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Great Western Coffee Shop > Sideshoots - associated subjects > The Lighter Side > Tracks of a different kind. Where was bignosemac late June 2021
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Author Topic: Tracks of a different kind. Where was bignosemac late June 2021  (Read 5938 times)
JayMac
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« on: July 02, 2021, 13:24:44 »
Family trip earlier this week. Lots of different track bashed. Where were we?

(Facebook friends barred from answering!)
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bobm
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« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2021, 13:58:20 »
He’s certainly a braver man than me.
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2021, 14:26:47 »
Quote from: bignosemac on July 02, 2021, 13:24:44
Facebook friends barred from answering!

Do I sense some form of discrimination here  Grin Grin ?  Seriously, yes, I know why you don't want some of us to spoil the fun.
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stuving
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« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2021, 15:44:38 »
Looks like Russia to me - specifically, in the mountains. I'm not sure which mountains, though.
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JayMac
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« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2021, 16:25:19 »
Quote from: stuving on July 02, 2021, 15:44:38
Looks like Russia to me - specifically, in the mountains. I'm not sure which mountains, though.

Russia?  Shocked Huh
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Bob_Blakey
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« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2021, 17:00:49 »
Chessington World of Adventures.
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JayMac
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« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2021, 18:48:28 »
Quote from: Bob_Blakey on July 02, 2021, 17:00:49
Chessington World of Adventures.

Sorry, no.
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stuving
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« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2021, 19:49:56 »
The only one I can find* that matches the picture visually is in Motherwell. Did you really go that far from home?

* by which I mean Google found for me, of course
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JayMac
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« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2021, 22:37:23 »
Quote from: stuving on July 02, 2021, 19:49:56
The only one I can find* that matches the picture visually is in Motherwell. Did you really go that far from home?

* by which I mean Google found for me, of course

Not that far stuving.

Middle of the UK▸ (United Kingdom).
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eXPassenger
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« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2021, 22:43:10 »
Quote from: bignosemac on July 02, 2021, 22:37:23
Quote from: stuving on July 02, 2021, 19:49:56
The only one I can find* that matches the picture visually is in Motherwell. Did you really go that far from home?

* by which I mean Google found for me, of course

Not that far stuving.

Middle of the UK▸ (United Kingdom).

Sounds like Alton Towers then.
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JayMac
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« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2021, 22:58:34 »
Quote from: eXPassenger on July 02, 2021, 22:43:10
Sounds like Alton Towers then.

Correct!

bignosemac had two days at Alton Towers this week. And he rode all the rollercoasters. Close call on a couple of them. Not because I was worried or scared. But because of my girth. Only just fit into the seats and harnesses!

The picture above is a close up of the track on a ride called Spinball Whizzer.

I'll post some ride pics later/tomorrow.
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stuving
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« Reply #11 on: July 02, 2021, 23:07:15 »
For those still in head-scratching mode, the French for roller coaster is montagnes russes. Some other related languages (from Italy to Portugal) have adopted the same name, so all say literally "Russian mountains" (or the singular).
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JayMac
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« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2021, 00:48:54 »
And this week's winner of the, 'Use of foreign languages for an obscure answer' Award, goes to stuving.  Grin

Have half a point stuving.  Tongue

I jest. And I admit to head scratching. But I've learnt something new from that answer. Love discovering new facts.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Mountains
« Last Edit: July 03, 2021, 01:00:24 by bignosemac » Logged
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JayMac
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« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2021, 01:53:38 »

At the main entrance. A section of the track from Corkscrew, the first rollercoaster installed at Alton Towers in 1980. Decommissioned in 2008. The first rollercoaster I ever rode, aged 13 in 1986. That was on a school trip. I'd been to Alton Towers for the first time a couple of years before with the family but didn't ride Corkscrew as I was too scared. Wimping out with the family is okay. Can't do the same thing when with school friends!



Oblivion. The world's first vertical drop (well... 87.5°) rollercoaster. That's me on the left in the photo, hands free, on the drop. Note the restraint - I only just squeezed in!

Prior to this week I last visited a theme park to ride coasters in 2009. I was younger, thinner, and healthier back then. It felt like a real achievement to still be able to ride and enjoy some of the world's best coasters. Even if it did take one or two ride hosts to use brute force to lock harnesses over my ample girth!



Favourite rides of the day were Galactica, a coaster that you ride in a prone, face down, position, and Smiler, the current world record holder for the most inversions - fourteen.

« Last Edit: July 03, 2021, 02:14:07 by bignosemac » Logged
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #14 on: March 16, 2025, 18:45:01 »
An update on Alton Towers, from the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
Burst pipe disrupts debut of new Alton Towers ride



Alton Towers' new ride Toxicator had to shut on its opening day when a pipe burst and brown liquid leaked out.

Park staff were inundated by frustrated riders, who took to social media about the problem at the Staffordshire park, on Saturday.  The theme park said rides were suspended for about two hours after the pipe burst, which bosses said was "unrelated to the new ride".

"Due to an unexpected burst pipe near the ride, Toxicator briefly paused operation whilst our teams swiftly dealt with the issue," a spokesperson said.  "The ride and surrounding area are now fully reopen and welcoming guests."
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