24 Jun --- 27 Jun pt 1-lenghthy

[GreyFolded65]

This long time lurker has finally gotten around to step out from the shadows after discovering this site about a year ago after my 2 day visit to SFGAM. The following is my trip report on my recent journey up north from the Capital City. It must be noted that my prose is somewhat lengthy, as I write as a hobby of sorts.

23 JUN 06--->Friday

Finally the van was loaded, daughter Cassie, son Max, and his friend Jerry and I were finally on the road after a top off of the gas tank (2.95/gallon in ole Springpatch). It is a bit of drive from Springfield to Batavia where my sister has her residence and the drive was pleasant enough. It was there we spent the evening. It was far more practical to stop there for the night rather then driving up all the way to Illinois Beach State Park where we would be homesteading for the next 4 days.
24 JUN 06--->Saturday


It was just after the crack of dawn when my good ole biological clock rang and I jerked awake...the day I had been planning since last years excursion, had arrived and not a moment too soon. I woke the youth of america gently at first, then used a little more force since they were moving like pond water. My sister made coffee per my request, though it was "French Vanilla" (blech) but it was all she had and I was thankful to have it, though flavored coffee is, IMVHO, an abomination. I hurried the kids into the van and ventured back out on the road. I had made it clear to the kids that on day 1, we would first hit the campsite and set up before hitting the Park. It was a decent drive on the loverly tollway system to the campsite. The kids got their peek of the day at the Park as we passed it heading north on 94. Jerry, who had never been to SFGAM was impressed w/ the hardware visible from the road. I told them we would be there soon enough. It was only a little ways to Zion (after passing the 1.50 toll booth north of the Park) and then the campsite. We set the tent up as quickly as possible then deposited our gear then motorvated back to the park the way we came, after giving the toll-person their due, we were in the park. A quick trip to guest relations for the purchase of 4 season passes was the first stop of the adventure and then into the park.

First stop inside was pass processing and then it was Whizzer Time! Line was lengthy but didn’t care. Whizzer is a great way to begin the 4 day visit. Whizzer completed then on to Demon, daughter rode it last year 1x and declined this opportunity and chose to wait for the boyz while I shuffled over to everyone’s favorite Big Blue Lawn Ornament, da Vu. It was running, though the line was maxed out. I had to ride, choice had been taken away from me at this point. I have been waiting for a year to return to it and NOTHING was going to stop me from riding it the first day. I had never had a line pass @ SFGAM and was given one when I entered and it was odd, though in someways, much like holding a ticket to a grateful dead show as you wait in line; you know what is at the end of the line and you know it is good so you hold on to your piece of paper until you are ther. Well it went down for a bit while in line, then back up.

I had a nice conversation w/ a gentleman and his girlfriend while shuffling (line moved too slowly for my building enthusiasm) to the loading platform; He had never been on the Vu. I told him it was my personal fave, though due to rider demand and the frequency of the downtime- it was best to get it out of the way before moving on. Orange saftey belt buckled, harness down, lower floor, out back door....bliss for 1min 34sec(ish) and then hooked up with the youth at the Demon exit. Flush with post first Vu excitement, I was in dire need of tobacco, lucky there was the designated smoking area in really close proximity to Vu and I took the opportunity while the youth rode the cars.
I informed the kids that I would be heading for the Raging Bull next and no force that they possessed could stop me in this endeavor. My daughter rode the flats, Jerry took his first Bull ride with me my first, second and I think the third time around. My son Max, as predicted, could not bring himself to follow us and did the good brother and kept a eye on the daughter as she rotated through the flats. Jerry was a bit apprehensive on the walk up to the loading platform and on the lift hill, but after the first drop on the turnaround, he was quite ok and really enjoyed it. He said it was awesome, but I already knew this. My all too short bull run ended and we then wandered counter clockwise into the park, stopping at the flats that attracted the kids.

The Eagle called me forth, and after some discussion told my kids to meet me at fiddlers fling while Jerry and I tackled the AE-Blue. I did not ride it last years visit- my friend did not like the look of the backwards faced cars as the first choice, so last year we did a single red run. The run was ok, but it was clear that AE needs some work. I remember 10+ years when it was a heck of a lot smoother. Overall it was a good run, just a little extra bumpy and the trim was a little overdone, though probably to reduce wear and tear on the track. It is at this point I must make a comment that I hope will fall on the ears of one of the “powers that be”: Please, pretty please, ultra pretty please with sugar on top, take the AE off line next year, spend the $$$ (I know it is a lot of dough) and re-track the entirety of the American Eagle for the benefit of future generations of riders who will never get the chance to experience it to its potential, the technology is there. That’s concise enough on the American Eagle track and the pitiful length of the line. I heard multiple comments from many riders that is was a little rough and they did not want a re-ride and I felt some measure of sadness on overhearing such comments especially in comparison to my recollection of ages past. Jerry liked it, and also commented on the roughness of the ride and the speed trims were noticed by him, especially the helix.

The two of us met up with my kids at Fling and looked with a suppressed longing at the Iron Wolf and put it out of my mind, kids first this day. We started to move further into the park when they decide to hit the water park. We set the time of 4pm to meet at Whizzer exit. I watched them depart then range walked to Batman, line was long but I was closer to it than Wolf so I hopped in line and waited a good 40 min before my dispatch. It was after this that I made my mind up that in future visits, if at all humanly possible, avoid any weekend visit. My time is precious to me, and I like to maximize output for the minimum input. I decided to continue the clockwise trek and observed the long waits at V2, Cajun, and Superman as I passed on my way back to the Bull. If Superman was a bit shorter, I would have jumped in. The watch told me I had time for one more before meeting up with the kids, I chose the Viper and was able to get 2 in before making my way back to Whizzer. I was early and people watched for a while, thought about jumping into the Whizzer line, but people watching is also one of the things I like about the place: SFGA.

Kids showed back up wet and a little shivery, told em it was going to be cold, but as everyone who is a parent knows, kids do not listen to practical advice. The daughter wanted to log ride and river rapids while wet and that’s what they did and we wandered again counter clock wise to those attractions. While they wet themselves again, I chilled and watch the very wonderful Paul jam in the beer garden. I was not even tempted to indulge in the adult beverage at those prices. Schwag beer at that price is insane, if it was dank beer, like a local fave Honkers Ale, I might have had one.

Kids wandered around some more riding the flats that appealed to them after changing wet clothes. The boys decided not to ride any wet inducing ride for the duration or water park and the daughter decided due to ambient temperature for the duration of this visit to the park, though rapids and flume was still open game for her. At this point we collectively decided that was a good first day and lets get settled back at the campsite. After all we had 3 more days.

25 JUN 06--->Sunday
After a later start than I planned but not totally unexpected, we made our way to the park after a leisurely breakfast at Zion McD. Parking was far easier with the parking sticker and I smiled at after flashing my shiny season pass with parking sticker at the attendant without having to fork over cash. The far lot was where we wound up. After the dabs of sunscreen, we used the virgin passes to enter the park. Jerry had problem with his chain wallet lanyard and had to return it to the van, although he was not required to the day before. Funny how that happens.

As before, Whizzer was the stepping off point, Kids had devised a schedule for themselves following the same route as before. The Whizzer line was far shorter than before and we hit it twice before moving to Demon. Daughter still declined Demon but wanted the car ride. I assessed the situation and her maturity at this point in time concluding that she was capable of handling it without big brother or I looking over shoulder. She got the basic safety rundown, and off she went with instructions to meet at the exit of the Demon while the boys rode it. I watch the daughter enter the car line and rushed to Vu. As with the Whizzer, Vu was less wait, about 30 minutes total and no down time before my single dispatch of the day.

Kids were waiting when I returned and we made our way to viper. Cassie declined and Max took the plunge with Jerry’s gentle prods. He decided it was ok and not as terrifying as his single AE-R run last year. The boys decided to re-ride and Cassie wanted to do the flats. I gave them instructions to meet up with me at the Bull exited when they were done. Bull line was very very reasonable and as directed the kids checked in regularly during the hour plus I re-rode the bull. They decided to move into the park further bored with this area. They dragged me away from the bull and into the park again following the same path as before. They had Cajun on the brain and Iron Wolf called me so we parted with instructions to meet at Cajun exit. I got a couple IW in before meeting. Cassie wanted to flume and got her wish while I watched Paul again in the beer garden. Boyz wandered a bit and we had some chow before Jerry and I tackled Superman. My kids chose the condor and a chance to window shop while Jerry and I did Superman. It was his first and was quite an experience for him, though this was our only superflight of the trip. After this, there was some down time for nutrition than back to the other side of the park where the kids wanted whizzer time first and cassie decided she would try demon again with the boyz. I had no interests at those mundane pursuits so told the kids I would Vu then meet me at the Bull exit as before.

As luck would have it, Vu down (gggrrr) and said oh well, just have to get more Bull time, unlucky me. Many Bull rides later kids showed up and back to fiddlers then back to demon, catching their flats they fancied as we passed in counter clockwise direction on the path. I was able to sneak a Batman dispatch on the way, though the line a nearly the length of the day before. After Demon kids looked a little ragged and since it was getting about the same time as the previous day, we decided to get back to camp calling it a day. I was really hoping to catch the Vu again, but it was either down or massive line each time I passed it. I concluded at that point the only time I would have a reasonable chance of getting multiple rides in the shortest period of time, would be in the opening runs of the day before the park filled. That was the plan for the morning.

[jm27]

Great TR so far. Seems like you got snipped at the end. Hope you get the rest up.

[Sedir]

Hm, I actually enjoy the roughness of AER and AEB.

[Trailblazer Tony]

Question for you, were you at the park on Tuesday? And if you were, did you ride Deja Vu first thing with you son who was having his first ride? I was talking to a guy who did and he was from springfield and had been there the past four days that's why i'm asking.

[themanoftheland8]

^ Tony, were you in line when the girl got a gash on her head? It was about the 7th dispatch I believe. I know for a fact GreyFolded65 was in line then. Also, where did you sit for the first ride of the day?

[Trailblazer Tony]

^I was only on Deja Vu on the 27th for the second dispatch of the day. And for that, i was in row 1A. I was wearing a bright red shirt that said adrenaline addict in the front with IOA rides on the back and a Dueling Dragons Ice cap, did you see me? It seems like i ran into everyone without realizing it.

[themanoftheland8]

^ Hmmm, I don't really remember you

[GreyFolded65]

Question for you, were you at the park on Tuesday? And if you were, did you ride Deja Vu first thing with you son who was having his first ride? I was talking to a guy who did and he was from springfield and had been there the past four days that's why i'm asking.

Yups that be Me and my Sons friend- Jerry...

[Trailblazer Tony]

Wish I would have known