Look Out Below
At one point at King's Dominion I was escorting Anna and Jakob around the park as Brian, Linda, and Julia were getting on roller coasters. What does escort mean? It means I was carrying a 300lb backpack, and two 64 ounce coca-colas (one in each hand).
First, we went to play arcade games. The three of us sauntered into the arcade, and I made my way to the front desk area to get change for a $20. I did this by holding both 64 ounce sodas in one hand, balancing the backpack on the opposite shoulder, leaning to the point of being on one leg for balance, and fishing for my wallet in my front pants pocket. Jakob began jumping up and down on the skee-ball machines and Anna was completely absorbed by the claw-machine which gave you the chance to win gold watches - face pressed up against the glass and yelling "I want to win one for daddy!"
5 seconds and $5 later, we were on our way to the Eiffel Tower replica. You can go up the elevator to the 1/3 scale replica's top and look out over the amusement park. So, there we were, the three of us, me with my backpack and two 64-ounce cokes (filled to the brim, of course). I am standing 5 inches from the guy operating the elevator and giving us the rules of this "attraction".
Guy : Please, for our safety, no food or drink is allowed at the top of the tower. Also, for the safety of our guests on the ground below, no spitting.
He said this with me carrying 128 ounces of coke in front of him. I am carrying a gallon of soda, 6 inches from him. Does he mind? no. We get off at the top and immediately see the pay-per-view binoculars which, of course, Jakob and Anna must use before they allow themself the luxury of another heartbeat.
Remembering my experience trying to fish out a $20 at the game arcade a few minutes before, and not wishing to be so encumbered at the edge of a 300 foot drop, I set the sodas down first before searching for my wallet. I set them on the floor a few feet away from our feet. Jakob looks through the binoculars first, then Anna. As I am helping Anna down I notice something...
One of the soda containers was knocked over. Jakob says "oops, sorry Uncle Ed" and then goes off looking out the other side of the tower. So, apparently, a half gallon of soda is now plummeting 300 feet down into the amusement park below.
I comfort myself with the thought that, at the very least, it was not spitting.
Flagging an attendant I let them know what happened and ask if they have a towel or trash can to minimize further drippage and we get the whole mess sorted out. (Well, by sorted out I mean the attendant stared at me with a look of disgust mixed with horror, and then walked away and I went to the other side of the tower and took pictures with the kids).
I did not read on the news that anyone was killed by falling soda at King's Dominion on Saturday, so I guess we got off lucky, but if I were you I would give that tower a wide berth next time you visit.
First, we went to play arcade games. The three of us sauntered into the arcade, and I made my way to the front desk area to get change for a $20. I did this by holding both 64 ounce sodas in one hand, balancing the backpack on the opposite shoulder, leaning to the point of being on one leg for balance, and fishing for my wallet in my front pants pocket. Jakob began jumping up and down on the skee-ball machines and Anna was completely absorbed by the claw-machine which gave you the chance to win gold watches - face pressed up against the glass and yelling "I want to win one for daddy!"
5 seconds and $5 later, we were on our way to the Eiffel Tower replica. You can go up the elevator to the 1/3 scale replica's top and look out over the amusement park. So, there we were, the three of us, me with my backpack and two 64-ounce cokes (filled to the brim, of course). I am standing 5 inches from the guy operating the elevator and giving us the rules of this "attraction".
Guy : Please, for our safety, no food or drink is allowed at the top of the tower. Also, for the safety of our guests on the ground below, no spitting.
He said this with me carrying 128 ounces of coke in front of him. I am carrying a gallon of soda, 6 inches from him. Does he mind? no. We get off at the top and immediately see the pay-per-view binoculars which, of course, Jakob and Anna must use before they allow themself the luxury of another heartbeat.
Remembering my experience trying to fish out a $20 at the game arcade a few minutes before, and not wishing to be so encumbered at the edge of a 300 foot drop, I set the sodas down first before searching for my wallet. I set them on the floor a few feet away from our feet. Jakob looks through the binoculars first, then Anna. As I am helping Anna down I notice something...
One of the soda containers was knocked over. Jakob says "oops, sorry Uncle Ed" and then goes off looking out the other side of the tower. So, apparently, a half gallon of soda is now plummeting 300 feet down into the amusement park below.
I comfort myself with the thought that, at the very least, it was not spitting.
Flagging an attendant I let them know what happened and ask if they have a towel or trash can to minimize further drippage and we get the whole mess sorted out. (Well, by sorted out I mean the attendant stared at me with a look of disgust mixed with horror, and then walked away and I went to the other side of the tower and took pictures with the kids).
I did not read on the news that anyone was killed by falling soda at King's Dominion on Saturday, so I guess we got off lucky, but if I were you I would give that tower a wide berth next time you visit.
posted by Ed at 1:04 PM
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