The Little (Ferris Wheel) Engine That .... Balked

Yesterday was the first of three days of our local fair. So last night was full of walking around checking out food, the horse show, the exhibits, the rides. Every year I have to ride the Ferris Wheel at least once, I think I've only skipped one year in the last several. So I got the tickets for it, and got in line, prepared to be patient as we snaked through the entrance gates to the ride. It took awhile, and the sun was going down and it was cloudy, so I "worried" that pictures or video might not come out so good. But they did, so I was happy about that.

Here, I just got on the Ferris Wheel.

I took videos as we rode around, but I don't know how to put them on here, so here are some still photos I took while we all whirled around on our ride. I love the colored lights.

So as the end of the ride drew near, they slowed the engine down, and started unloading-reloading the seats, starting with the one ahead (well, or behind, however you'd think of it being at the bottom of the wheel) of me. This meant I would be the last seat to unload before the next ride started. So I got to sit and enjoy the view all the way around, one stop at a time, while they did this. That was a good opportunity for a bird's-eye view.

The train behind us.

The midway ahead of us.

THEN. As we came around, and they were unloading the seat "behind" me now, which was next-to-the-last, me being last ..... the engine quit. Just like that. There we all sat.

The balky engine, sitting by the side of the Ferris Wheel.

I think the problem was, it ran out of gas. So they got more, and then the process started to get it running again. They cranked and they cranked and they cranked and they cranked ....... it sputtered a time or two, then got obstinate again. Crank, crank, crank, crank .....

.... meanwhile, this was where I sat, just a few feet above the ground, right in front of everyone waiting in line. I felt like I was on stage or something!

FINALLY .... the engine roared to life again, and we all clapped and cheered! But instead of stopping my seat to let me get off, they yelled, "Keep it running!!!" .... I guess so it wouldn't stop again, so they could get it going good. So OFF WE WENT on another ride .... I may be the only person in the history of this fair that got two rides for the price of one. ha ha

But I'll tell you, that second go-round, that engine was really chugging, and every time I went over the top my seat swayed a little more than usual, and I kept telling myself, "I want to get off! I'm ready to get off now!" I was clutching the safety bar with a white-knuckled grip! But it was still fun, and just glad it wasn't anything more serious, and that I didn't get left dangling at the very top all that time!