Most all were nodded off from a long hard day and the drone of the engines, Sambo, as most know, is not much one for sleep and he had engaged the pilots in small talk to help kill time. Everything was just fine until Brad, the pilot had to go and tell Sambo that Orlando Florida was directly ahead and we had to fly right over it to get to Melbourne, Florida and an impatiently waiting Gray Dragon.

The impact of this information swept slowly over Sambo gaining momentum quickly. For those that don’t know Sambo and evidently someone had forgotten to tell Brad, besides his wife and family, Sambo has one other main passion in life… Disneyland! Now we all know that DisneyLAND and Disney WORLD are two separate places, but to Sambo, Disney is Disney and that is that. He actually managed to get his camera out and snap some shots of Disney World from 25,000 feet in the air. Those ought to look good when he gets them developed, if you happen to be an ant.

Touchdown in Melbourne was welcome and needed. We all needed the men’s room and were all starting to get a little excited about being so close to our destination. Gray Dragon was right on time and came walking happily up us we all came tumbling out of the restroom. “No mistake finding the right party here, you must be Boomer, he said to Big Red putting his hand out”. It didn’t take long though to get everyone all straightened out on who was who.

Boomer: Well lets get aboard and get this party rolling, got any problems with flying Gray Dragon?
Gray Dragon: I really don't think that I have any problems with flying in aircraft. I have flown in them, jumped out of them and crashed in them so, no, no problems with flight.

Soon, we were rolling down the runway one more time, hesitating just for a split second as if pondering leaping into the sky, then we were airborne and it was just a hop over the vast Florida swamp land on one side and the blue gleaming Atlantic ocean on the other and down into Daytona Beach.

Once we all got some snacks and a couple drinks from the water cooler and were up to cruising altitude, I had a chance to corner Gray Dragon (it’s not like he could run away, however tempting that may be to him) and finally get the chance to know him a little better. Some of the guys gathered around to listen in and get to know him better too.

His real name is Jim and he works on staff at The RCT Depot as the PR man over there. Jim was a proud Marine who served his country honorably in Viet Nam as did Scoop and my brother. His wife Marie keeps a close watch on him, thankfully, because that keeps him out of trouble. His wife’s life story is almost as interesting as his but that’s another story. As the plane droned on through the evening, so did the conversation.

Boomer: Man Cocoa beach is a lot bigger then I thought it would be! Is this where you were born and raised Jim?
Gray Dragon:  Oh no, I am a native Floridian but grew up in the Orlando and Titusville area and now live and work in Cocoa.
Boomer: Are you into sports at all?
Gray Dragon: 

I never was much for sports when I was growing up and really am still not. I much preferred the nerd stuff. I joined the Marine Corps when I turned 18, spent 2 years in Viet Nam in the special forces and am still screwed up mentally because of it.

Scoop: I’ve been there and I know what you mean my friend, I too have the invisible scars left over from that war.
James: You’re in good company here Jim, these guys are all screwed up mentally too…you should feel right at home here.
Boomer: That’s very true James, ALL of us are.
Gray Dragon:  Well I hope the pilot and co-pilot aren’t! (nervous insincere laughter from all) Anyhow, I work for the City of Cocoa utilities department as a water meter/ backflow technician. I am married ( my third one), have three kids and I really don't know how many grand kids. I drive a 1990 T-Bird and have been known to be a dirty old man as well as a grumpy old codger. As far as the internet goes, other than looking up something now and then, I use it mainly for RCT and am the Public Relations Manager (yeah, go figure) at RCT Depot.
Boomer: Well now we know how old your car is, how old are you?
Gray Dragon: I am 55 years old and wasn‘t sure at times if I would make it this far.
Scoop: I heard that! Hey Dragon, when did you first discover RCT?
Gray Dragon:  I first discovered RCT in 1997 or 98, whenever it came out and that is when I started playing it. I discovered the online world of RCT fan sites quiet by accident. I stumbled across the first trainer made, can't remember the name but it was the one before Henrys. This led to further investigation and the discovery that there were allot of other people out there playing it also.
Boomer: What was the first RCT site that you used?
Gray Dragon:  YOU ask what my first main RCT site was. That’s where we met, now could it have been RCTOA...LOL. Yep, that was it. There were a couple of others but I can't even remember them now.
Boomer: Boy do I ever remember, RCTOA is where Denny G used to shout his displeasure with everything and everybody. Sim 5 and the glorious days of the infancy of RCT.
Sambo: Do you have a very large family Gray Dragon? Anyone else who likes to play RCT?
Gray Dragon:  Do I have a family. Boy do I have a family. I have a family, their families and their families have families. I am just about the only one in the house however that plays RCT. It could be that I told them to stay off my computer or I would break their fingers but I like to think that it is that they are just too stupid to play it.
Old Red: Do you have any parks posted anywhere?
Gray Dragon:  I have never posted a park on any website. I did manage to make several in the original RCT but I have never finished one in RCT 2. I have been working on one called "Grumpy Grotto" and when it is finished I will post it. Part of the problem is that everyone is always coming up with great new objects and I have to redo the game or I have to rebuild my hard drive and keep forgetting to back up the dag blasted game. I do seem to forget allot.....now what were we talking about?
Scoop:

You’re asking US?
Gray Dragon: Yes, I have RCT3, bought it the day it came out. From what I have used it, which has been very little, I like it. The controls are going to take me a while to learn and get used to. The thing is, I am still hooked on RCT 2 and really don't want to start 3 until at least I get "Grumpy Grotto" completed.
Boomer: Grumpy Grotto, isn’t that where Scoop lives?
Scoop: Very funny Boomer, thought that was in your neck of the woods. Are you planning on getting the Cape Typhoon add on for RCT3?
Gray Dragon: Yes, I will of course purchase the expansion pack for RCT3. I look forward to it. I love water parks and think that it would be great to be able to incorporate them into a theme park. I am even trying to get to be a beta tester.
Boomer: Any other hobbies you like besides RCT and being grumpy and hollow?
Gray Dragon: My actual one and only hobby is my computer. I hope you guys don't mind that I am not a sports nut but I just can't find the interest. I have a very hard time excepting the idea that those guys get paid sooooo much for playing a game. But I am however really looking forward to racing ole Boomer around all day at The NASCAR Experience, and also the Daytona 500.
Boomer:
James:
(in unison) ME TOO!
Ray: Hey guys, Brad’s on the radio to Rog in Daytona. He said that he is getting dinner for us squared away with his chefs for when we arrive, he wants to know what Gray Dragon would prefer.
Gray Dragon:

My favorite food is steak and shrimp. I also like salmon when it is prepared right. Pinto beans and cornbread is something else I won't turn away.
Ray: Ok, I'll pass the info to Rog.
Boomer: I can’t wait to get to the Park tomorrow, what’s your favorite ride Gray Dragon?
Gray Dragon:

My favorite ride, hummm that is a tough one. Of course the coasters come to mind first but I love a good haunted house or something of the such. The Magic Kingdom is my all time, most favorite, best liked park in the whole entire world. I think that it is the best laid out, cleanest, most helpful staff and best rides ever.

Since it was just a 30 min flight on in to Daytona it came as no surprise when in no time Brad’s voice came over the intercom telling us we were on a final into Daytona Beach and the end of the line for this part of the trip. Goose bumps and smiles where everywhere to be seen as the excitement of it all overtook everyone. A bump and a thump and we were down and in Daytona and rolling up to the gate

.

A grand adventure lay just on the other side. We couldn’t wait to embrace it. But first the restroom. Soon only Brad and Ray were left behind to clean the plane and hanger it for the night. Soon the job was done and even the noisy radio had been turned off and lay silent. The sleek bird that had brought us all here had done its job and now lay motionless and quiet, waiting for it’s next chance to leap into the wide open skies and dance through the clouds once again, until then it lay sleeping.

To Be Continued