BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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 8/14/2005 10:58:58 PM
I arrived at the park around noon, and the regular lot was 1/4 full at most. I headed in and rode Scorcher first, which was somehow (even as bus as it was today) a 1 train wait. It was a very good ride and I ended up riding two more times within 25 minutes. I then went and checked out the real reason I came to the park: to say goodbye to the Great Gasp. The lines weren't too bad though, about two-three switchbacks in the mid-afternoon, which isn't much more than it was during daily operation. Now, for some last photos.
The lines weren't too bad:
One last smog-filled view of downtown Atlanta:
The mini-boats are already gone, and soon too will the Gasp:
The red, white and blue fits the USA theme well, hopefully the new ride will as well:
Yours truly:
(I'm a dork for taking that  )
Well, I did do other parts of the park today. I went and rode Deja Vu in seat 2B, which is actually a good seat to compromise on when the attendants won't let you wait. The wait was only 45 mins which is not bad at all! I can still see without too many obstructions, and that was cool. That was my first ride of the year, and man that thing rocks. I just wish I could ride it more, but between manfuncions and super-long lines, that was only my 4th ride lifetime, one so far every year.
I then went over and rode the Wheelie, which rocked as usual and it seemed to stay vertical longer than it has been but I'm not sure since I'm borderline Alzheimers.
From there I skipped the other three coasters, Ninja because the line was too long, and GASM and Superman because I had ridden them over and over again just two nights before. I crossed through the middle of the park and caught the Dive show for the first time this year. I miss when they used to have the high dive 
I was getting hot and it was only 3PM, so I went and rode.. you guessed it, the Great Gasp!
It looks good through the trees, a sight which I will miss:
Don't look down!
From there it was off to ride the train around the park, starting and ending at the Rabun Gap station. I miss the steam, but its still an ok ride.
Once I got off I went and rode Batman twice, with both waits being less than 5 minutes. I also rode Crime Wave which seemed to have a rediculously long cycle for some reason. I was getting very dizzy, which is quite rare for me. I decided to head to the car for some meds. Before leaving though, I did eat at Tondee's, which has fairly good cheesesteaks.
Oh yea, Mind Bender was down, apparently yesterday's rains flooded the lower portion of the track. The train wasn't even on the tracks.
I got back in the park and headed for Deja Vu. Once I arrived, I saw a maintenence man climing tower #2. Oh crap, I'll come back.
I went and rode the Gasp a time or two again, and then trotted back to see if the Vu had opened, and it did open. However, after about 5 mins, it broke down again, but I stuck in line since it was 6PM, while half the line left. Another 45 minute wait turned into 25, and that's including the down time. Still a great, intense ride. I rode 3B that time, which again is ok and certainly better than an "A" row. 5th ride lifetime, 2nd this year. A new person
Message updated 8/14/2005 11:00:32 PM by BobFunland
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 8/15/2005 12:32:00 AM
bobfunl- wow. your appearance couldn't be farther from my mental picture, aside from your glasses, the style of which i nailed 100% accurately. i sure hope no one else posts photos of themselves because this has been a complete demystification for me.
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/15/2005 12:32:40 AM
bobfunl- wow. your appearance couldn't be farther from my mental picture, aside from your glasses, the style of which i nailed 100% accurately. i sure hope no one else posts photos of themselves because this has been a complete demystification for me.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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8/15/2005 12:54:04 AM
What did you expect? I mean I think I fit my dorky profle well 
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/15/2005 12:57:56 PM
haha! perhaps you're right, but my imagination didn't provide the applied math geek with a shaggy-doo coiffiere.
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/15/2005 3:13:42 PM
bobf- i hope that you haven't removed your photo because of my comment. i meant it only in the sense similar to tolkien freaks protesting the peter jackson trilogy, i.e. "that's not how i pictured golom at all!" i've crafted images in my mind of all of the most interesting personalities on this site, you being one. but your winsome visage is by no means unappealing and certainly don't remove it because of hrry's peanut gallery quips! i enjoy all of your posts.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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8/15/2005 3:27:50 PM
Oh no not at all, actually one of our favorote members (Danny), being the jokester and smartass that he is, decided it would be funny if my image atop the Gasp were to become his avatar on another site, so that's why I changed the file name, hence it not showing up here.
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Danny
Posts: 6316
Registered: 5/23/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/16/2005 12:09:35 AM
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fergusonat
Posts: 813
Registered: 5/2/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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 8/16/2005 12:17:07 AM
For anyone who missed seeing the pic, it was awesome...believe me 
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/16/2005 12:23:52 AM
I've met Joe so I'll consider myself spared on this occasion
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Danny
Posts: 6316
Registered: 5/23/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/16/2005 12:24:37 AM
Um...you guys wanna help me find the thread with Herc, larry, and Bob?  If you thought Bob's recent pic was funny...
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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8/16/2005 12:27:59 AM
Quote:
larrygator said:
I've met Joe so I'll consider myself spared on this occasion |
IMO it was actually a pretty good photo of myself, I was smiling at the top of the tower 
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/16/2005 12:28:09 AM
it is one of Cyclonic's trip reports. The one from Knoebels
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Scott
Posts: 2766
Registered: 11/7/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/16/2005 11:53:22 AM
Link
Here's the thread! Bob's a dork. :dork: :dork: :dork:
Message updated 8/16/2005 11:54:04 AM by Scott
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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8/17/2005 4:33:45 PM
Thanks for all the good photos.
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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8/21/2005 1:30:31 PM
Thanks for a moving trip report, BobFunland, and a fitting tribute to an SFOG landmark. I was fortunate enough to ride The Great Gasp in 1978, and it was one of my favorite rides in the park: a towering, gentle giant with a noble heart. It will be missed.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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8/21/2005 2:03:17 PM
1978 huh? I wish I was able to ride back then, I would have loved to give the stand-up 'chutes a shot, but they were taken out years ago so I missed out on it.
Sad part is thta after seeing blueprints, the Gasp didn't interfere with the ride, or the queue or anything, so I am really quite curious as to why exactly they took it down. Unfortunately, I think mechanical issues and relatively low ridership have led to its demise.
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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8/21/2005 4:10:38 PM
It takes up such little space I am surprised they got rid of it also. Funny the day I waited in huge heat for it I was kind of mad, now I am glad I got a chance to ride. Weird how things change.
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