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In the upper right...another face in process on Mt. Rushmore? This has been an excellent trip report and I look forward to the next installment. Eric

^ Right now, they're doing the season pass processing inside the old building to the right of the metal detectors. That's where I got my 2010 pass processed a couple of weeks ago. Eric

A few notes about your TR (I was also there from 6pm till closing): About the coins in the fountain sign, there was indeed a fountain at that spot once. In fact, it was once the site of Dancing Waters. I don't remember how long it's been gone, though. When I was at SFMM a couple of weeks ago, I did try a sample of the cranberry fudge. It wasn't great, but not too bad either. I heard the DJ say something about having a great 2009, and I thought "Isn't this 2010?" You guys did a nice job on the video. Not bad for a couple of guys from Ventura County! Eric "also from Ventura County" L.

Did you notice what they sold at the Phillips 66 station...wedding cakes. Isn't that romantic...you got your wedding cake at a gas station! Seriously, this looks like a nice part of the country. I have family in Spokane, and my grandpa was from Montana, so I really ought to get up that way and see some of that country. Eric

Make it three: How to Use an Apostrophe I never knew that site existed till today, believe it or not. But I love it already. Eric

^ When people can't spell, you have to wonder who was teaching when they were supposed to be learning. I've known teachers who, honestly, should have chosen a different career... Eric

I found this on Facebook. Everyone must read! 10 Words That Everyone Needs to Stop Misspelling (I like that it contains the difference between "its" vs. "it's," the misuse of which is probably my worst peeve.) And add No. 11 for us coaster nerds: Brake - A device for slowing or stopping something. Break - A gap between two or more objects, a period of time for rest from work. Eric

I still have a bunch of my 1960s vintage Hot Wheels. Yes, they made them back then. Eric

I'm old fashioned---I use a desktop PC with a 17" CRT monitor (16.1" actual viewable size). But I have Verizon FiOS (Internet provider) and Mozilla Firefox (browser), so it's sort of a wash. Eric

^ Nice report, and it was good to see you at the park. I never did find Jay, though. SFMM did a great job on this. I think the fireworks after the countdown were the best I've seen there---and I've been every year since 1971. Eric

I was impressed by the fireworks shooting off of the tower, and was less crowded than last Tuesday. Most rides were walk-ons or near walk-ons. Would I go next year? Maybe, depends on whether our casino night is canceled or not. One thing that bothered me was the fact that I could not find Jay Thomas just to say hi. He was walking around, but I just didn't happen to run into him. Eric

^ Sounds like Psyclone's mirror-image brother might meet the same fate at some point. Eric

^ That one on PCH up here in Ventura County? That's the only one I know of. I've been up and down that a few times. Today was lunch at Carl's Jr. with Diana, then we went to the store to get stuff that she's making to take to a New Year's Eve party. I'm not sure what I'm doing later (maybe SFMM's New Year's Eve party?), but it's always nice to spend time with your kid. I say that a lot here, but I enjoy it so much. Eric

Even though I've heard mostly bad stuff about Gwazi, I'd still like to ride it at some point. Also Kumba (closed during my only visit ever in 2002). But BGA is a very nice park and definitely worth visiting. Eric

If anyone is at SFMM right now and has/can read this, how crowded is the park today? It was crazy on Tuesday and I thought about going to the party later on, but not if it's busy. Did that make any sense? Eric

SFMM already tore down my two least favorite coasters. But I'll also go with CGA's Grizzzzzz-z-z-z... See? It's so boring I fell asleep typing its name... Eric

^ I have ridden Superman with both sides running...at the same time! But to be fair, it was during a Discovery Channel coaster show shoot, so they did it on purpose. Eric

^ While Terminator is not extreme in the least, it is what the park wanted to attract more family members. It certainly could have been longer, though. Interesting...still nothing about the new coaster. Not even its name as of yet. Eric

^ I'll bet they ran out of locks. Eric

I posted my 1971 Magic Mountain map on that site---and totally forgot about it till it was linked here. It's too bad the guy moved out of the area and no longer updated it. He really had a great start on documenting the park. Eric

I remember one kind of Creepy Crawler was edible...sort of an early Gummi candy that you made yourself. Eric

^ Actually, I read someplace that Newhall Land & Farming bought that coaster from an old L.A. area kiddieland and it dates back to 1947. It opened with the park in 1971 as the Clown Coaster, then became Wile E. Coyote Coaster, then Goliath Jr., and now Percy's Railway. Sad to say, I was too big to ride it even back in 1971, so that's the only SFMM credit that I'll never have. I was out there for awhile today, and when I parked out past Scream!, I knew I was in for some crowds. All I rode was Gold Rusher (with the line halfway down the ramp), Terminator (with the line out to the middle of the midway), and Superman--The Escape (with a half-hour line). At one point, S:TE was running both sides, but ended up running only the left one. X2's line was all the way down the bridge, almost to Revolution Plaza. If I had stayed longer, I could have done more, but I just didn't feel like it. Eric

Lunch at Del Taco: $4.91. Eric

^ Trust me, it isn't just you; though in my case I wouldn't say "hate." Eric

^ Young. < Middle aged (and not offended ) V Aged for years in a cellar!