Wearing a face mask on the rollercoasters proves tricky
A FAIR Saturday afternoon in July should be peak season for Thorpe Park, but with a limited number of guests, many can walk straight on to rollercoasters. Some rides, including the ghost train, have stayed shut.
“It’s better than normal today as it’s not too busy,” says Charlotte Knight, 29, who drove her 10-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son from Northampton to the park in Chertsey, Surrey. Changes have been made to keep everyone safe: there are temperature checks at the entrance and gift shops operate a one-way system. Face masks must now be worn on all rides.
Given that the rollercoasters go up to 80mph, upside down and round like
‘It is hard to imagine going back to sitting next to a stranger on a ride while their nose leaks’
a corkscrew, keeping them on is a challenge. My homemade mask was not up to the task, and during a dramatic swoop downwards on one ride, it made a bid for freedom. I caught it with both hands, just in time for the ride’s official photograph.
Finding the right picture at the photograph booth poses a challenge. “Usually I search for faces, but everyone looks the same with face masks on,” says the attendant. Every other photograph is of an empty row of seats.
Kiosks offering face painting and temporary tattoos are closed off. With hygiene systems in place, it seems unimaginable to go back to sitting next to a stranger on a ride while their nose leaks at 80mph. As the day wears on, the park begins to fill up. And as people complain of 45-minute queues, things start to feel a bit more normal.