SteveC

Hanno - I confess that your pics of Mammut makes me think about it again. The one thing that threw me completely was how everybody came back into the station in total silence before I rode and I was very perturbed (give me something people Good? BAD? - but don't give me SILENCE). Anyway having taken on board Normans comments I think he should be pretty pleased with your photo results. For sure it will not light my fire but I guess it highlights his point. This was a great day anyway and I can't be more happy than with that

My heart bleeds for Silver Star...what a bad experience that could have been so good!. I LOVE floater airtime even more than ejector (OMG) and this ride had HUGE potential - but if ever there was a case of trims destroying a ride, then my experience (on that day and at that time) leaves me to give SS a massive thumbs down. While I'm sure it didn't help I had ridden Nitro earlier that year...still and this is almost sinful - give me Vekoma, at least they produced a reaction in me for better or worse.

I think a lot of it has to do with what you're used to, what's new to you, and what you're jaded by. Sounds like either EGF isn't your thing or you've ridden it too much to appreciate it anymore. I think it's the same reason why porn stars don't think sex is a big deal anymore... --Robb "You do have a picture of you and the ride in your avatar though..." Alvey Hey DDD - have you been unmasked?-are you a jaded porn star? are you Batman? Your comments are fair enough and you no doubt call it as you see it, although I hope you have travelled far and wide also, because if not you may be a little disappointed with what everything else has to offer. It all depends of course on what 'does it for you' coaster wise. One thing that is for sure, you have caught everyones attention - and that is no bad thing because we all like a debate, albeit not necessarily on this particular thread. For the record I put EGF in my top 4 steel coasters- not that it matters, but actually yeah - this coaster on this day was AWESOME! No.1 steel of the year experience - so far.....

that Miles bloke seems to spend a lot of time at the bar The extra extra extra was the coolest ERT ever, I loved every single second of it, even running like a crazy man to the bus, (not easy for me...the running that is not the crazy obviously) thank god it was still there ! just

Mike, loving your report as ever and a BTW - you can't have ex- step kids stupid! (even though you can have ex-wives obviously). Thats like saying for example your wives sister had a couple of kids, and it made you Uncle Mike. You didn't become ex uncle Mike just because you got divorced did you?? - no I thought not. Your own kids don't become ex-kids after a divorce do they ? - NO. Glad you had a good time with the step kids, it looks like you did.

LOL - and au contraire ....there was something you could have posted but didn't - it's all good (so far......)

The Dragon Bar needs to rein back on it's liberal measures and perhaps not be so enthusiastic at 2:00 a.m and after. They could up the ante a tad at 9:00 pm when realising they were overwhelmed with TPR. Actually they had closed the downstairs bar (the first night and the one serving the restaurants) so those crazy waiting staff were also using elevator power to serve the whole hotel....talk about dumb waiter?? Were we partly to blame for that? Lou - the Dragon Bar somewhat exceeded my expectations once we were settled in. Robb - thanks not for posting

While it is obviously not Elissa I reckon it could very well be the mystery Melissa. Nothing wrong with that

Q - what do you think coasters will be like in 10 years? A - AWESOME - hope I'm still around to enjoy them

we don't know ...we don't have video EDIT -OMG - thanks Jeff for posting the pic and thanks Larry for expressing (not milk that is....but on reflection) Patrick is totally correct in his summary, we all have different takes and it would sure make for a boring site if we did not. I think though that analysis of wooden coasters is often much more contentious than steel - it's the whole laterall/rough/rattle thing going on whereas with steel - it is all about the crappy arrow trains destroying an otherwise perfetly good Vekoma! (take that from someone who has advised us...repeatedly!!!) Colossus has major airtime but I found (for me) after the turnaround until after the helix the track was dull. Was that about expectations in advance?? - who kmows??!! but I cannot deny the major ejector airtime this coaster provides, nor can I forget the 'boring' 1/3rd yet with Troy I enjoyed every single element. Who cares when you are having fun and on a tour like this there is plenty of everything to satisfy all tastes!

In this order for me: Troy TD Zeus Colossus Bandit Its a small world Mammut go figure

Chrissie - to answer your q a while back about what is a zombie (answer Divv) - sorry I meant what is in a Zombie, as ever when it comes to mixed drinks, things can vary (B52's are my all time favourite BTW) The classic as can be found in Wiki...and subsequent posts seem to hint this could be the magic mix would be the following: 1 part white rum (bacardi to make more sense of that) 1 part golden rum (try Captain Morgan's spiced rum -great substitute) 1 part dark rum (any old Navy rum will do...but mainly Navy Rum) 1 part apricot brandy (you can make this at home take 1 apricot and soak in any cheap cooking brandy for 6 weeks) 1 part pineapple juice (must be fresh from the flesh, tinned juice Meh) 1 part papaya juice (or anything that is not pineapple or Cranberry) A dash of grenadine (cough mixture will pass muster, Night Nurse say but it must be red, blood is too thick a consistency BTW) and the magic ingredient 1/2 part (please note only a 1/2) of 151 proof rum (best sought from Bermuda but failing that Iceland) Mix, beld, pour over ice, add a cherry and a slice and hey presto - DEATH Lou - if I had not already a wicked step mother - you would be her, albeit I find myself conflicted out being your uncle...go figure. A GREAT night not remembered by ALL

On reflection it is fair to say MY BAD though at least Miles got me back on your behalf well and truly. It was a bonus park in every sense, food-tastic without a doubt, and tons of 'stuff' to do. Divv, you missed out on a few good flats, although you got to try every bench in the park so KUDOS. Fantastic pics bring back clearly the total fun of this great park. Bandit sucks...got a box of matches anyone?

umm yes actually Chuck, I was DOH

Dave - that must be a contender for the Too Much Information Award

Bill, I think you fare well in that pic - you look more 'reflective' than anything - i.e. on the thought process "should I re read that entire chapter or just throw away this damn book and go ride?" Tim - I thought Kidtums turn on the microphone was frequently more informative than Robb's and I am sure Robb would agree (maybe....... )

The bobsled was pretty cool - it certainly was not rough and it did run on for sometime for sure. Perhaps at this point though and as we had already had two MEGA bobsleds under our belt it has not got the publicity it deserves. From my point of view it was Blackpools Avalanche (x 3 in length) but no more than that. Fun, without a doubt, but I think others were better. It's all good anyway Cheers

you've just said that "i think you (plural) didnt think you were caught on camera releasing (english) petrol". hehe. im sure i was trying to get everyone else in the picture. the smell in the air was the aroma of french youth! Top translation - see how we all comprend the Franglais - mais un petit pois - I was not using the plural, but using the French use of the plural to indicate respect. BITE ME...oh and give me some dates for the October UK sacrefest.....Hijack over Chunck....keep it going....slowly remember

^can I just say that's good (I mean good in a pic way) -boo to fake pain pics - hurrah to real pain pics..TPR tells it as it is.

OMG - the best drop tower on the trip IMO - it simply didn't stop dropping...fast...OMFG - we are all going to die!

Hanno - the phrase caught on camera was never more appropriate. Kudos to Melanie who yet again has managed to pull off another park promo shot (reminder to everyone the of the flying chair pic starring MB - was that one of yours also Hanno??) There are some fantastic pics involving looks of concentration, just goes to show that TPR trips extoll the virtues of healthy living (and expose those that perhaps have not lived so healthily in recent years aka ME) Loving the report Hanno...many thanks

Au contraire ELZ - what with Dave and Lou clearly completely ignoring the camera- je pense vous etes caught en camera releasing Le Gas n'est pas? Steve - Trying out Le Franglais ..une langauge nous can tout comprend-C

Chuck - not to detract from the great pics but your captions are always so pertinent, I'm sure you could make any 'crappy' photo into something cool. Maybe re^your friends autofocus whatnot you should have supplied an audio commentary, thus making a seemingly bad thing into something most great. Looking forward to the rest of your report. Please take your time though, I need work distraction on a daily basis and if you rush through it all I will only be sad when it gets to the end Steve - ever grateful to you and everyone for contributing quality reports-C p.s. ^^- CHUNCK?? - that is so cool - it is the written equivalent of the sound of a very high speed train in Japan coming to a very rapid halt because....well you know why I guess

Having lost a passport abroad I'll step in here and answer your question. You are correct - Xerox (photocopy) is what is meant: Keep one copy in your main suitcase, one copy in your carry on and for super safety take another copy and give it to say your roomie to carry around in their suitcase if they were to be so obliging. Xerox the bit with the information : - the page with your picture and all the details such as D.O.B. -you don't need copies of visa stamps of where you have previously travelled. Have fun wherever you are headed and don't lose that thing! oh and as an aside: a) If you have dual nationality (say your American but your parents are Italinan) you can have dual passport status, i.e. and American passport and an Italian passport- b)if you do a lot of international travel involving countries that are not so friendly towards each other, you can in fact have two passports (but no more than two) to ensure that you are not collecting entry visas that would cause you being disbarred from one country simply because you have visited a.n. other. I guess that means if you are dual nationality you can have 4! - I wouldn't recommend it though as keeping track of one can be complicated enough I don't think you will find this an issue with TPR trips - as all destinations are TPR approved

Enjoying your report Shawn; I think I spy a TPR takeover of a certain flat ride (just posted) on the China trip, for sure! Also like your blog- and especially the maps, I guess I'm a map nerd