“THAT’S. IT! NO. MORE!” I gasp. Pupils are maximally dilated, knees soft. I think – I’m in shock!
To blame is the gold striker in Great America.
The Gold Striker is the world’s longest wooden roller coaster and it is located in Great America, an amusement park right next to our place.
Right now there is a “Winterwonderland“, with lots of kitschy lights and fake snow and giant cardboard gingerbread figures – of course we have to go.
As for Roller Coasters & Co, I’m more of a timidly kid. So I wanted to start with a well behaved roller coaster. After reviewing the park, we decided on the Gold Striker. This wooden roller coaster has no loops and looks good as gold. THAT is definitely feasible for me. And after that we might even dare to do something wilder …
The safety bar closes and we ride…
“OMG! OMG! OMG! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
I start roaring and can’t stop. This thing is so super fast, I have physically pain. I feel like a piece of my stomach is hanging out of my right ear in curve #5… For two minutes and thirty seconds, we accelerate with 4.2 G and board at a speed of almost 55 miles per hour. OMG! OMG! OMG! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
If you would like to experience this trip you either go to Great America (groupon.com always has coupons) or look at the following link:
PS: we were there in the evening – because of all the kitsch lights. But the Gold Striker does not have a single light. Not a single one! In perfect darkness, we hit hooks, go heavenward and fall into nothingness.
“THAT’S. IT! NO. MORE!” I gasp. I think I am in shock. The first roller coaster ride since, hmmm, twenty years or so? In between, I drove only in the Vienna Ferris wheel, maximum speed something like 1.8 miles per hour.
Anyway, I need a break for now. Matthias has survived the ride laughing but still has wobbly knees.
“Ui, that was more intense than it looked from the outside.” he says.
I nod. Silently.
Then we talk to the ride operators and ask how the other roller coasters are like, in comparison to the Gold Striker.
“Oh, the Gold Striker is definitely the most intense roller coaster here in the park! The others have loops and stuff, but the accelerations are less intense and the ride is much smoother.”
Nevertheless, I renounce further experience and rather let sprinkle a bit of artificial snow on my shaked body.
Unfortunately, there are no photos – but I did not want to let blow my beautiful new camera in the roller coaster’s wind. And to leave it at the exit, like an umbrella, did not seem too safe. That’s why she stayed home.
BUT. I have already made trips with her! And here are a few samples.
Camy, Speedy and I in the City:
…here we were at the wave organ – waves feed this organ and create beautiful sounds. Sometimes, though, they are more reminiscent of a toilet flush …
The Oakland Bay Bridge:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
The Women’s Building, San Francisco:
Camy, my running shoes and I in Rancho San Antonio Park:
The ground squirrel is cute. The lake (still) dried out.
Here I am at home: The Bay Area
Camy and I still have a lot to learn – but it’s great fun !!! THANKS AGAIN to all who contributed to this GREAT gift !!!
Oh yes. While everyone celebrates Christmas – have a thoughtful – we do All New in May like an ancient German folk song begins… Should mean: no stone remains on the other – everything’s new.
The rough summary: Friday we move: from Sunnyvale to Palo Alto. And at the end of January I will fly to Costa Rica.
But now I have to pack some boxes …
