bgwfreak

I feel for anyone riding this weekend. 4 hour waits. Mark my words! Borg was a 2 hour wait opening weekend with 1 train running. As crowded as KI gets, I can't even imagine how long the lines will be if it breaks down (like all of Flying Dutchmans do). Maybe they called up Carowinds, because Borg is actually very reliable now and almost always runs both trains (hey, how about that SFA!!)

^ Actually the one I tried was the caffeine free version. I think they just came out with it not too long ago. But don't waste $30 on it.

Well I seem to be back on track again...I'm back down a total of 49lbs as of this morning!!! Word of advice, don't ever try Hydroxycut. It's a total ripoff and it didn't make me lose a bit of weight and actually gave me headaches! I was just curious if it would help me boost my metabolism, but all it did was suppress my appetitie, which was good I guess.

I did something today I haven't done in a very long time. I bought a LARGE sized sweatshirt (on clearnace of course)!!! It's been a very long time since an XLarge was too big on me. I think I'll probably fit on TTD and MF now, but I'm still trying to lose another 10lbs. But as it's 3 weeks from yesterday, I've resigned myself to the fact it might not happen. Doesn't mean I haven't been doing all I can to lose weight. Free weights, cycling, aerobics, walking. And just being more active. Oh and watching calories and fat...that's what I'm doing. Thanks for the many encouraging posts and to my fellows that are in this struggle...you can do it! I'm 46lbs lighter and if I can do it without surgery, then YOU CAN TOO! Wow I sound like Richard Simmons.

Great PTR! Ireland rocks! I can't wait to go there someday as I'm part Irish. This pic is kinda funny. It looks like nothing I saw in Mexico, looks more S. American to me. lol

The trains just look rediculous. It looks like a movie theater on wheels!

Not sure if this has been posted or not... WRAL did a live onride yesterday! http://wral.com/entertainment/video/1419806/ They will have the coaster open May 18-24 and then the grand opening on the 25th. Hmmmm...same day as Ghost Town's reopening.

When did they shorten TTD? Or did they make Sky Hawk taller?

To get to it you just took a left at the Festhaus and walked towards the Black Forest picnic grounds. Instead of going right to the picnic area, go to the left a bit. I think they still have the gate there, but it's been about 4 years since I was up there. There was not a train station at Drachenfire. I loved how the train would wind between a few of the supports on Drachenfire. The coaster wasnt' great or anything, but I still don't like the fact that it was just scrapped without so much as an explanation from the park. I just wonder what that ride would have been like in the hands of B&M. lol I liked the ride, but like I said it wasn't the greatest.

The ride was no more painful than any other Arrow looper IMO. It had one very bad element that they removed early on, but I never rode it when that was there so I don't know...but I've seen pics and it looked awful. There were rumors that Busch was going to be sued because of an injury on the ride, but that never was confirmed at all. It was a decent Arrow looper, but nothing that special. The glow-in-the-dark trains were awesome though at night. It amazes me that a so-so ride like this still is being discussed so many years later.

Hmmm...that looks familiar Oh yeah... Thanks for the report. Can't wait to get up there next month for Coastermania.

I've been back to cycling for about a month seriously (before that on and off) and yesterday after my 5 mile ride I was like...hey that was actually pretty easy! When I started back I'd be out of breath by the end of the ride and yesterday it was like...ok what next. lol Running is not for me, especially at my weight. That's just a lot more to run around with. lol

Hey guys... just posted my review/story over on TN if you want to check it out.... http://www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_view.php/1984/thrillnetwork_tours_ghost_town_sky.html

That email goes around every year now (I got it this year too). Honestly, the amount of people that would actually do this is so small that it won't even make a difference. And what if we all did? It's not like we can go weeks without gas. We'll just all go get gas the next day, so what. I honestly get so sick of these types of emails going around. Boycott Disney, Gas, whatever, you name it. What I find funny is that this email has been going around, even before the jacked up the prices after Katrina. Someone really needs to get a life and stop sending the stupid thing. I wish more people would do like me...delete.

Here's an updated pic of me... You can really see a difference in my face now. 2 years ago (in the center obviously). Me.

Actually the scale is a very goo thing for me. The reason I got up to 300lbs was because I was in denial and had no clue how big I had gotten. I just kept buying bigger pants. I do agree though that you can be obsessed with it, but for peole like me that are still about 30-40lbs overweight, its a good idea to weigh at least once a week. Also, commenting on two posts up, you have to remember that carbs react differently in people. We all have different metobilisms and body types. If I were to eat a ton of bread and pasta, I'd gain weight like mad.

Try the muscle mass shakes. Those will make you gain, or at least they did for me.

I can't believe how busy it was that day you were there. Except for 2 exceptions, every time I'm there it's like 10 minute wait for all the coasters. Another great PTR!

Someone over on another site did this and I thought it was a cool idea. I walked around on my lunch break one day and took a bunch of shots of downtown. These are all South of "The Square" (center of Downtown). I'll be taking the shots North of the Square sometime soon. Charlotte has a very modern downtown for a Southern city, most of our buildings that were older have long been torn down. Enjoy these... if you like architecture and such. Grande Disco with Bank of America Corp. Center in back. That's all for now...more pics to come. Bank of America Corporate Center. Also seen in Shallow Hal. Ritz-Carlton Charlotte under construction. Get ready for those $300 a night rooms! EpiCenter under construction. It will feature a 53 story condo building, a movie theater and a bunch of other stuff. If you saw the trailer for Shallow Hal (Jack Black movie) then this clock was in the trailer. Most of the movie was filmed in Charlotte. Convention Center with Westin Hotel in background. Convention Center. Fountains at The Green. Charlotte is one of the last Southern cities to get a MLK Jr street. The Westin Hotel. Kinda unusual look for Charlotte. 1 Wachovia. Or as we called it "The Jukebox". Latta Arcade. Apparantly there used to be a farm here owned by Mr. Latta. This is an older indoor shopping/lunch place. This was the facade of an old florist that they used in a new building called "The Green" Notice the cool old Spanish Mission look. Another remodel job. 2 Wachovia...I think. Several buildings downtown were converted or remodeled recently. This used to be an office building, but now is condos. Wachovia's original headquarters in Charlotte. It kinda has that 70s look to it...since it was built in the 70s. 3 Wachovia. One of the newer buildings. We'll start with where I work...the Bank of America Plaza (background). Foreground is what used to be an old Home Federal Bank building, but will soon be "The Trust" ($1,000,000 condos). Oops...I forgot one. This is the Charlote Plaza...or as we call it "Darth Vader" (because it's black and silver).

Looks like you guys had a fun time as always. Wish I could have made it.

This isn't really a weightloss update, but just kinda a cool thing I did over the weekend. I hiked up and down the Tullulah Gorge in Georgia Thursday. The thing is something like 1099 steps up and down! I was very proud of myself for doing the entire thing and not giving up. But after about 300 steps, the only option is to turn around and go up that many steps, so you're pretty much stuck with doing the whole thing after a while. I know two years ago I would have never survived that climb. And my back didn't even hurt at all either!

^ Yeah Intamin is a bunch of Nazis. Since losing my weight I've only been denied a few rides. One was SFStl's Superman drop tower. I HATED that too because it looked freaking awesome! I don't understand it either, it had the same seats as Drop Zone at Carowinds, yet their seat belts were like half the length! Yes, I was about 20lbs heavier then than now but come on. Last Saturday (week ago) I was out at Carowinds and I got 3 CLICKS on Top Gun for the first time in YEARS!!! I was more excited about that than riding Top Gun!!! I also have tons of slack on Drop Zone now and before they had to stapple me in and pull the seatbelt all the way to the end of the belt to get it to lock. The most recent ride I was denied was the Lumberjack Lifts at Dollywood on April 13. The restraints are only for very thin adults and kids apparantly because I couldn't get the thing to lock and they aren't allowed to push on it. And my most painful stappling story was also at Six Flags St Louis on Mr. Freeze. In order to lock me in with their stupid short belts, they pushed so hard that it jammed...my...well...manhood, ok my balls. It hurt like the dickens for a while. But the ride was really great. Just stupid that their belts are so short and KD and KI have the same restraints and yet their belts are much longer. I've lost 46lbs to date if anyones counting. I've been busting it this past week. I'd better lose some this week! I was looking at myself working out last night and was liking what I was seeing. I'm starting to look like I did about 3 years ago again.

I was going to head back to Lake Winnie again April 14, but rain was moving into Tennessee, so I headed home instead. Glad to hear Cannonball (my #100) is still running great! I chickened out on the Fly O Planes, I'll muster up the courage next time.

Where exactly was the Scrambler? I never saw it and didn't know where to look either since i had never been to the park before. The park has a LOT to do in the next month, but I'm sure they'll pull it off. That would be the illustrious Hopkins. http://www.rcdb.com/id234.htm

Edit: Just posted my review for TN...check it out here: http://www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_view.php/1984/thrillnetwork_tours_ghost_town_sky.html Hey guys and gals. Last Thursday, the 12th I had the opportunity to take a construction tour of Ghost Town in the Sky, Maggie Valley, North Carolina. It was on my way to Dollywood so I asked them if I could stop by. Ghost Town in the Sky is a small park that was started back in 1961 during the whole huge Gunsmoke, High Noon, general Wild West popularity of the times. To make a long story short, it closed in 2002 and will reopen with new owners May 25 of this year! For those that knew the previous owner, David at the park said that he and his wife (depending on their health) will try and make it back on the 25th for the grand reopening. It's located on top of a mountain in Maggie Valley and the Ghost Town section of the park is themed to a 1880 wild west town. I'll be writing up a more detailed review for www.thrillnetwork.com , but for now enjoy the pics! Also if you'd like full resoluation (3.1 mp) then click here: http://travel.webshots.com/album/558698799EZkqKI Joey moved to NC? Huh? That's about it folks. Again, check out my full res versions if you'd like to. The mountain shots are great in full resolution! Almost done...but not before my red Beetle would attack me! When getting back in the car the wind caught it and slammed it on my leg! Ouch! Trying to be all artsy with the new walkway bridge. An overview of the front of the park entrance and the mountain/hill where the Incline Railroad and Chairlifts will go up the mountain. You can check out the new logo of the park here... this is NOT product placement either. I did NOT get paid $50 by this guy to put his phone number on the internet. Schwarzkopf coaster! Where? Seems to remind me of a Spielbergh movie for some reason (Close Encounters). The whole gift shop has that retro 70s look to it...except it was probably BUILT in the 70s! In the gift shop (if you hadn't figured it out yet)...do I hear $200 for this lovely "slightly" used chair lift seat? I'm hoping they decide to put this back on the scrambler before starting it up in May. Grrrr! I thought I told you to get off my mountain! Alright already. I'm going! If you look really hard you can see the new drop tower going here. Gunslinger (Chance Yo Yo) waits to be put back together. Being flung over the mountain's edge is going to be fun! Children (and Dan) close your eyes! Now now. George Bush this is not appropriate immigration enforcement. For shame. This is David King from the park. Great guy to take me around. The worker dude looks like I just shot him! Even more townage. A long shot towards Lake Junaluska. Maggie Valley is down below. It was a gorgeous day. Great for pics. Lake Junaluska (sp?) is off in the distance (a great place to visit too). Inside the church it looks like it's brand new again. The Frontier Church. They will actually have services here on Sunday. This is the only park I know of besides Dollywood that will have a working church. I think this will be a western wear shop. So you too can look as goofy as John Travolta did in the 70s. Hit me up with a sasperilla (sp?) will ya? The Silver Dollar Saloon will be back open for business soon. Looking in the shops and such...Somehow reminds of a 1940s shop in one of those old TCM movies. Doesn't this just look like something straight out of High Noon? I almost expect to see Gary Cooper come walking out. More townage. The little kiddie coaster waits for a new station. Sorry coaster whores, I think this one is going to be too smal for ya. Oh wait, I forgot which site I was on! They've really been busy cleaning and painting and restoring all the old buildings. Some of them look brand new now! The little train that could (and will) run again. Tommy this guy was asking about you. Care to explain? Oh wait...nevermind. Time to head into town. Ghost Town (the park) is split up into several sections, all on different levels of the mountain. *snickers* Custard's Last (Ice cream) Stand (and porta potty). If you saw Tommy & James' report a couple years ago, you might remember the washed out section. It's not anymore! New retaining wall and all. Glad to see men and cowboys can both use the Coke machine. Helix next to the restaurant sporting the new colors. A new restaurant will provide great views of the mountains and the coaster right next to it. And another shot shows how low down on the hillside/mountainside it really is. Here's an angle of the loop I've never seen. You can see how close to the ground you get. The new colors are: track- yellow / trains -red / station - blue. They will all kinda match the new logo for the park. Grrrr! I'm the angry coaster on the mountain named Red Devil! Oh wait, I'm what is it...Cliff Hanger. Grrr...gimme some candy! The incline at the top. The incline reaches inclines up to 77 degrees! Almost Millenium Force! David King (who took me around) trys to jump out of my shot of the chairlift footers at the top. Ha! Gotcha David! The incline is either the steepest or close to the steepest in the USA. On the road to the top. Scary is not even the word! This was a very steep road up and down! The park said that the Incline Railroad cars/trains will look less like cages when they are done with them. This is their original look. Hmmm... What would this be? I decided it had been far too long since I sat in Charlotte traffic. But instead I drove the other direction. Ha! Suckers! What good PTR on TPR wouldn't start out at Elissa's favorite place?