to ski and take photos at the same time. Mike "the six million complaint man" Austin found a friend, although the weight on his shoulder nearly crushed him. After complaining "you are a RUBBISH friend!", new friend crapped on his shoulder and flew away. The Jolly looking Busch official in the light blue shirt in front of Elissa looks disappointed that he had found a relative. Who could that be? The first train for ERT on Griffon had been hand picked to reflect different demographics so they could shoot a promo. I didn't make the cut, come on, ugly people want to go to Busch Eurobeer as well. German Axl Rose didn't make the cut either, it was a sad place to be. But little did he know, Sylvester had successfully auditioned for "Bear and Sylvester Make A Gay Porno". The bear was smiling but Sylvester seemed surprised, and Kevin Smith is suing. After all this time I had finally noticed that young Bethany had three arms. Sylvester the cat appears to be auditioning for a remake of that other Sylvester's (Stallone) film, the Italian Stallion.

^Zane, tell them to get an Intamin Megalite and I'll be on first plane over after it opens. Completely unrealistic but I can hope.

^I didn't know Merimbula's Magic Mountain had a bobsled, starting to look a bit more interesting. I've never driven that far south (about 5 hours), though I have flown further. I really expected Rainbow's End to be more like a carnival with a portable as the marquee coaster.

Nice work, I've always wondered about this place. It's a bit more of fair dinkum park than I imagined. I always thought it was a bit more Merimbula's Magic Mountain size, which is not much bigger portable one night only carnie/crack dealing operation.