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^ Well, I am glad I got at least two rides on it, before The Fair opened. But still. It's sad to see, that no matter what Playland does (re-tracking, seat belts, train configurations.....), it usually ends up like it's happened before and after Covid, by the way. I still don't get why they don't use off-season time for all that they do to Coaster. Oh well. Stuff happens. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our day at the PNE worked out pretty good. We went last Thursday, and contrary to what was predicted earlier, there was no rain, the sun was out and it was a really nice day to be outside. We hoped to stay till 9:30 when that Pyrotech show happened. But once again, our age (and endurance) dictated we leave earlier... which we did around 8pm. Nonetheless, we got to revisit stuff, and get that ribs meal we always get every year. The Market ... and Beyond Monet. We did our usual circuit of the (what used to be called) Marketplace, checking everything out,. And when we passed by jewelry stalls, David was sure to show off one of his lit pendants (and brought another along to show the differences), and got some great feedback from sellers, and a few gp who saw what he had. Didn't buy much on this trip, except a couple of bags of salt water taffy. The "Beyond Monet" exhibit was really, just a circle of floor-to-ceiling screens with projected (mostly) enlargements of Monet's work. When David and I were last In Paris (2015) we took in Monet's work, especially his Lillies collection which were actual curved canvasses on the walls of the gallery specially built for his work. In the PNE exhibit, we wished there were more 'displays' with photos etc. about Monet and his life. But a lot of people went into it, and stuck around, so I guess that's good for art's sake, lol. The Taste Showcase (in the Rollerland Bldg.) This was where the "Happy Hour" at the BC Wine Bar took place. I indulged with a couple of reds, both pretty dry. But cheaper than paying full price. This is where they also put the Cooking Demos for people to watch and enjoy (but no samples this year. Hmmmph.) Superdogs Show: At the Barkade (in the Coliseum) This was the usual half hour of canine fun, themed to video games of all things. A great assortment of dogs, large and small, did their thing to the delight of the large crowd, watching. Some of the racing challenges were really fun, and sometimes very funny when the dogs didn't do what they were supposed to do. The High Divers This made me think about the turn of the century (1900's) when this act was probably performed. A lot of people filled the open area, and the divers did not disappoint. Especially that last diver, who dove from the highest possible spot on the ladder. Crazy, but every entertaining. RIBS With only one actual ribs company to choose from, as we passed on the BBQ Truck, which was the only other BBQ spot available. Prairie Smoke & Spice we had eaten before, at previous Fairs. So we got a half rack with all three sides (corn bread, beans, slaw). It was perfect for us and the only 'leftover' we had, was some of the cornbread to take home. The instant fatigue set in for us, and we decided enough was enough. Took our exit through Playland, and found out that Coaster was down ... again. <sighs> It was a good visit this year, But I think we're going to aim for visiting at a later time in the day next year, AND checking out which act/artist/band is playing the night we're there, in the PNE Concert Series. Thursday night it was Pat Benatar, and I would have loved to see/hear her perform. Here's the photos of the visit.... We're here! The front Entry into The Fair. The Marketplace is now called The Market. And the Forum Bldg. is actually named in a sign, too! Lots of bling, everywhere in the building. A kind of Play Doh for the kids. And/or creative adults/parents. I love these fold out cards they sell. So many to choose from! This year's Musical Moving ..... things. And if you've chipped or broken a (finger) nail, this spot has you covered! And if you're into wearing serapes, this stall's for you. The seller called these Gem Trees. Works for me. We liked the purple one best. But didn't buy it. I wouldn't want to bump into the person wearing this. Entry hallway to the Beyond Monet exhibit, which revealed ..... ...This set up. And one side had French quotes from Monet. The other side, English translation. Very vivid, some of the enlarged paintings. Nice of the PNE to post this at all bathrooms on site. We checked out this metrovancouver exhibit space, which is mostly geared to kids and families. A little concert stage with various performers doing their thing. A sign to remind everyone where we actually are, thanks (not) to Colonialism in the very early times of BC. Kids having fun with Pee & Poo. A great exhibit about indigenous canoe creation. Finished canoes, except for the painting and decorating parts. ...and I still don't remember what this was for. More photos to come....

^ That's what we bought, when we were last there. Just a one-day dining plan for the two of us. And it worked out perfect for us.

I hate you for being that way. Hmmmmph. High metabolism rate, I betcha.... Damnit! I will of course, forgive you for that, so you can continue creating and baking and showing those wooooonnnnderful pizzas you do, to us!

I wonder if they're somehow, keeping that little "dog park" for service dogs, or locating it somewhere else? Or getting rid of it, altogether! The little Dog Park, with The Mansion's fence in back.

I have to ask, and have probably asked this before ..... how many pizzas do you create and bake, every week? On average? Just curious of me. And of course, I have to add ..... "nom nom nom nom" to all of the above.

^ Great to know, thanks! We've had Prairie Spice ribs before at earlier PNEs. Also hoping they have their great BBQ Sauce to sell, too. Hmmm. The "Happy Hour" looks interesting, if only for a "couple of pours"... Also hoping the central "Garden Area" which has/had an excellent bar and staff w/Happy Hour specials, too. It's also a great spot to bring your Food Truck food <smile>, and adding a nice cocktail or beer, etc. Also, I'm curious how you spent all that time at the Fair, including staying for the night time fire/works, etc? Lots of stuff to eat, I can see you listing. But - did you have tickets for an evening concert and/or seeing all the possible Coliseum shows to see, etc? Generally, we don't come to the Fair until early afternoon. And have had enough, just after the dinner hour. Depending on hot warm/humid it is on Thursday, I'm sure we'll try and figure out a full day there. Somehow. Mmmmmm corn dogssssss. https://www.pne.ca Last year's ribs assortment, with two main BBQ businesses there (and Henry's, too) in Revel Distrtict. So this was one of the two, last summer. But ...... ...Hey Hey HEY! Looks like Prairie (Smoke &) Spice is back! And they definitely have the BBQ sauce, too! Yum!

^ Did you eat there, and if so, anything you enjoyed, particularly? We're not going to the Fair until the 31st. We checked the PNE site for what food trucks, etc. were there this year. But back when I was in Playland, and on the West Coast Wheel, I could see the Revel District area .... but no major BBQ places there! Not a single one. I was shocked. Then, in their food list, there was only one - lonely - food truck, selling BBQ, listed. And that's it, from what I saw and read. So if you saw other BBQ spots there, I would love to know, w/o wandering aimlessly on the grounds.

,,,and bless Tegan & Sara for that ear worm of a theme song! Great look at Lego/Billund, Chuck. I loved that version of 'LegoLands'.

Mmmmmmm, I do love getting park soundtracks, etc. And I listen to them all, too! Good set of swag, Bert!

Our annual Out on Screen queer film festival is now over, and I must say I really went to a good number of enjoyable shorts and features this season. 12 times, which is up for me. Last year, after OOS came back from Covid stuff (was only online viewing for two years) I attended only 5 showings of films. It just depends on how I'm feeling, and how much I really want to see. And I do see the Opening, Mid-Week, and Final films, which at least is a minimum of three, lol. Anyway, very enjoyable this year. And looking forward to OOS' 36th Season! This year's OOS Pass, annually decorated by me.

^ We finally saw it, and enjoyed it, even with Cage as over the top as he can be, LOL. It was a fun different way to do a vampire film. And Awkwafina is everywhere in movies, it seems. No complaints, she's a great actress! ......And our annual queer film festival, OUT ON SCREEN just wrapped up it's 35th Season. It was a good one. But rather than repeat it all here, here's the link to all I posted...

Our annual OUT ON SCREEN Film Festival, just wrapped up a ten day schedule last night. Lots of Shorts Collections this year. More than I ever remember, seeing before. A lot of good Feature Films, too. Best one was "1946", which looked at how the word "homosexual" did not appear in The Bible until.... that year. It's true! Really, an amazing documentary, with a lot of film shot in Canada. It is worth seeking out, if you ever get the chance to see it. And during the Festival, lots of photo ops, heh. Also, I manage to 'decorate' my Passholder Pass (I am at "Producer Patron" i.e. monthly donations) every year, since 2008. And here's a link to OOS' website. https://outonscreen.com/ Can't wait for next year's Festival! Somebody always takes photos of us and my pass, every Festival. This was Opening Night, Aug.10/23. My Passholder Pass and the Festival Program Booklet beside it. The theme of the 'decor' on my pass, is always dictated by the Festival's Program booklet. And I give thanks to Michael's Arts & Crafts in Vancouver, as well as any Dollar Tree store, which has the cheaper supplies. etc. ...And I added stickers to the back of it, as well this year. Clark and myself, having our photo taken for.... (David took this side pic of us, being 'taken'.) Damn I hate those bags under my eyes! <sighs> Clark still looks as woofy as ever. Clark, Lisa and my David in their 'shot'. Great Festival!

Great set up and displays, for an obviously classic Carousel. Thanks for sharing all the info!

I got back to Playland yesterday, three days before our annual fair, The PNE, starts up. I decided to immediately head over to Coaster and get one - more - ride for "the season." It was a 40 minute wait in line (starting at 12:10), but there was lots of chatter around me to enjoy. And .... by the time I got into my coaster seat (12:50), the queue had tripled in length, and that was before the Real Crowds showed up after 1 pm. This was the last Wednesday for that 2-for-1 entry deal, so I expected Coaster's queue to be totally slammed, by the time I left the park. And .... it was, lol. Here's the photos I took yesterday... A reminder of how old Coaster is. The crew started training with two coaster trains running. But the second train had "special guests" on it. And then there were the bunch of flamingos there. Have no idea why. New banners up, but the photos still show the former trains, with no seat belts on the riders. Did You Know?.... And a special shout out to Mr Leroy, who built Coaster back in 1958. I'm in the loading station, and this is the queue now. I started out in line, under the blue shade canopy, at the left there. The ride was still great, so I'm over ranting about their installing the seat belts. And in the entire season, I got two rides on Coaster. Even water dummies have their On-Ride Photos, too! Noted. Scooby ........ Do? It was a long wait for this ride too, of all things. But it was very crowded that day. And the crew was loading all 16 gondolas, which usually only happens during The Fair. My gondola is almost here! I never get tired of seeing our mountains from the West Coast Wheel, with such clear skies. The Coaster Shot. SkyBender was very busy, too. Very, very busy yesterday. Getting very busy on the new coaster. Hmmm. Is all that pink stuff for the new coaster? Stay tuned .... My lonely little Stella Artois. No Playland food, eaten today. It looks like the Haunted Mansion walk-thru has "added on" to it's property. Looks interesting. Hmmm. Wonder what this will be for? Guess we'll find out, when we visit The Fair on the 31st. Artsy fartsy shot. It's just after 2pm, and this is the 2-for-1 Deal queue. Yep. We'll be there on August 31st. What I brought home. Boo.

^ I think that this hotel is one of The Best Hotels ever booked on Scandi Tours, Bert, thanks to Robb and Elissa's awesome pre-planning, etc. Great you got to experience it and the short ferry ride across.

Every time I go to Playland(PNE) I always have a Stella Artois, with my park food. And my latest imbibing, was two days ago. At the Ride Side Bar, they have to pour you the beer, into a plastic cup. And if it were evening hours, I could stroll around the park with it, too. But for daytime hours, I have to stay in the outdoor patio area that's fenced off. No big deal. Enjoyed, along side an order of Mexican Beef "Totchos" (read: Tater Tots)

Today, I got a quick visit in, to see any more stuff going on with the new coaster ..... uh, Land. Coaster queue was back up to it's usual hour+ wait. But there was more to come. People I mean. Here's the pix I took today. Enter the park, and this is the Coaster queue I see. Which will get MUCH BIGGER after 1 pm. (stay tuned) I'll try and remember this, next time I ride Kettle Creek. Looking through an Event Tent, to where Breakdance is 'dancing.' Wouldn't it be funny (not) if Coaster stopped right between those flags? Large shot of the new coaster site. Shaping all that dirt takes a lot of machines to do it, I see. Watering down the dirt. "The Mountains Shot" Had planned to try at least one of the Totchos combos offered. I stuck with the beef one. I was hoping that what I was now looking at, was indeed, sour cream..... It was. Very very messy. But I'd say it was pretty loaded from bottom to top. Went well with my Stella Artois. No Scramblin' happening today. Promised myself to get the Dark Fudge Apple this time. But now they several new fudge flavours! Arrrrrrrrgh! Nearly 1 pm, and I come out of the park, seeing these queues at the ticket booths. There was a new "deal" being offered to the GP... any Wednesday (of the three remaining, before the PNE opens), and ONLY after 1 pm, can you get "2-for-1" tickets to Playland! GRreat offer, right? That said, everybody and their families showed up. Also, no pre-buying online was allowed. You had to queue up here at the ticket booths to get the tickets, etc. And on and on. Blocked my view of any oncoming bus, but that was okay. Not my headache inside, for the next few hours!

^ Those are some really beautiful pizzas you've created, up above. What more can I tell you, except nom nom nom nom.... yum.

Last Wednesday (the 19th) I was finally able to get my first ride on Coaster, with it's new revamp and seat belt addition, etc. But it was due to something similar, that happened to me in the TPR China Tour in 2012. And that is, a board outside the park's entrance, shows what rides (usually coasters) are down for the day. Long story short, there was one coaster supposedly down, but started testing when we were there and BANG! All of us, off like a shot to get ahead of the queue, and get at least one ride in on it. The same happened with Coaster. Outside the gate, the board was there, with Coaster and another ride on it. I was shocked, then. I mean, again it's down??? But when I was in the park, I suddenly saw a train on the lift hill with gp on it!!! So I bolted as fast as I could to the station... and the rest is my Coaster History, lol. How the lineup looked, before everybody in the park, rushed to Coaster. Took only 10 minutes for my one ride... so far. Sooo close to riding it again. And the seat belts weren't that bad, I must confess. Still a great ride. There will be another photo coming up, like this one. Of Coaster, just running. A reminder about neext year. Noted. Mmmmmmm. As seen from the Ride Side Bar. With my Stella Artois beer. There is actually some nice landscaping touches in the park. Dealing the asphalt everywhere is not a landscape artist's dream. But they do a great job with what they're given. New for Playland. Um .. .it was open but nobody was there. I guess it was in pre-opening format. Back on the West Coast Wheel. Hardly any snow up there, now. Light crowd everywhere, as mostly everybody is now at Coaster, lol. Busy, busy. Decided to finally get some "home made" fudge, etc. But ..... They were selling no fudge slices. Only fudge was on the apples, Hmmm... So I got one with caramel all over the Granny Smith apple. Sliced it up and ate later. Was nice retro feeling. And I just noticed the more permanent (semi-permanent?) park snacks structure that is built. now. Hmmm. Could this be the start of the big extension in to a theme park that Playland is eventually aiming for? Stay tuned for that. And IMhO, the Ugliest On Ride Photo I have ever had taken! <shivers> But - First Coaster Ride in nearly 4 years! Review of Coaster: The Ride. I was allowed to ride single in the car, so that was nice of the guys. There is a rule about that. Has been for years. But usually they only push it, during the PNE itself, and/or special events like Fright Nights, etc. Anyway, getting on was easy. But when we got off, the line was now to the usually place I'd seen before. I used the seat belt, and found it was an easy strap that straps into the middle from which ever side you're on. It's then auto locked, but it doesn't really lock the strap. You can still push it out a bit, etc. Which worked awesome with the actual ride. You got bits of air time in the usual spots, but it was still trying to throw everybody around, and the push back with the belts was different, and actually fun! I didn't expect that it would be like this. So I came off Coaster very enthused (still), and would definitely ride it again and again.

Now that Coaster was open, starting this past week, I went to the park on Wednesday (12th), to check on it and see if it was worth it to ride it, now. Here's the short stack of pix I took of it, plus More Machines on the New Coaster site! Enjoy... A pleasant change on the Not Operating Board. Coaster's queue when I arrived. I wasn't too sure of how I'd cope with the heat, etc. So I passed, on this visit. It WAS nice to see a single rider in there. Hopefully I can do that, too... eventually. And "Up They Goooooooo"! This place, which used to be a second Coin Arcade, has been shut down since before Covid. Would make a nice, if small, dark ride bldg. And where I was planning to eat .... not open on this day. The bugs are whirling. Just a beer for the day, with no Mini Donuts bought. Call me old fashioned, but I do like the look of tattered flags. The new coaster site .... With more machines pushing and pulling all that dirt around! Nice. This is why Enterprise wasn't working. It's on a stationary "TILT". Whether random or intentional, I do not know. And a final Sky Shot.

Wow, Bert! Soooo much packed into that castle! Exhausting, just to look through all your photos, pic by pic. And that chest of drawers (blue with gold trim?) reminds me of those (are they called) Royal Doulton ware? Not too sure about that. And yes - ditto a BIG wish for a gift shop version of that statue, to buy. Love this all, and we're not even out of Denmark, yet!!!

^ Well, surprise, surprise! Maybe it'll happen... by the time the PNE opens, possibly/probably. I took 2 pix of them testing the train last week, Will show here. I'm now doing Wednesdays at Playland, since my partner has his Rock & Gem Club in the community centre across the street from the PNE grounds. So I grab a lift every Wednesday (starting last week), and after that, work my way back home on transit. No big deal. And that will get me at least 9 visit to the park, before the PNE starts up. Here's all I took of last week. Enjoy. Will pick some up later, with the $1 refill. I wonder if anybody uses this, at all. I never see anyolne using it, 'cept for pix. And this is KIDS' PLAYCE... Complete with Beaver Tails and Grilled Cheese Sammiches! Woo hoo! A few of the rides had their lights on. Skybender's light package looks very nice. Probably great at night. Two - two - two machines on clearing the dirt dirt. Nice. Oooooo, I see testing, there. And on the Reverse Curve. And I saw only one train run. Nothing after this sighting. There are other mountains to see from the West Coast Wheel. WOWZa! More of the same, as before.... With Stella. This time a hot dog. I ordered the Southern Comfort. It was messy, but good. Tomorrow, I plan to try one of the new food spots in the park....

^ Finally! I'm heading back to the park on Wednesday, so here's hoping .... knock wood.... salt over the right shoulder ..... 'usual precautions.' I haven't ridden Coaster since 2019, when my "beat my age" mini-marathon put me at 72 rides that season. 6 more than my (then) age of 66! And now this time, there's seat belts to contend with. But y'know? For my physical health, they may not be such a bad idea. For myself, anyway. And...... also ....... got my HAPPYLAND ticket, too! See you then! I'll be in the pink camo cap, lol. (like my avatar is wearing)

Just read this little article on chocolate and candy bars available ONLY in Canada. And not in the USA. Huh. I'd forgotten about that. Here's what was listed: Aero; Crispy Crunch; Caramilk; Coffee Crisp; Smarties (like M&Ms); Mr.Big; Wunderbar; Bounty; Big Turk (love the name!); and Mackintosh's toffee bar. But - has anyone in the U.S. actually found this stuff in stores (or parks) near where they live? Just curious. Also, Hawkins cheesies; Lay's Ketchup chips; and a lot of Maynards candies, including wine gums, and gummies galore!

A new photo has been posted, showing a part of ZOOTOPIA, itself, now built! And compared to the original artist's concept .... it looks damn good! The original art for a "street" in ZOOTOPIA. And voila! Looks really great. And THANK YOU to you who took this photo. Much appreciated. ^