My Trip to New York


Everyone is asking about pictures from my New York trip. Here I am at Coney Island.

After this photo op., I headed for where you SHOULD ride the Cyclone -- the back seat.

The cyclone is definitely the roughest (i.e. bumpy, jostling) ride I've ever been on. Rode the back seat, or next to back seat, 4 times. My neck was stiff for a week, but I'll be back on it as soon as I can get back up there.





Then it was off to the boardwalk for a famous Nathans hot dog. Maybe it was the adventure of getting there, but it seemed like the best hot dog ever.

The Coney Island section of Brooklyn seems to be a clean, safe area that is attracting new residents. It reminded me of the north side of Chicago -- the subway is even elevated in this area (like the Chicago "L").

The boardwalk attractions extend over a mere 2 or 3 blocks, only a small remnant of the glory days of the old Coney Island. However, what was there was very clean. The crowd was family-oriented.

The day was extremely hot on my way down to Coney Island, in the 90s. But on the boardwalk a breeze was blowing in off the water, and the temperature was cooled toward 80. I don't know if this is always the case, but on this particular day the contrast between crowded, hot Manhattan and the Coney Island boardwalk was amazing.

The Search for Ebbets Field

My day was not over. Next came the search for Ebbets Field -- former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers (Ebbets Field was torn down in the early 60s). From internet research I knew the subway stop to use, and the exact block that the stadium stood on.



Standing at the stadium in the old days, this is what you would have seen:








THIS is what I saw.

Unlike Coney Island, the area is ..... not good.




However, nearby is Prospect Park (sort of the Central Park of Brooklyn). I completed my tour of Brooklyn with a walk around the park.

Roller Coasters

For a change, I would like to offer a serious and informative post. I've had a fairly successful summer in the "roller coaster" department, with trips to Coney Island and Hershey Park. So, I've been doing some research into roller coaster records.

I'll admit that looking strictly at records is no way to judge a roller coaster. Focusing on records such as highest or fastest ignores the overall design of a coaster. However, records are still interesting, and they can help plan trips to potentially fun roller coasters.

This is not a rehashing of roller coaster records, anyone can look those up. These are my special notes on certain records that I have noticed, focusing on coasters that I will be able to visit easily, or that I am familiar with.

Wood Coasters


The famous Coney Island Cyclone is the 13th fastest wooden coaster in the US (at 60 mph). That's pretty good, considering how old it is, and how many wooden coasters have been built in just the past 20 years.














What's the fastest wooden coaster that we in Virginia can easily get to?




El Toro, at Great Adventure in New Jersey, built just this year. It's the 2nd. fastest wooden coaster (70 mph). It is also the 2nd. highest in the US, at 181 feet, and features the 2nd. biggest drop, at 176 feet.

This is a MUST ROAD TRIP!










For comparison, Hershey's fastest wooden coaster is the Lightening Racers at 51 mph (the other two wooden coasters at Hershey are at 50 mph).

At Kings Dominion, the Rebel Yell is listed at 56 mph, with a height of 85 feet. I didn't find a speed for the Grizzly, but the height was listed as 87 feet.

Metal Coasters

Metal coasters come in so many shapes and designs that it's hard to compare them. So, I've made up my own special statistic that reflects what I'm looking for in the "best coaster to visit next."

((I make my own statistic))

To be considered, the coaster must be a "real" coaster. This eliminates the coaster-like rides that shoot you over just one hill. In my book, a "real" coaster must involve several drops and turns.

The next factor for my "ideal coaster" is no shoulder restraints. Although I enjoy coasters with shoulder restraints, and they allow for all kinds of rolling and looping, I find that they make you feel just a little bit too safe and secure. I realize that this is just personal preference, but it's my BLOG.

So -- The coaster with the biggest drop, that's REALLY a coaster, with no shoulder restraints (i.e. only a lap bar), east of the Mississippi:

And the winner is:

Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Ohio: drop of 300 ft.


This is the 4th. largest drop of any metal coaster in the US. Speed of 93 mph makes it the 4th. fastest.

















As a closer alternative, there is Nitro at Great Adventure, with a drop of 215 feet (tied for rank of 10th.), reaching 80 mph.

I am back in charge of the BLOG.

I thought I'd try and get active again with the BLOG. I can't believe it's still here, but it is.

As some of you know, hard times have hit Walton Mountain, and I am now on Welfare. Even though I must dress the way I do, because of the ongoing depression, I am very happy all the time, with that smile on my face.

I am thinking about my hunting days (as everyone in my neighborhood does)....



I know that some of you like to write about your dogs, but my dog tops them all. I needed a hunting dog, so that's what I got. I think he would also be good in dog shows. Here he is in his hunting outfit.