June 2007

In this month's episode we finish Georgia and start our 10 week hiatus. It sounds cool but I'm concerned about the lack of income. Since not too much is going on for the next couple months, I'm gonna split up this month's highlights and kinda spread 'em around.

After a great run in Georgia, we'd come down to the last week and just like last year that means "Super Secret Pirate Fun Day". It's a day of fun that Matt of the pirate ship organizes every year. It's really for the pirate ship employees and their significant others, but he's invited us the last couple years. (Probably since we hang out there so much to lust after his staff. And, I mean his employees and not his 'staff'.) [Note to the webmaster - feel free not to make a smartass link here...]

 

Super secret pirate funday at Six Flags

Jef and Sharon with the Roadrunner

We meet up at a local Cracker Barrel, have breakfast and then zip over to the park. We had about 15 in attendance this year. We all wore bathing suits under our clothes because there's a water park in the middle of Six Flags. Of course, Sharon and I stopped at a liquor store the night before and picked up some small mini liquor bottles like you'd find on an airplane. That way we could smuggle them in and still have cocktails in the dry park. And you wonder why we only like Universal and the Disney parks that serve alcohol.

Last year we entered the park and turned left and worked our way around. This year we did just the opposite. We turned right, hit the bathroom to add booze to our mixers and moved on. One of the first rides we hit was Acrophobia. It's the one that brings you up and drops you 100 feet or so. It's a great ride. The scariest part for me is the time they leave you hanging up there. It's anticipation of the fall and not the fall itself. The fall is a blast!

 

Superheros got nuthin' on these guns

Peek-a-boo!

After that, we worked our way towards the center of the park. We passed a couple of other coasters along the way but they were all too old. I won't go on a coaster built before '95. They aren't as smooth and tend to give me a headache and neck pain. Some of the recent studies have shown older coasters to be very dangerous, giving people whiplash and tiny strokes they don't realize they've even had. Keep that in mind the next time you hit your favorite amusement park.

About half way around the park is Pirate Island. It's the water park I mentioned earlier. We got a locker and got into our swim suits. It was fairly warm that day, but when we got out to the wet zone the wind picked up and we all froze! We had a good time but after about an hour we were all freezing. So, we dried off and headed off to finish the balance of the park.

 

Up, Up, and away!

Riki1963 cleared for landing

We hit Superman the coaster and some water ride that soaked us all. I also let Holly convince me to go on this older kiddie coaster that ended up wrenching my back so bad, that I had to go to the chiropractor the next day. We ended the day riding Goliath. It's the best non-inverted, non-looping coaster I've ever been on. It's a simple "out and back" design that keeps you out of your seat almost the entire time. It only has a simple lap bar, so you can imagine how exciting and a little scary it is.

Well, that about does it. Sorry there wasn't more to write about but not every day in the life of a Tortuga is filled with excitement. Next month, also being lean on fun, travel and money, I'm dedicating to Sharon's best friend's wedding and all the plans and money we put into it. Technically it happened in June, but you'll believe anything I say. Why? Well... you have no choice.

 

The back looks even better!

The front looks even better!