The first Midway rides in over a decade have set up on the Digby waterfront.
Everything is ready to roll today and in fact, a few lucky carnival fans had rides Thursday night.
The carnies from Maritime Midways arrived Monday night and started putting together the rides Tuesday.
On Wednesday they had assembled the Scrambler and the Berry Go Round and were working on the Star Trooper.
Robert Bardbury and Shane Crosby were shirtless and sweating as they carried the umbrella covers for each car over their heads and held them there while Matthew ‘Pockets’ Cyr slipped in the cotter pins.
Once an umbrella is attached, they call to Wayne Bellhouwer to pull the ride around so they can attach the next one.
Bellhouwer, 24 years a carnie, has a rope tied to one arm of the Star Trooper. The rope is wrapped around his fist and he leans into it and slowly swings the ride round.
“Let’s get this done,” said Bradbury. “I want to be able to relax tonight.”
Bradbury says the hardest thing about his life on the road is “doing a split” and being away from his girlfriend.
She too works on the Midway but is with the other half of the ‘split’ crew, working carnival games in in Moncton this weekend.
Bradbury says the best thing and the hardest thing about the job is the people.
“It’s fun. But sometimes people want to argue. I don’t argue with anyone,” he says calmly. “You get some parents upset their child is too small for a ride and I just tell them, ‘I’m not going to argue about your child’s safety. Your child is too small and if you want to talk to management, they’re right over there.”
For the Star Trooper you have to be 46” tall to ride alone or 42” to ride with a parent. Bradbury says that’s because a smaller child could slip out.
The Star Trooper he says will also give great views of downtown and the harbour.
“You’re up real high at the top,” he says. “ You can see everything from up there. And then you come flying down.”
The other rides have no height restrictions. Bradbury says not to be fooled by the Berry Go Round.
“You can really get it spinning if you turn that wheel in there.”
And the Scrambler he says is always popular.
Maritime Midway also brought a cotton candy and candy apple booth and a Duck Pond to Digby.
The Firemen games will also be running all weekend at the marina parking lot and the department’s canteen is set up and ready to feed the crowds there too.
Each ride costs four tickets and tickets cost 10 for $12.50 or 25 for $25.00.
jriley@digbycourier.ca
Digby Fire Truck Rally: www.digbyfire.ca
