Photo TR: Beemer visits the Dark Continent

Well, it FINALLY happened...we were able to add Sheikra to the count!!

 

This past weekend (9/15/07), Shannon and I were able to make it down to Tampa to visit some old friends from our Fort Lauderdale days. It also gave us the chance to hit up BGA for the first time since Sheikra was added. I absolutely love this park. Always have, always will.

 

For a major US park in the middle of a sprawling city, once inside the gates, you can easily lose all sense of where you're at (minus being 200ft above it all, obviously). I know Euroburg gets all the love for "Most Beautiful, blah blah blah," which is well deserved, but I say don't sleep on Tamprica!

 

Although, for us, we broke a major rule by visiting a Florida park before the summer ended, we survived somehow. There were only two gripes on this day. One being the Sheikra station. We got four rides over the course of the day, and not once did we wait more than 10 minutes for the front. But even so, the station felt like a microwave! Is it really that tough to install and continually run more fans in the seating areas? Honestly Busch, the energy bill wouldn't kill you to do this.

 

And the only other minor gripe was the pitiful service during what was otherwise a great meal at the Colony House Restaurant. I understand it's a nicer sitdown meal, but it took us over an hour and a half to finish an order of two fruit platters, a salad, and a turkey sandwich. Oh well, at least the view was great, and the pianist was entertaining.

 

As for Sheikra going floorless, it was really, really fun. Obviously, not having a frame of reference for it's prior state, I feel confident in saying that the floorless "gimmick" makes a great difference. I had heard the back seat offered bigger airtime, and yes, you do lose a little from back to front, but the view on the outer seats is priceless in my opinion. I still can't get over how buttery smooth this thing was! It may be the smoothest coaster I've ever ridden, period.

 

Okay, screw it, on to the pics. They will undoubtedly come in installments, but feel free to chime in at any time with comments. Enjoy!

We'll end the first installment here. More to come.

It's tall and stuff.

I LOVE this effect.

Okay, fine. Here, through the tree.

And so begins a series of Sheikra pics. Just act like you've never seen 'em before.

mmmmm, sexy curves!

Up first, some floorless dive machine they keep talking about.

Trimmed Busch.

Napoleon Dynamite: The Ride

A park always looks better empty.

Because someone taking your ticket is WAY too difficult.

Not a "gimmick" anymore.

We arrived in town Friday evening, and had an excellent seafood dinner by the bay with our hosts for the weekend, Sandy and Russ.

Welcome to "America's Wang." Please check all Intamin track at the border, thank you.

This.

"I have no idea. What?"

"Hey honey, what do you get when you mix a cow pasture, a collection of Vekomas, crappy exotic animal enclosures, and thousands of rednecks?"

After hours of driving, we come to our first rest area credit. Yeah, how many of you have this southbound gem? Yeah, that's what I thought. We're awesome like that.

Nice pictures!

 

I haven't heard the park called The Dark Continent in so long.

Ah, another person that gets the back row, edge seat of SheiKra. Gotta love the ejector air on the second drop!

 

Even though BGA is my homepark, SheiKra floorless still looks weird to me. Although I hope to get that "credit" of sorts when I go to HOS in a month.

 

Can't wait for more, Scott.

Great trip report, Beemer. I think the park looks its best in the early morning, not sure why. You got some great shots of Sheikra, too.

Ive only ridden SheiKra once floorless, and I rode it backside, lemme just say, since the floor is gone its alot higher jump into that seat (Im 5'8). But it is so worth it, I even had the middle seat (I love the edge.) And it was spectacular, it just blew my socks off, and that first drops airtime was phenomanal, I dont really consider being floorless a "gimmick" anymore though, I mean, I call (used to) being the only dive machine in America a gimmick, or the only dive machine with an inversion a gimmick, but the floorless is more of an add-on now instead of a gimmick. Anyways nice pics, cant wait for more.

 

-Caleb "SheiKra floorless rules!"

 

P.S. I cant believe you survived a Florida summers day park trip...wow!

The trains looks small now that Griffon is open, IMO.

P.S. I cant believe you survived a Florida summers day park trip...wow!

Yeah, that's the first time we've broken our golden rule in quite a while. Although the crowds were light, the lingering miserable heat made me remember why I don't miss Florida all that much.

 

Anyways, thanks so far for the compliments. I'm having a hellish time posting stuff tonight, so I'll retire for the evening and there'll be much more tomorrow...hopefully.

Okay, okay, maybe it's not just a gimmick on diving machines...but more importantly, now you got another aquatrax credit!

Cool pics as usual, Beemer. Nothing beats a Busch park in the morning, well maybe IOA.

Nice Bro! Can't wait for the rest. See ya this Sunday!

 

 

G$

Nice Bro! Can't wait for the rest. See ya this Sunday when we pop your bull cherry!!!

 

 

G$

Wow. If that coaster was blue, it'd be almost like Griffon!

 

oh wait...

 

Nice report so far. Haven't been back since 2001, and want to sometime soon too.

Wow. If that coaster was blue, it'd be almost as awesome as Griffon!

 

 

Fixed.

Even though Euroburg is my home park, I'd probably give a slight edge to Sheikra because of its setting--but both are awesome rides.

Part Two.

With a view like this for lunch, how can one complain too much? I'll be back for part three when we get our check.

It was time for lunch. Play it, Sam.

This trip report is officially TPR sanctioned.

"Okay, how about a Donkey?" Maybe. At least they're a bit cheaper.

If you're not humming the Budweiser music right now, you're either

A) underage

B) unaware that TV commercials exist

C) deaf

or

D) all of the above

"Honey, can you buy me a Clydesdale?" No.

I am the subject of TPR avatars. Worship me!

As a 'Cane, I hate to say it, but this part needs Gators again.

I loves me some awesome trenches.

I'm gonna grab a beer.....feel free to insert your own caption.

Still awesome. Excellent layout, intense, not packed with trims, and stylish. Montu's not bad either.

Quick, drop everything, and someone get on this. I think it may be the coded answer for what's coming to Hershey next year!

And now it's time for the showcase showdown. Today's item up for bid is this unassuming chair in the gift shop. The closest bid to the actual price without going over wins a sleeveless shirt from Larry, a tackle from Casey, a beer from Derek's fridge, a future thread lock from Wes, and a Ketchup t-shirt.

AKA Air Conditioning.

Beetlejuice.

Crown Colony House restaurant. Hi Joe.

I don't have a clever caption for this pic. Even Babe Ruth struck out a few times.

And finally, a look back as your SUV disengages the "raft."

A look back at the raft disconnection point.

We now resume Rhino Rally from the ground. Okay, I will say this....from a technical viewpoint, the ride is pretty unique. I'll give it credit for that.

Sandy and Russ arrive. Ten points if you can actually figure out who's arm is giving Rich's signature move.

That's Shiekra. It's big.

Zebras are cool though.

First, an aerial view of the lameness that is....Rhino Rally.

This would be more exciting as Wino Alley.

See?

 

SCORE!!

...aerial Jungala construction pics....

...New for 2008...

...never-before-seen....

...mindnumbingly, most awesomest....

It's all about the....

Guys, wanna know how to get the ladies this excited?

Just a flat out GREAT PTR so far Scott! Looking forward to the rest.

 

I had a much different idea for a caption for this pic.

 

Great PTR Scott!!! Although, I don't think Derek will ever sanction any competition where he gives away one of his beers.

^^ Thanks bro. I appreciate it.

 

^ Indeed, there were many different ways that caption could have gone.

 

Time for Part 3.

What's this I see? Is that a regularly scheduled mid-afternoon Florida thunderstorm on the horizon, along with a lame moment of inspiration to take a picture with the intent of using the caption "Got a little captain in you?"

Hal-O-Scream 2007, Produced by R. Kelly.

They just don't make 'em like this anymore. No seriously, they really don't.

Hi Joe, Derek, fans of the colors orange and blue, folks who remember when this was a 2 hour wait, and fans of coasters named after arachnids.

This sure didn't though!

Sadly, the carousel sucked.

Something tells me if you just wrecked your Land Rover, you wouldn't be sitting behind the wheel with a smile. Instead, I'm guessing you might look something like this.

Don't ask me why, but now I've got the Miami Vice theme music in my head.

Not in operation today:

-Sandstorm

-Bumper Cars

-Lion

"Listen, I'm already pissed that I'm still associated with Gwazi, so don't do anything stupid and make me come over there. Okay?

Hippo.

Turtle. Hi Derek.

Leemur massage, or is this guy straight pimpin'? You make the call.

These things are freakin' cool!

Lemur!! Lemur!! Lemur!!

 

I really just like saying Lemur!!

Lonestar, I see your tusk is as big as mine.

Train.

I miss the monorail.

We know where you live, Wes.

A turtle riding across the pond on a gator's back. Finally something interesting happening at this exhibit! The blurry zoomed pic proves that I was not prepared to shoot anything here, and had to scramble to catch this amusing moment in time.

If there was a reward for a most consistent kick butt Photo TR author of the year, you would win it. Simply awesome!

^ Erik, if stuff like that continues, I'll be forced to consult Big Mike on how to make a "Congratulations thread."

 

Nah, seriously, thanks!! I just try to give the people what they want...a funny, complete look at our day in the park. It's great to see that you and many others enjoy them!

 

I hope to have the final installment up sometime later today.

^ Please make it quick. I'm bored at work.

 

Simply awesome stuff Scott. Nuff' said.

Scott - no need to start a self congratulatory thread. True achievement and excellence will be recognized.

 

Looking forward to finally meeting you on Sunday

Is Shannon coming with to GA on Sunday? God I hope not! That's just a disgusting display right there... I wouldn't want to be stuck hanging with that on El Toro...yuck!

Matt - There's a good chance I'm more bored at work than you right now. Unfortunately, I can't put up the pics from here though.

 

Larry & G - Yeah, I'm looking forward to Sunday! G, sadly, Shan won't be joining me on this trip...aside from GA and Disney on Monday, it's mostly business. Looks like you'll be stuck with the picture following that one.

Oh well.