Now, after several weeks of delays, I present part 2!
Part 2: Orthanc and Barad-Dur
Our drive to the Great Escape was relatively uneventful. My uncle and I discussed a great many things, including my idea to eventually become an undertaker (it's a job to put bread on the embalming table, what my heart really desires is to become a writer). At one point my uncle stopped at the bank, while I waited in the car patiently.
Because my Uncle lives so close to The Great Escape, we made it to the park much quicker than Acacia and I had last year. We managed to snag a decent parking space, and made our way to the pedestrian bridge. Walking ahead of us, I noticed a young blond woman in short-shorts and cowboy boots. Amused, I pointed this out to my uncle. I was surprised that there were people who actually went out in public dressed like that. I was the exact opposite of this girl, rather butch compared to her slutty femme.
At the ticket booth, my uncle presented his season pass, and paid for my ticket. The woman at the booth told us that for no additional charge, I could get a pass that would get me six free trips. I told my uncle that such a thing wouldn't be necessary but he overrode my protests and got me the Big Six deal. It was very kind of him to do this, but I am certain I won't be able to use up all the free trips by the end of the season.
After we paid, my uncle ushered me into a special building where my Big Six pass would be made. I filled out my name, address and number on a computer, and then had my picture taken by an employee. The heavy plastic card was printed out and handed to me. I looked at my little portrait on the purple and blue rectangle; it looked like a police mugshot. Then my uncle and I set off to sample the delights of the Great Escape.
The first thing we went on was the Sasquatch, which is a pair of 192 foot tall towers that I've nicknamed Orthanc and Barad Dur. One of them launches riders to the top very suddenly and the other takes them up to the top slowly, and then drops them at an alarming speed. It's a very fun and terrifying ride.
Uncle Russ and I tried to get in line for the Drop Tower, but it was in the middle of a maintenance check, so we had to get in line for the Launch Tower.
While we waited in line, something very silly happened. An employee dressed in a Bigfoot costume came ambling along, greeting people who were waiting in line.
"I don't want to high five Sasquatch," My uncle muttered as we watched the "beast" mingle. Unfortunately, I misheard my uncle, and thought he was declaring a desire to make contact with Bigfoot, so I beckoned to it, and asked for a hug. For a moment, I was enveloped in scratchy polyester fur. Once my fuzzy embrace had ceased, I cried "Uncle Russel, give Sasquatch a high five!". And to his credit, he did do just that, despite the fact that he had not wanted to do it in the first place. When I found out that I had misunderstood him and led him into an unwanted encounter, I promised him he could have his revenge.
After Sasquatch shuffled away, Uncle Russ and I went to get on the ride. I was only mildly nervous, but since I had enjoyed it last year, I knew I would enjoy it again. So we buckled in, pulled down the shoulder restraints and waited.
The ride starts by rising at least 10 to 15 feet in the air, look down and you can see the camouflage print netting that catches things like gum, glasses, cell phones, shoes and if needed, a fallen rider. Look outwards, and depending on where you are sitting you can see the booth where the ride operators sit.
After a five or ten second countdown by the ride operator, we launched upwards, at a delightfully terrifying speed. I could hear my uncle laughing as we ascended, and I was cheering and whooping. We hit the top of the tower, and the inertia lifted us out of our seats, much to my amusement. Then we descended, bounced a few times and landed. It was all very quick, but very fun. We may have ridden the Launch Tower a second time, but I'm not entirely sure.
By the time we were done on Orthanc (the Launch Tower), The Drop Tower's maintenance was finished, so we got in line for that.
Barad-Dur, as I have named it, is a little bit scarier than Orthanc, because it takes a long time to get to the top of the tower. Then once it is at the top, all is very still before finally plummeting.
I tried to stay as calm as I could as we ascended, and took in the view. It was very breath-taking, I could see the whole park laid out before me. I saw the water slides, and some of the roller coasters. I didn't have long to gander at these sights though, for suddenly we were plunging down, cheering all the while.
We walked away from The Sasquatch, after riding both towers at least twice. I felt energized, happy. I could do anything, even ride The Boomerang, just as I had last summer, when I had faced my fear of the coaster. But this time, I'd be getting on the ride not with fear, but with joy.
Coming up...Uncle Russ and I ride the rides, and I break one of the rules.
