September came and almost went without me writing a single blog or visiting a single park. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t here hard at work on We Were Inverted. You might have noticed some changes to the site’s layout, which is still ongoing. I have also been in the background working on some file organization to help me work more efficiently moving forward.
I know, all that is boring. You came here for a recap of what you missed, or a refresher if you’ve been visiting regularly. Let me bore you no more and get into what did happen here on We Were Inverted.
On-Ride POV's on YouTube
In August I debuted the first Off-Track Bonus videos on the We Were Inverted YouTube channel. In September, I published two on-ride POV’s featuring Camden Park’s Log Flume and Hersheypark’s Kissing Tower. If you haven’t checked those out, I ask you to do so. I would appreciate any likes, shares, subscriptions, and comments.
I’ll have a few more POV’s and Off-Track Bonuses coming up here in October. I planned to have a vlog for my recent trip to Dorney Park for Halloween Haunt, but I wasn’t too happy with the footage and decided not to use it.
Chris & Carrie Helping w/ BGW Insiders Channel
At the end of August, the Facebook group Busch Garden Williamsburg Insiders, launched the BGW Insiders YouTube channel. Chris and Carrie have assisted with the creation of several videos on the channel including several on Howl-O-Scream and the DarKoaster announcement. It’s great to see them involved with their home park in this capacity. Be sure to check out the channel for updates on upcoming events/happenings at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW).
Awesome Pin Additions
September’s pin additions, while not plentiful, include some gems. I am going to take a few moments to talk about each of these pins and the interesting stories behind them.
- Wicked Cyclone – Years ago, when I visited Six Flags New England (SFNE) to ride Wicked Cyclone for the first time, I was bummed that the park didn’t have much in the way of merch for the coaster. I walked away with a postcard and that was it. Now, all these years later, I see the Wicked Cyclone pin above on eBay. I wasted no time in clicking “Buy It Now.” Oddly enough, my only other “SFNE” pin is of the original Cyclone, pre-RMC conversion. That pin, however, is also pre-Six Flags as it’s marked with the previous Riverside Park name. Check it out on the Pin Collection page.
- Roller Soaker – My least favorite coaster of the 409 I’ve currently experienced, now has a pin in my collection. I can’t say I ever expected to see one of these, nor was I aware that any existed. I came across this pin by chance when it was shared in the Hersheypark Connoisseurs group on Facebook. I quickly messaged the person who shared the photo. I said that although they didn’t say they were selling it, should they ever want to get rid of it, to contact me. A few hours later, I got a response. She told me I can have the pin because they were going to throw it away. I tried to offer money, at least for the shipping, but she declined. It has since arrived and now is a part of my collection.
- Superman El Ultimo Escape – I have seen this pin on eBay for years. It’s always hovered around a $50 asking price. As much as I wanted the pin, I wasn’t paying that much. Well, a few weeks ago another seller posted one for $25. I decided to go for it. Within a few days, I realized why the pin has always been priced so high. It’s massive at 2.5 inches square and man, it’s thick! There’s some weight to this fella. Glad to finally have this pin. It’s my first pin from Six Flags Mexico, or any park in Mexico for that matter.
- Outlaw Run – This pin was sent to my from Steven from Thill Maxx. If you’re thinking that its design looks similar to the ones being sold at the Busch Gardens and Sea World parks, you’d be correct. This one, however, is much smaller. It’s closer to the size of the pins from Busch Gardens’ stamp series. I love the art and have been wanting a pin of Outlaw Run for some time now. Thanks Steven. I will be getting your Steel Force magnets out to you soon.
Almost No Park Visits in September
Last month my focus on We Were Inverted was mostly on page redesign and the behind the scenes work I mentioned above. Every couple of days I’d login and redo a page, or organize my files. I was in my own little world. That’s when I noticed I hadn’t written a single blog all month nor had I visited a park. September went by quick, but I did manage to squeak into Dorney last minute, which wasn’t even planned until a few hours before arriving.
I go into detail on how I ended up at Dorney Park in my two-park trip report, which I’ll link down below. I won’t repeat it all here, but just know it involved Hurricane Ian and a last minute offer from Kaylee, her boyfriend, Charles, and their friend Brian. I’m glad I took it as I had a great time with the three of them.
- (09.30.2022) Dorney Park – Halloween Haunt, Pt. 1 – The Coasters
- (09.30.2022) Dorney Park – Halloween Haunt, Pt. 2 – The Scares
October is Upon Us & Plans Are in Place
Interview w/ Randy Davidson
I’ve been thinking about who to interview next on We Were Inverted for the last few months. The last interview took place back in April with Cris the Girl. It’s time for someone else to be featured and I think I found someone whose will a little bit different than the last few interviewees.
This time around I’m interviewing Randy Davidson, whose photography you may be familiar with if you’re a fan of BGW. His work is constantly shared on Facebook groups like Busch Gardens Williamsburg Insiders. That’s where I first saw his amazing work and come to know him. I’ve seen him out and about at BGW in the past and he’s always got his camera in hand, well, until he jumps on a coaster of course. Be sure to check him out on Instagram at @BGWPhotoFan. I can’t wait to share his passion for amusement parks and photography with all of you.
Tips on Pin Collecting
I was recently contacted by a couple people who asked me questions about my pin collection. This has become a regular inquiry for me as my collection continues to grow. I love chatting with all of you about collecting and your collections. Since I am asked the same questions, I am going to write an article covering those topics. I’ll cover things like where I buy my pins, both online and off, how I find deals, and more. I think it would be a huge help for those wanting to get into the hobby or maybe delve a little deeper into it as I have.
More Haunts
My aim for October is to visit several more amusement parks for their haunt events and I have several parks in mind. First is BGW. I’ve always enjoyed Howl-O-Scream and have gone many times going back over a decade-plus. Speaking of Virginia, I’d also like to visit Kings Dominion for their Halloween Haunt. I’m interested in seeing how different the two Cedar Fair parks will be just having done Dorney’s.
Then there is Hersheypark. I really wanted to visit for their inaugural Dark Knights event, but I wasn’t aware that it is an upcharge event until several days ago. Ugh! I’ve never done a Fright Fest maze at any Six Flags park for that reason. I’m debating on doing Hershey’s, though. Renee and I have talked about heading up one of the Sundays this month, so I might be a hypocrite and pay the upcharge.
Be on the lookout for those trip reports when they happen. Hope to see some of you out in the parks too. Be sure to say hey if you see me out and about, or hit me up on social media if you’re going to be out and want to see if I’ll be around.
