TR: PPP Weekend 2005

[Mark Rosenzweig]

TR: PPP Weekend 2005

 

 

The Phoenix Phall Phunfest sure has grown. It has gone from a very

humble start to an event that draws nearly overwhelming crowds. In

recent years, the event has grown due to two main factors:

 

 

a)Well, it's Knoebels

b)Word of mouth, which has drawn locals out to the park for what is now

essentially an extended schedule to 10PM.

 

 

This year's routine was going to be very different. Most of us that

attended knew this, as weather websites predicted Elysburg to be along

the lines of Atlantis. Would the peak of Twister emerge from the

water? Does pizza float? Do patch jackets shrink in the rain? I

guess we would all find out in due time.

 

 

Hitting the road around 4PM from Parsippany on Friday afternoon, I knew

we were in for some fun. Your average Friday rush hour heading west on

I-80 was accompanied by a pretty nice downpour. So, 10 miles of stop

and go finally opened up. Crossing the Delaware was a cinch. It's

still raining, but we're doing all right. Jim McDonnell warned of

something that was seriously wrong right around the Buckhorn exit, and

that we should exit onto Route 11 and head west to Danville that way.

Only problem was that whatever this something was caused a massive

15-mile standstill back up on I-80. Finally onto Route 11, it appeared

as if everyone else did the same thing. Bottom line- it took nearly 90

minutes to get from the Susquehanna crossing on I-80 to BJ's

Steakhouse in Danville for some much needed brews and vittles. Would

it be the Chicago Steak? Twin Slabs? Prime Rib? Didn't matter.

Adam Revesz, Ellen Whitman, Derek Ruth, and Amanda made sure we had

just enough laughs with dinner to overcome that drive from hell.

 

 

Friday night was to be the popping for several Whispers Virgins. Dave

"Heartbreak Kid/Flare" Fraser, Adam, Ellen, Derek, Rollergator and

I headed over around 9:30 while Moosh, Amanda, and Jim made their

finishing touches to our Devo meets Fascination wardrobe for Sat night.

Gettin' Er Dun was never easier as it was Friday night. Putting a

few back while taking in the classic Whispers décor made everything in

life seem right for once.

 

 

Waking up Saturday to a nice bit of rain, we headed over to Knoebels in

search for some breakfast around 10 or so. Getting a spot at Camp RRC,

we spotted a few brave souls warming around the fire dreaming of days

with less water. After hooking up with Adam Sandy and finding nothing

in the Covered Bridge Fair, we headed off for the International Food

Court for a few plates of breakfast oddities. Knowing full well rain

and Knoebels don't mix (what with like 6 covered rides and midways

made of gravel), it was off for the first of several Fascination

Jaunts. While the rain was a bitch, it never really down poured.

During the day, we would take a ride or two here and there on the

carousel, scooters, flyers, and phoenix. It should be noted that

despite the dismal weather and lack of crowds, that every ride

scheduled to operate did just that. The swap meet was considerably

smaller this year, as several venders probably feared their goods

floating down roaring creek and into the unknown. Lunch was your

typical graze fest in the fair sucking down a few Rib-B-Ques,

periogies, and a tri-tater or two.

 

 

5:00 rolled around and our group of Moosh, Flare, Jim, Amanda, Adam

Sandy, and I found ourselves back at Camp RRC and changing into

Fascination Team. Bright red lids on our heads echoed the droplets of

water, as our nicknames adorned the back of our jerseys with

not-so-sticky stickers creating the image of the Fascination board on

our front-sides. As the moisture set in, and night drew to a close,

not one dot remained- but they could be spotted all over the park!

After a ride on the Haunted Mansion (where was everyone- only 5 minute

wait at 5:30) it was time for Pizza. With the parade set to march off

at around 7:30, we opted to wait up at the food court as any riding

would have surely ripped off our dots and ruined the effect of the

costume.

 

 

As it was, we didn't find out about winning second prize until Brian

and Rick Knoebel informed us of it up on the Twister platform around

9:00. I think Amanda and Jim were quite happy that their hard work

paid off. After a few more insane Twister rides (man was that thing

smokin') and one or two laps on the Phoenix (also running in great

form), 10:00 rolled around, and we looked like shit. Tired, wet,

grumpy, whatever. We were sure we'd hear of the announcement the

next day anyway, so we retired to the hotel after hitting the Sheetz

for some MTO goodness.

 

 

Sunday is traditionally PPP hangover day, but today I felt awake and

ready to go. No rain, cooler temps, but who cared? After a hearty

breakfast at Mom's Dutch Oven (or was it Kitchen?), we were back at

Knoebels for Jim was ready to golf. He assured us that all night, the

kind and friendly 80 year old Knoebels mini golf staffers were out with

their shop vacs clearing the course just for us. Truth be told, I

can't confirm if it was the 80 year olds or some wild squirrels, but

someone/thing was out there cleaning up and the course was quite

playable. Aside from one relatively flooded pin, the rest of the

course was fine.

 

 

With no crowds to speak of in the park and no rain with temps in the

low 60s, we knew it was going to be a great day. We hit nearly

everything in the park from the HSTC to the Sky Slide to the Cub Cars.

A few wicked cool Flyer rides with Trench Coat Willy yelling away

"Don't Whip it so Hard" coupled with more Fascination and

everything else that makes Knoebels great all made Sunday the best

hangover day I can remember (which of course followed perhaps the worst

PPP day). Had a great chargrilled prime rib sandwich for lunch with

some more fried goods and a quart of Apple Cider to wash her down.

 

 

5:00 came around all too fast, which meant another PPP had come to a

close. It was great to see (if all too briefly) Tim Melago, Dave

Sandborg, Jannandfucker, Dooley, Buddy, Dana, Rob Ascough, Wolf,

Rideman, Aunt Rose, and everyone else who knows who they are but whose

names aren't in my melted brain at this exact moment in time. Thanks

to the hearties who didn't let a little rain stop them from driving

out to the best park in the land. Special thanks to Amanda and Jim for

making us all believe in Devo and Fascination.

 

 

Here's to toes and atomic Phoenix bombs.

 

 

-Mark

[robbalvey]

Yes! A PPP Trip Report! We were beginning to worry that you all got washed away.

 

Glad to hear it all ended up working out.

 

--Robb "Any photos?" Alvey

[Nrthwnd]

Wow - at first I think we were all thinking it was going to be a pretty wet one there for all of you. Applause to Mom Nature, huh? Sounds like the real harsher storms, surrounded where Knoebel's is, lol. Which is/was a good thing!

 

Great TR.

[CoasterFanatic]

The Devo/Fascination costumes were the bomb. It was great to have met you even if it was for about 5 seconds.

 

"Trench Coat" Willie! - Hilarious!

 

// officially lectured by "Trench Coat" Willie

[Guest]

Robb, My TR is down the page a bit....

 

Ted, where the heck is your TR? lol

 

Mark, I am sure I ran into you at some point. I think around the haunted Mansion though we weren't introduced. I absolutely loved your costumes! Best I saw all day.

 

PPP was awesome, rain or not!

 

Katie

[CoasterFanatic]

Ted, where the heck is your TR? lol

 

Stupid Camera isn't working, so I will have to pull off the images at home.

 

And I got a bunch!

[Token Yankee Guy]

My PPP and DP TR wont be up till tomorrow since I can't get the pictures off my camera yet.

[Mark Rosenzweig]

Check 'em out at:

 

www.whispers.smugmug.com

 

Enjoy

 

-Mark

[Dailey Enterprizes]

I really wanted to go to my first PPP, but I wanted to attend my last high school homecomming aswell. It was worth it, Pictures.