Vacation day

I don't often take vacation days. Well, I do but I rarely go anywhere or do anything. This weekend was different.

I was supposed to go visit friends this weekend, but those plans fell through. So, I took the opportunity to go to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Tx. It's been nearly fifteen years since the last time I went. The rides are much the same as they were when I last visited and, surprisingly, little has changed. There are a number of new rides, of course. Most of which I wouldn't go near if you bet me.

I realized early on that I don't really care much for the first second of weightlessness when you make those sudden drops. That was made very clear when I got on the Conquistador. It's kinda like a really big schoolyard swing shaped like a Spanish galleon that goes nearly straight up as it swings back and forth.

As the ride got into full swing (pun intended), my stomach would rise up into my chest and for a moment I couldn't breath. Then, there's another moment as the ride swings back in the other direction and my stomach returns to its normal place. It's fortunate that the rides generally only last a couple of minutes. I'm not certain how much more abuse my stomach could have taken before things got really messy.

There's something about roller coasters that just make me queasy. I don't mind the speed the operate at, but those seconds where they defy gravity are tough to handle. Whenever I hit that moment of freefall, it feels like the whole world comes to stop, then it kickstarts with a bang as gravity reasserts itself and you hurtle around at breakneck speeds. Intellectually, I can see the appeal, but my stomach wants to know what the blazes was I thinking.

Not all the rides are quite as stomach churning. Some are worse. Heh. Runaway Mountain is a little daunting cause it's an indoor roller coaster. Pitch black indoors. I distinctly remember moving at angles I didn't think possible. The two ten year-old boys riding a couple of rows before certainly enjoyed, judging from all their screaming. I recall them saying they were going to do it again. Crazy kids.

The most fun I had was on the Splash Water ride. It's one of the shorter rides, timewise, but is guaranteed to get you soaking wet. You go up an incline, roll gently around a bend, then wham! Down at a steep 60 degree angle as the ride slams into the water, kicking up a huge wave of water that completely drenches you! Even more fun is, as you exit the ride, you have to cross a bridge which places you in the path of the water wave. Two dunkings for the price of one! LOL!!

The rest of the park is pretty much as I remember it. There are more restaurants and snack shops (including Ben & Jerry's ice cream shops which had my favorite B&J Triple Caramel Chunk. yum.)

The great adventure only lasted a few hours. The temperature was a scorching 102 when I left. All in all, it was a fun day. Lots of good clean fun and a day away from the ratrace.

Next time, I'm going to the museum.