Nemesis Nick At Paultons 17 Oct 2009

Nemesis Nick · Nemesis Nick At Paultons 17 Oct 2009

Nemesis Nick At Paultons 17 Oct 2009

Date: Saturday 17 October 2009
Venue: Paultons Park
Who Went: Just me

Getting To Paultons
This was intended to be my final coaster trip for 2009. It required an early rise for me: 6:15am. I put on my RCCGB 20th Anniversary T-shirt and set off for Paultons. Just after eight I enjoyed a pleasant relaxing train journey to Southampton Central, followed by a short bus ride to Paultons. After walking up the driveway, it was around 10:45 when I got to the ticket booths.

Morning Riding

Cobra
Just like my past trips to Paultons, I began with Cobra, a Gerstlauer steelie. It’s the largest and newest of the three coasters at Paultons, it opened in 2006. My 1st go was in the back right seat. Having climbed the hill, I thoroughly enjoyed the initial spiral, the series of U-bends, more curves and three dips towards the end.

Unfortunately when I returned for more the ride was getting busier, partly thanks to there being a Brownie group and a Beaver/Cub group now in the Park. Thus I ended up waiting longer than I wanted (albeit nothing like as the queues during Saw-Ted and Summer Bash) for my 2nd go (back left) and 3rd go (front left car 1). I was going to have a 4th go, but due to the Cobra queue didn’t bother.

Edge
Known as Disk-o-Coaster during the construction phase, this differs from Disko at GYPB or Navigator at Flamingo Land in that there’s a hump in the middle. You get on at the station, and sit at the edge of the disk, which spins as it travels towards the high end (station end), back near the hump, and towards the high end (station end). After a few goes, it finally crosses the hump to reach the other high end, back and forth a few times. A thrilling ride, great fun. After one go without feeling queasy I had a second, which was fine but I didn’t want to risk a third go.

Remember this time last year, and again in March, I suggested holding the 2009 Summer Bash here, with ERS on Edge, but pointed out I was concerned too many goes on this in a one hour ERS may make certain members sick? Had my wish been fulfilled, I think I’d have limited myself to two goes in the Edge ERS.

Dragon Ride
Although circular, has a head (front end), seats along the length of the ride, and a tail (back end), but the tail doesn’t quite touch the head. It starts in a clockwise direction, which due to the direction the seats face means forwards. Very soon your going around the outside really fast, and there’s some up and down movement. Mid way through the ride stops and goes backwards, which feels odd. I had two goes on this (seat nearest tail followed by 3rd seat from head). Again two goes was ample, I think a third would have made me sick.

Flying Frog
The smallest of the three roller coasters at Paultons, one go consists of three laps. Hardly thrilling, but worth riding to add to the list of coasters I’ve ridden this year (despite having ridden it previous years). I had one go in the back row, other riders were on it too. Afterwards I had one more go, this time in the front seat, with no-one else on board; in effect my own unexpected one-member ERS.

Rabbit Ride
A circular flat rail ride, on which the cars resemble rabbits. Tame but nonetheless worth one go (I was in the front car).

Astroglide
A six lane outdoor Astra slide. It was closed when I first entered the Park, and a man was mopping it. Now it was open, and I thoroughly enjoyed one go per lane left to right. All 6 lanes were fast, but no AIRtime on the dips.

Sky Swinger
A chair-o-plane which opened last year. This one has single and twin seats. The central unit rises and spins clockwise for a few minutes, during which the seats are forced outwards. Great fun, I thoroughly enjoyed two goes.

Flying Saucer
A circular ride. Initially it’s level, but soon after it has started it rises to an angle so you go up and down as well as spin. This is quite old, so it has to be balanced. The attendant has to be careful where riders are placed. Quite a fun ride for what it is I had one go.

Magic Carpet
This is next door to the Flying Saucer. Two rows of seats on a platform which rises and falls. I thoroughly enjoyed one go on this (back row middle seat).

Lunch at Wagoner’s Restaurant
I went to Wagoner’s Restaurant, where I had chips with cheese and a coffee.

Immediately After Lunch

Floating Globe
Knowing it would be unwise to return to riding immediately after lunch I explored some other attractions. Firstly I played with the Floating Globe, just outside Wagoner’s Restaurant. I stopped it and changed its direction.

Gardens
Afterwards I explored some of the gardens. How appropriate that I start with John’s Garden as my middle name is John. There’s a clock tower located here, I didn’t ask anyone but my guess is that probably came from the former Clock Maze which is where the Sky Swinger now stands. Afterwards I explored the Main Garden, sunken garden (pond and fountain here), and gradually wandered towards Wind In The Willows, to enjoy the rides at that end.

Afternoon Riding

Rio Grande Train
My first ride after lunch, a train ride around part of the Park. I noticed Wave Runner was currently busy, people queuing well down the stairs.

Trekking Tractors
Made by Metallbau Emmeln and opened in 2007. The route taken by the tractors is lined with a wide selection of garden plants. Not particularly exciting but I had one go “just for the record”. As an adult I had to sit in the back of the tractor.

Wave Runner
There are four of these water coaster rides, made by Metallbau Emmeln in 2002. You go down them fully clothed in inflatable dinghies. The queue was now shorter, to the top of the stairs, but I still only rode two of them (far left, far right).

Pirate Ship
A generic swinging pirate ship. Just as the safety announcement states, the end rows give the most exhilarating ride. I enjoyed two thrilling goes (one per end row) no problem, but didn’t want to risk a third go.

Jumping Bean
Made by Moser Rides, this vertical drop ride has two seat units (one each side of the tower). It’s a baby one compared to Drop at Funland or Ice Blast at PBR Blackpool, but still great fun. You rise up and are dropped several times until you finally return to the ground at the end. I remember having 10 or 11 up/down cycles on one go. I thoroughly enjoyed two goes (one each side).

Tea Cup Ride
Self explanatory, since time was going on, I had just one go on this. I did spin my cup a bit by turning the table (clockwise and anticlockwise) sometimes during the ride, but nothing like as fast as I ended up being spun on Storm In A Teacup at Thorpe Park and Cannibal Pots at Funland. The way I rode it was great fun, excessive spin speed (faster than I can take) just spoils the fun.

Kon-Tiki Ride
This resembles a Kontiki raft. The raft swings and spins (a similar movement to the Rock ‘n’ Tug at Flambards, Flamingo Land and Woodlands). For maximum thrill I sat in a end row. One go made me feel a little queasy. No way was I prepared to risk a second. I mentioned that to another rider as I exited the ride. He said the secret is to focus on the bottom of the flag, so you are staring at something static (relative to your seat), not the surroundings (which are moving).

Stinger
The middle sized coaster at Paultons. I thoroughly enjoyed a total of eight goes on this, at various ride positions as follows: front row, few rows from front, 2nd from back, back, 3rd from front, 2nd from back, back, 4th from front. This ride was quiet, only a few riders each time. I think by now the Brownie and Beaver/Cub groups had left. Anyway I said to the operator and certain other visitors that I could comfortably enjoy eight goes on Stinger, but only one on Kon-Tiki. Basically Stinger is re-ridable, Kon-Tiki isn’t. Has anyone else noticed that when they’ve gone to Paultons?

Raging River Ride
I still hadn’t ridden this log flume, so was determined to have one go before closing time. You go up a lift, round a bend, down a drop, round a bend, up another lift to a higher level than the first, then down a big drop, and finally back to the docking point. It just so happened I’d worn my cagoule all afternoon, but took the trouble to put my leggings on just for this to keep my jeans dry. Time allowed for just one go.

Cobra
My final ride of the day, and I was determined to make that Cobra. This time I was able to get straight into a car, no-one in front of me. I sat in car 2 front right. Sadly when I got back to the station it was ride closing time (5pm) so no time for a second go. I must admit, I wished now I’d just had one go on Cobra at the start, then done the day as I did (moved back a bit), and crammed in 4 to 6 goes on Cobra right at the end when hardly anyone was going on it.

Summary of rides I went on:
Cobra 4
Edge 2
Dragon Ride 2
Flying Frog 2
Rabbit Ride 1
Sky Swinger 2
Flying Saucer 1
Magic Carpet 1
Rio Grande Train 1
Trekking Tractors 1
Wave Runner (far left) 1
Wave Runner (far right) 1
Pirate Ship 2
Jumping Bean 2
Tea Cup Ride 1
Kon-Tiki Ride 1
Stinger 8
Raging River Ride 1
TOTAL 34 RIDES

Sliding: Astroglide 6

Journey Home
By the time I left the Park exit and was walking back through the car park it was 5:10pm. I walked back to the main road with a few minutes to spare for the bus to Southampton, whereupon there was just a short wait for my train home.

Outtro

Highlights
High total ride count (34 rides, plus 6 goes on Astroglide slide).
Trying out the new ride Edge (though 2 goes was enough for me).
Eight goes on Stinger roller coaster.
Good weather for my trip (sunny until late afternoon, then cloudy but dry, albeit a little chilly).

Lowlights
Park a little busier than I’d hoped for (not too bad though).

Summing Up
Another mega fun day out. In effect this made up for me not attending either day of Loopathon. The evening ERS, hokey cokey and group hug at the end of Sunday at Drayton Manor was said to be the Club’s send-off to the 2009 coaster season. This was MY send-off to the 2009 coaster season. Granted I didn’t get to do hokey cokey yesterday, but at least I did it with Dina and other guests during Dina’s Show when I visited Devon’s Crealy in June (Saturday of my Devon Dash). Roll on next year’s Blackpool Bash, I hope to see you all then.

Magic

Another great report, glad you had fun at my home park.

Yes the clock is from the centre of the old maze where the Wave Swinger is.

Disk O Coaster wasn't just the project name for Edge, it's also the generic product name for the ride from Zamperla. CWOA are getting one next year.

The Floating Globe and John's Garden were both introduced this year to celebrate the parks 25th anniversary.

Trekking Tractors was supplied by the Swiss company ABC Rides. They also supplied the small kiddie log flume.

See ya next year.

Rogue

Good report Nick, looks like you managed to get an amazing ride count during the day.

Unfortunately I've not yet had the pleasure of visiting Paultons, so will have to make a journey down there next year.

Nemesis Nick

Magic

I have the press release from both Paultons and ABC Rides confirming they were the supplier.

ucozade6 · Report

Nice report Nick, well done matey Very Happy

Are you singing at the Blackpoll bash next year as that was one of my highlights of the year. I hope someone has supplied a picture of that for the year book Laughing

Happy Helen

Hope you had a great day.

A very good report.

What was your favourite ride ?.

I know you went the same time last year.

Nemesis Nick

Nemesis Nick At Paultons 17 Oct 2009

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