DerekRx

Thats a bit disappointing, as Rita is my least favorite Intamin Rocket coaster. Maybe the theming can still save the concept a bit, as Rita just doesn't really work as a dragrace in Cavemanland.

I would just assume the Coca Cola Coaster is just a mock-up because Coca-cola is from Atlanta, where the tradeshow is this year. Unless Renegade or the Toverland coaster are sponsored by Coke (which would be awesome at Valleyfair!) ^And I'd agree with you on the Goliath car.

I would have risked riding without ponchos had I not ridden that evil duck flume at Alton previously and gotten a pair of jeans soaked as well as my shoes (which eventually I tossed). As for Nicole, she was already down 1 pair of shoes on day 2 of the trip

My answers won, but Guy's were the most creative Hopefully I can make it out to the Spain, Midwest, and Japan release parties, especially the ones I wasn't on so I can make some pretty smart @$$ comments

^^Yup, hit the nail on the head with that one! (and you didn't even need to use your Balder hammer)

Since its the middle of November, I figured it was a good a time as any to finish off the last of the Oktoberfests. Next up, the Left Hand Oktoberfest Great flavor, reminds me of being in Germany First up, the Paulaner Oktoberfest Great flavor and a nice alcohol presence. Possibly better than the Munich brews, but made here Stateside!

Using the PMTBO track as building supports is the coolest idea ever! From the pictures, it looks like its right at the reverser section, but since its Blackpool and not Six Flags, they probably covered the inside portion up too to complete the theme. I miss Valhalla

Thats pretty cool, a much better idea than the Gerstlauer spinners. I'm anxious to see the layout for it, but if its a Mack it'll already be unique with this "free spinning". Watch, this will probably end up being the best coaster at Knotts (next to Montezooma, the way it used to run).

This PTR makes me miss Busch, and Mario Paint

I miss the Ice Bar ...and Balder! When's the next add-on to Liseberg?

One final pumpkin for me to try tonight, the infamous Post Road Pumpkin Ale. At first smell I was like "oooh, spicy. I don't know what they're talking about!" Then I took a sip. Where the heck the pumpkin spices went, I have no idea, but they weren't in my beer! Tasted just like a typical amber ale to me. So, like everyone said already, blah to Post Road Pumpkin! I want the bottle to say "have you seen my spices?" Heath was only happy to give me this one to try

Its true that the pain does rely heavily on where you get it placed. The more muscle or fat the less painful, the more bone and nerve endings the more painful. Never regretted getting a tattoo as they're all symbolic of something in my life. I never went out and got a tribal tattoo just because they were cool or anything like that. But it also needs to be something you'll still be happy with when you get older. All my tattooes are covered when I wear clothing, no Mike Tyson tribal junk on my face or stuff like that. Its something to definitely consider when picking a location, keeping it covered in case you ever are professional. In fact, my first tattoo was covered always unless I was topless, which really only happened when I was in a bathing suit. As long as you care for the tattoo like instructed by the artist, you should be fine (assuming you go to a real tattoo parlor where they use sterile stuff). The only problem I've run into is ingrown hairs from having to get my legs shaved, but they go away eventually. All that said, I see you're 15 and I agree with your parents decision to tell you to wait. While I'll support my children if they want a tattoo, I think they need to wait until they're 18 to do so, which is when I got my first one. Theres a reason kids can't just go out and get tattooes, you may regret it more in the future. But if you wait until you're older, maybe you won't have that desire anymore, or perhaps your tastes will change and the "ying yang" or Mickey Mouse you wanted to get since you were 10 now suddenly doesn't seem as cool. Plus they aren't the cheapest things to get!

Glad to see we'll have another body to join us for our traditional "Anti-Ohana" dinner. Next time hopefully at California Grill! Great series of reports, a good honesty to pretty much everything.

mmmm, Balder, Kanonen and sling shot game. Even if that girl "loses" she still got to go to Liseberg, and therefore she's the big winner! Next time, just put the thing on mute

I think part of the reason Blue Man Group is going over so well with Universal is because you don't need to buy a park admission just to see it, as it will also be accessible from outside in Citywalk. My whole problem with the show is pretty much the same as every other show at a Six Flags, it lasts for about 2 seasons and then thats it, the show leaves and all that remains is an empty building. No memory remains of what used to be there (which IMO means it was a waste of money). While this may be a good way to end the days experience at the park, I don't think its going to force people to stick around. No one is going to fight long lines, rude/lazy operators, mediocre food, smoking people, and the heat at a Six Flags park for more time than usual just because "it'll look pretty tonight". If all the other problems were also addressed (much like they were supposed to last year) then I could see this benefitting the chain. But no family is going to say at 6pm "we're tired, rode 5 rides total, spent $90 on food, and are pretty fed up with this place. Ooooh, but in 3 hours there'll be jugglers and cool lighting. Lets stick around!" One of the reasons why BMG will work is because Universal IS a resort. Six Flags is a local park that you go to for a day trip, and even the GP knows Six Flags as the place with all the thrills, especially in Texas where they had the first thrill rides like the runaway train and log flume. No child is going to remember the Six Flags show they saw with mommy and daddy 20 years from now, they'll remember their first roller coaster. When it comes to remembering the shows and parades, that's Disney's job.

Tonight was the Pumpkin Patch Ale from Wild Goose for me. A good average pumpkin ale as I could taste both pumpkin and spices, but it wasn't overly loaded with either one, just a nice blend throughout. Not overly spicey, nor too much alcohol taste nor pumpkin taste. Nice flavor throughout, but its not Selins Grove Pumpkin! check me out, I'm pumpkin!

I don't think Disney needs a thrill park, just to continue to add some thrill rides to the existing parks. Maybe even make some thrilling enough for the whole family to experience together. While Everest may not be the most thrilling coaster, I found it to be fun, and well worth 5 trips to Disney this year from me. And nothing to me beats the thrills of Tower of Terror.

I don't know how much money was put into this show, but it seems like a bigger waste of money than any sort of ride. Looking back at the majority of shows (especially at a SF park), they have like a 2 year lifespan. While the whole nighttime atmosphere may be neat, it also seems like a heck of a lot of people to employ. So now instead of having every ride opened and running maximum capacity, we're going to have 40 photographers and a bunch of jugglers running around. Its a cool concept, but I don't see it lasting too long, not at a place like SFOT. SFFT I could see (or other parks well known for their shows, as hey attract more showy people; like Dollywood, SDC, etc). But yeah, a SF park is NOT where I'd think to go see a Cirque show. "Ferget Vegas honey, put on yer best cowboy boots and hat, we're going to Six Flags to see Cirque!"

Woohoo! And here I thought I'd have to try to cram in a trip to Texas again in 2007. Pfffew! That was a close one! Let's watch SFOTs attendance go thru the roof next year!

^Starliner had no real redeeming qualities to it. The tunnel was kinda cool, but it offered no real sensations at all, no airtime, no laterals, no sense of speed, just like Southport's Cyclone. Some wooden classics are a lot of fun, like Phoenix, the trio at Kennywood, the Blue Streaks, Coney Island Cyclone etc. Heck, even Dragon at Rye Playland is a pretty fun ride, while not having a load of thrills, its good for the family. But just because something is old doesn't mean it needs to be salvaged, especially if its ridership wasn't much even when it was opened and was the only roller coaster at the park it existed at previously. I can think of a whole lot more classic woodies that I'd like to see moved and saved from the wrecking ball before Starliner; like Screechin Eagle, Idora Wildcat, the original Twister, and the Lincoln Park Comet.

Sorry you missed out again, dude. Maybe if you go back later on in the winter it won't be as crowded, perhaps in early December, especially on a Sunday. Of course, by then maybe those coasters will be closed for annual rehab. Someday you'll get on them, assuming you have the tolerance to keep going back there!

Since we came up with nothing at Westy's for right now, we decided to stop off at a rare place that sold by the bottle in York before retiring to home for the evening. and so, another BACT weekend has come to a close. Even Kim can handle Rodimus Prime if she's got a Lindemanns and the night ends the way it should, with dessert beer in the form of Lindemann's Pomme (apple) While I seek the consolation of the Stone Levitation Ale, also new to sale in Pennsylvania Traumatized by Optimus' death, Heath can only find comfort in a Stone Pale Ale She do make some good popping corn! and so in 20 years ago fashion, Kim breaks out the Jiffy Pop! And while watching Unicron devour everything in site, its only appropriate that we do the same Just for Robb, Transformers The Movie 20th Anniversary Edition We've got our first beer, now its movie time! Pretty good stuff, more hoppy than citrus First up, the Southampton IPA With our selection found, its time to go home and enjoy them Wow, Thirsty's can actually sell 6packs AND singles, though they charge a pretty penny

Next on our tour, it was back thru Harrisburg on the way to York, so we decided to stop off for dinner at one of the other ABC branches, this time in Camp Hill. What used to be a Kokomos is now a lovely little brewpub with some great stuff on tap and some excellent food. I can't wait for the one in Lancaster to open. With a new style of beer each month, it'll definitely be mug club worthy. mmmm, Arrogant Bastard Heath was all about the Buttmonkey, but I told him to hold off until next weekend when its free I'm pretty sure this Heresy is from last season They're a distributor of Stone goodness. Now if only PA would allow the Oaked to be sold here! LOL, backside self serve! Afterwards, we decided to look for some beer to take home. First stop, Westy's Backside Kim also went with a burger while Heath had the bangers and mash Their burgers were really tasty, almost as good as Union Jacks Very tasty with a nice spiced flavor. Much better than the Abbey Wright stuff I had earlier Since it was still on tap, I decided to go with the Hinterland Hefe, their July special Heath dug it with its multitude of spices like coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. New this month is the Grinnin Grizzly, a spiced amber ale They brew some of their own stuff here too, though most of it comes from Harrisburg For peoples like Dave and Janna, they even have wine taps! 2 hours later, we arrive in Camp Hill's Appalachian Brewing Company. Good thing we used call ahead seating!

After Selinsgrove, it was about an hour drive up to Williamsport to check out their local scene. First up was Bullfrog Brewing. Right next to City Hall, it was a pretty cool looking place, reminded me a bit of how Bethlehem Brew Works used to be back before they got all country clubby. Each having 1 of the 4 things they had of their own, we ran away, back towards civilization. (more pics to come soon) I went with the Blueberry Wheat (a summer beer). It had a fruity smell, but not like blueberries, and had no taste of anything, not wheat, not blueberries Heath went with the newly tapped Pils. It was a bit on the weak side They sure didn't have much on the menu, especially for the time of year it was Following Bullfrog it was a quick jet over to the Valley Inn, home of Abbey Wright Brewing. It was a shady place though and we was scurred. We thought it was kinda cool how the whole brewing process is right behind the bar, no glass windows or anything The smoked porter wasn't too shabby, but it was no Stone Smoked Porter Heath's favorite part was the merchandise cabinet though The ESB was pretty decent, but I still liked the IPA the best As for me, I went with the sampler for $7 so I could try everything Heath goes right for the Edgars IPA, very citrusy with some hop kick Cool tap handles though. The roots are for the Root beer Bullfrog Brewing, heard about them, don't think I ever tried anything they make

Saturday would see us returning to a new favorite brewery, followed by some other breweries in north central PA. And so, without further delay, here's the "Susquehanna River Route Brew Tour" Even Kim dug the coffee hints in this stout. Trifecta obtained, it was off to check out some other brews in the area Lots of coffee and espresso character to this one, definitely something I'd prefer drinking in the morning to coffee The last of the trifecta to obtain, Grizzly Stout After getting the Hop Nouveau, we saw the Pumpkin was kicked. Score for us, though that meant no growler for later It was parents weekend at Susquehanna University, so the SGB was pretty packed with a 45 minute wait. Glad we got here when we did And that was pretty tasty stuff, not as good as the Sierra Nevada Harvest ale, but still great, considering they used their local produce. Heath's was colder than mine, but they pretty much tasted the same I got it on the engine, whereas Heath got it from the wall. Part 2 of the Trifecta, the Hop Nouveau, their home brewed Harvest ale, using the hops from right out back For a snack, I got some Tex Mex Gazpacho. Awesome! Best Pumpkin Ale of the year! Can't wait until next year to have another. Heath gives a big thumbs up. Awesome stuff. Great smell, great taste, nice and creamy from the nitrogen Score one Pumpkin Ale for each of us. Hope its good! Once again, lots of awesome stuff on tap, all brewed there. But we came hoping for the trifecta. First up, Pumpkin Ale Shortly after noon we arrived back at Selins Grove Brewing 3 minutes later (you see that Adam) here's ABC's Harrisburg branch We started off with a quick drive by Troegs since it was on the way