The Story of I Ron Ore - 4

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Eventually my turn came to enter the line-up for the next ride. The line narrowed until we were single file. We entered a rather narrow space (well narrow compared to the big barn) known as a feeder. But nobody fed us anything while we were in the feeder, so another goofy human misnomer, I suppose. As we departed the feeder, we were again on another belt-type ride. At the end of the belt we all piled up into a discharge chute only to be dropped onto another belt for another short, quick ride. At the end of this belt we entered what is commonly called the main feed chute. Again, I saw no food or anybody eating, but that's its name anyway. The next ride was lots of fun, it was like a Ferris wheel without seats so we tumbled and giggled and bonked our heads a lot. It was more like being in a clothes dryer as we bounced around the big circular bin. We were bonked around so much that we all lost lots of weight and when we were done we were each about the size of small sand. Next time mom complains about being overweight, I'll tell her to go for a ride in the mill and have fun reducing. There were holes in the sides of the mill and once we lost enough weight we were able to slip out of the mill and into a holding sump.

On one side of this sump was a piece of equipment creating a suction, I think they called it a pump, after getting pulled into this pump, there was some type of contraption going around with what looked like tiny paddles. These paddles were propelling us down a wide, dark tunnel that eventually leads to another collecting pot, then down another narrower tunnel and onto a noisy, bumpy ride where we were separated into groups. The group classified as screen oversize got to go for another ride in the mill, those like myself, who were already skinny were classified as screen undersize and got to go directly to the next area of the amusement park.

The undersize group ended up in another sump with the suction pump attached. This time we got to travel through a longer tunnel but eventually we made our way to what looked like a huge octopus. There was this collection distributor and on the bottom there were twenty-four arms. We soon learned that these arms were in fact another one of those tunnel rides only this one leads from almost the very top of the park to the very bottom. I happened to be unlucky enough to be on the outside and that friction sure warmed up my behind. Emerging from this tunnel, we again ended up in another one of those pump type thingies with the paddles. Soft pats from the paddles propel us on our way up another long, dark tunnel. Didn't see no kissing in this tunnel like I heard sometimes see in tunnels of love. Girl germs, yuck. Emerging into the light, we again saw what looked like an octopus, only a lot smaller. From this distributor we rode down another tunnel, this one much narrower and into the most fun ride of the day - the water park's spiral separators.

This ride is shaped like a corkscrew that has been hollowed out. I'm told it works on gravity, friction and hydrodynamic forces. Whatever all that means. We slide down this corkscrew propelled by water. Here again, we divide into two groups. Because they weigh less, the non-iron members of my family separate and migrate to the outside of the spiral. They eventually are collected in a tails box and go for more rides in the magnetic plant for further upgrading. My group, consisting of a high grade of iron concentrate, is collected towards the inside of the water ride. Unfortunately, this journey through the waterslide is over really quickly. They wouldn't let us go back for a second ride either; although, some of my friends who did not quite make the grade got a return ride later. After the spiral water ride, we got to go on a flat, bowl-like ride. As we stepped onto this ride all the excess water was removed leaving us fairly dry.