Nemesis Nick at Brean Leisure Park 21 Jun 2014

Date: Saturday 21 June 2014
Venue: Brean Leisure Park Fun City
Who Went: Just me

N.B. Any use of "today" or "Saturday" in this report means Saturday 21 June 2014.

Rationale For Trip

Having attended the RCCGB Summer Bash at Brean Leisure Park early September 2011, and gone there alone September 2012 and June 2013, I was equally determined to go there again this year. I originally favoured going on Saturday 28 June, but when I saw the 10 day online weather forecast on 19 June, Saturday 21 June was predicted to be sunny all day, whereas Saturday 28 June was predicted to be a mixed day weatherwise. Naturally therefore I decided to go Saturday 21 June.

Getting To Brean Leisure Park

I awoke at 5:45 to get ready and catch the 7:21 bus from Bath Bus Station to Bristol Bus Station, whereupon I caught the 8:20 bus to Weston-super-Mare. Having left that bus outside Weston-super-Mare Tesco, I was expecting to catch the bus to Brean from Regent Street. Unfortunately that bus stop was out of action due to a cycle race. I walked towards and along the seafront in search of an alternative bus stop where I could catch that bus. Eventually I found a stop on the seafront where I was able to catch the 9:50 bus to Brean Leisure Park. I finally reached Brean Leisure Park at 10:40.

Brean Leisure Park

Morning Coffee

Although Fun City was already open when I got to Brean Leisure Park, I fancied a coffee before riding. I went to Brean Splash Waterpark Café where I had a tall Americano and Twix. Whilst in the café I noticed some building work going on next door.

Fun City Morning Riding

Admission

Having left the café, I entered Fun City and immediately bought a wristband. Once fitted with my wristband I was eager to start riding.

Astro Storm

Just like on my previous visit last year, I began the day on Astro Storm. This Zierer Four Man Bob is the former Space Invader 2 from Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Late July 2011 it began operating at Fun City as Astro Storm. The 3-seater train, which resembles a space ship, goes through the doors, turns right and climbs the lift hill. On the way up are lights which change between red and green. Personally I think they're superfluous really. At the top there's a thrusting sound and the train winds its way along the course of the track. Along the way you pass tiny lights, which presumably resemble stars. Strong air currents add to the fun, though I question their significance considering there is no air in Space! Finally there are more bizarre lighting effects in the home straight before the train stops at the exit platform. I enjoyed six goes on this: Si4 front, Si8 front, Si8 front, Si8 back, Si4 back, Si8 front.

I was hoping to ride the looping coaster Shockwave next, but a sign at the entrance stated it was out of action for maintenance. Unable to ride that, I headed for Caterpillar Coaster instead.

Caterpillar Coaster

This D.P.V. Rides Minicoaster Apple has been operating at Brean since 2001. Unlike the other three coasters, one ride consists of two laps of the track. Not a particularly exciting coaster but to me riding this was as important as the other bigger coasters. I had two goes, second from back row, followed by back row.

Magic Mouse

Now for the mouse coaster Magic Mouse. This Reverchon Spinning Coaster has been operating at Brean since 2007. The ride car leaves the station, climbs the lift hill and works its way along a series of straight bits and U-bends. The queuing time for this was longer than the other two coasters I'd been on so far, about five to ten minutes wait each time, which is why I limited myself to just two goes (car 8 followed by car 5) for now. Although I hoped for more goes later, I didn't return to it the rest of the day.

Now that I'd ridden the three coasters operating today at least twice, I rode some non-coaster rides before lunch.

Waltzer

My first non-coaster ride of the day. This ride speaks for itself, it's a run-of-the-mill fairground waltzer. The whole ride went around really fast, and my ride car spun a bit along the way. A fun ride, but once was enough for now. I never returned to this later in the day.

Sky Diver

A drop tower. The ring of outward facing seats rose and fell several times. A fun ride, better than Trauma Tower at Woodlands, but tame compared to Ice Blast at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. My one go now, in seat 8, was my final ride before lunch.

Lunch at Subway

When the Sky Diver ride ended, I left Fun City to get some lunch at nearby Subway. The waiting time to get served was quite short. I had a 6 inch turkey and ham Sub and Sprite (as a £3 Meal Deal).

Fun City Afternoon Riding

Immediately after lunch I returned to Fun City, and continued as follows.

Bumpy Slide

A four lane Astra slide. Since I'd just had lunch, I went on this next. One payment of tokens or showing one's wristband once gets you two slides. Having queued and shown my wristband, I enjoyed two goes, which were in the far left lane, followed by the second-from-left lane (as viewed from the top). Both lanes were really fast.

Xtreme

Similar to Hydro Max at Pleasure Island Cleethorpes. This has two pairs of seats back to back at one end of the boom, with another identical set at the other end. I sat at one end, and the ride set off. As the ride picked up speed, it felt like riding a big wheel, but much better. The motion gave the sensation of flying through the air, up, backwards over the top and down again. Sometimes the set unit flipped over at the top; when that happened it seemed strange momentarily seeing the sky below me. When the ride ended I was stuck at the top, whilst the attendant changed riders at the other end. Finally the boom turned half a revolution so I could leave and more riders could get on at the end where I was. Once was enough for me for now, but I was determined to have another go later.

Bumpy Slide

Back to the Bumpy Slide for two more goes. This time I slid down the second-from-right lane followed by the right lane (as viewed from the top). Both lanes were really fast.

Wave Swinger

Being as this is close to the Bumpy Slide, it made sense for me to ride this next. Just like any other Wave Swinger, the central unit rose up and tilted as it spun around. A portion of Blue Danube (Johann Strauss) was played at the start and end of this ride. Another fun ride, but once was enough for me for now. I thought I might be back for another go later, but this ended up being my only go on here all day.

Frisbee

A witch's hat type ride, I fancied a go on this next. Although another fun ride, once was enough for me for now. I thought I might have another go later, but this ended up being my only go on here all day.

X Factory

This KMG ride looks and works like a Miami. Its row of seats beneath two vertical arms goes up, sideways and down. The ride also has water jets, which are not always used, but they were used today, presumably because it was such a hot sunny day. Going up, across and down was extremely exciting; at one point the seat row tilted forwards slightly whilst high up. The water jets were briefly on at this point. For now I only had one go; although I hoped to return to it later this ended up being my only go on here all day.

Sizzler

Just about everyone in the RCCGB must have been on this sort of ride at least once somewhere, you may have seen it called Twister or perhaps Cyclone. For some strange reason Fun City call theirs Sizzler, I'm not sure why. Another fun ride, and still one of my favourite non-coaster rides. For now I just had one go. Although I hoped to have more goes later, I ended up not returning to it the rest of the day.

Wild Water

A log flume. Even though it was a hot sunny afternoon, I put on my cagoule so as not to get wet. However I didn't bother putting my leggings on as I was wearing shorts. When it was my turn I got into one log and set off. The layout of this is somewhat similar to the one at Cornwall's Crealy; the log went up the first lift hill, and down creating a splash. After that it went up the second (taller) lift hill, and down creating an even bigger splash. Finally the log returned to the station. Altogether a fun ride. Afterwards I had three more goes.

Astro Storm

Now for some more goes on Astro Storm. Since the waiting time now tended to be longer than in the morning, I limited myself to just four goes: Si1 back, Si6 back, Si4 back, Si1 back.

Hellraiser

A set of ride cars attached to a central structure. As the central structure spins clockwise at high speed, the ride cars go up and down over the perimeter undulations, and are flung slightly outwards due to centrifugal force. Although another fun ride, once was enough for me.

Xtreme

My second and final go of the day on Xtreme. This time I got on to the side facing the sea. The ride was just as exciting as earlier. Just like my previous go, at the end of the ride I was momentarily stuck at the top, whilst the attendant changed riders at the other end. After the boom turned its final half a revolution I was able leave. Having left Xtreme I had a couple pictures taken of me standing in front of it.

Wipeout

I still hadn't been on this today, so I was determined to fit one go in before my wristband expired. This is a Freak-Out / Afterburner type ride which swings and spins. Each set of four seats faces inwards. The ride was great fun, but once was enough for my liking. There's no way on Earth I could have two goes straight off on this type of ride.

Astro Storm

I returned to Astro Storm, hoping to get one or two more goes on it before leaving. When I got there it was still running, so I enjoyed one go in ride car Si4 (front). Afterwards the attendant said the ride was closing, so it wasn't possible for me to have a second go.

Sky Diver

Now that my wristband was now within a couple of minutes of expiring, I tried to get on to whatever I could for one last ride. Sizzler was in action, so rather than wait for it to finish, I looked for another ride I could immediately get on to. Nearby I managed to get straight on to Sky Diver, and sat in seat 12. Just like my previous go earlier in the day, the ring of outward facing seats rose and fell several times. Altogether a fun up-and-down drop tower ride to end the day on.

After I left Skydiver the time was 17:00. An announcement was made stating that daytime wristbands had now expired, and evening wristbands were now on sale.

Summary of day at Brean Leisure Park in order of activity

Coffee at Brean Leisure Park Café

Astro Storm 6
Caterpillar Coaster 2
Magic Mouse 2
Waltzer 1
Sky Diver (drop tower) 1

Lunch at Subway

Bumpy Slide 2
Xtreme 1
Bumpy Slide 2
Wave Swinger 1
Frisbee 1
X Factory 1
Sizzler 1
Wild Water (log flume) 4
Astro Storm 4
Hellraiser 1
Xtreme 1
Wipeout 1
Astro Storm 1
Sky Diver (drop tower) 1

Cumulative Summary of Rides at Brean Fun City

Ride	Total
Astro Storm	11
Bumpy Slide	4
Caterpillar Coaster	2
Frisbee	1
Hellraiser	1
Magic Mouse	2
Sizzler	1
Sky Diver	2
Waltzer	1
Wave Swinger	1
Wild Water	4
Wipeout	1
X Factory	1
Xtreme	2
TOTAL	34

Saturday Evening

Bus to Weston-super-Mare

Now that my wristband had expired, it was time to head back to Weston-super-Mare. Back at the bus stop I caught the 17:29 bus to Weston-super-Mare. As the bus proceeded along the southern end of the seafront, helicopters could be seen on the seafront lawn, as part of an air show that was taking place in Weston this weekend. Having left the bus outside Weston-super-Mare railway station at 18:05, I walked to the sea front.

Takeaway

I went to Winston's Fish Bar, where I had takeaway cod and large chips, and sat in the paved area across the road from the beach to eat them. Afterwards I had a whippy ice cream from Charlie's Sweet Factory & Ice Cream Bar. Fish and chips and an ice cream are two must-haves when you're at the seaside.

Remaining Time In Weston

During my remaining time in Weston, I was going to go on Grand Pier and possibly have one or two rides. As I approached the pier, the time was 19:05, and I did wonder if I would realistically have time to walk to the end of the pier, buy ride credits, have rides and still return to Alexandra Parade in time for a bus to Bristol just after 19:30. As I entered Grand Pier I noticed a row of turnstiles. Visitors now have to put a £1 coin in to get past these turnstiles. Knowing I would only have time for about 15 to 20 minutes on the pier, I decided not to go on the Grand Pier after all. Instead I walked around a nearby section of the beach for a few minutes, and had a few pictures taken of me. However I didn't build a sandcastle.

Journey Home

Having left the beach I walked to Alexandra Parade where I caught the 19:36 bus to Bristol Bus Station. Although the bus was a double decker, I was lucky to get a seat. I wanted to sit upstairs, but the upper deck was full up. I managed to get a rear facing seat at the back of the lower deck, which was not ideal as I'm not too keen on travelling backwards on a bus. North of Weston a forward facing seat became free, so I moved to it. Having reached Bristol Bus Station I caught the 21:00 bus to Bath Bus Station. I finally reached Bath Bus Station at 21:50, and home a few minutes later.

Outro

Highlights

Re-riding three of the coasters (Astro Storm, Caterpillar Coaster, Magic Mouse) and many other rides that I first rode at Fun City September 2011.
Having six goes straight off on Astro Storm at the start of my visit.
Clocking up a total of 11 goes on Astro Storm, my highest count on that ride for a single visit to-date.
High total ride count overall.

Lowlights

Difficulty finding a stop in Weston-super-Mare where I could catch the bus to Brean.
Shockwave was out of action all day, so I was unable to ride that.

Summing Up

Altogether a fun day out on the Longest Day, which is officially the first day of summer. This was my fourth visit to Fun City to-date and my third solo visit there. It's a pity Shockwave was out of action all day, so I was unable to ride that, but I still enjoyed riding the other three coasters (Astro Storm, Caterpillar Coaster, Magic Mouse) and other rides again. Just one point about all four coasters, they're all steel. Come on Brean, get some wood! Best of all it was a hot sunny day, just as had been forecast.

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