Okay... here are some of the numericals of my trip:
Total driving distance: 2243 miles from Clevland, OH to Orlando, FL.
Total time: 8 days
Total number of different coasters: 34
Total number of rides: 55
Cedar Point
Millenium Force 3
Top Thrill Dragster 1
Corkscrew 1
Magnum XL 1
Mantis 1
Maverick 2
Mean Streak 1
Raptor 1
Wicked Twister 1
Dorney Park
Dominator 1
Hydra 3
Steel Force 2
Talon 3
Possessed 2
Six Flags New England
Bizarro 1
Batman 1
Six Flags Great Adventure
El Toro 3
Nitro 2
Bizarro 1
Superman 1
Batman 1
Kings Dominion
Dominator 1
Anaconda 1
Volcano Blaster 1
Flight of Fear 1
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Alpengiest 1
Apollo's Chariot 4
Griffon 6
Loch Ness Monster 1
Big Bad Wolf 1
Curse of Darkastle 1
Universal Islands of Adventure
Hulk 1
Dueling Dragons: Fire 1
Dueling Dragons: Ice 2
I started keeping track of the amount of time I spent waiting in lines... but then I stopped. I thought about wearing a pedometer to track the number of steps I took walking through all these parks... but that would have been futile to track... needless to say... I did A LOT of walking.
I also rode on 5 coasters the weekend before my trip at Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain... but I won't count those as part of my trip. And... I still have the season passes for those 2 parks... so I might just keep this ride going by heading up north later this summer.
I have started working on my Top Ten. I will have that posted maybe later today.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Top Ten
Okay... so everyone has been asking me about which was my favorite roller coaster. Well, they were all great coasters. But, there were some definite standouts. So here is my list... in descending order:
10. Bizarro - Six Flags NE - almost didnt make the list just from the poor experience I had at that park. But, it was a solid ride... fast and good ride elements.
And here a first person point of view that someone recorded and posted to You Tube (shows the fire and mist special effects):
9. The Incredible Hulk - Universal Islands of Adventure - This was the best of the stand-up coaster that I rode. It was fast with a lot of unique twists and turns... and 7 inversions (that means I got turned upside down). Overall, it was worth the drive down from Virginia... and this was a fun park. They are building a Harry Potter "ride" that should be open some time next year.
Another You Tube (and by the way... I blame the Discovery Channel for planting the crazy idea for this road trip into my head years ago):
8. Apollo's Chariot - Busch Gardens Williamsburg - This was another fast coaster with some solid high g turns (this means I got sucked into my seat). I went on this one a few times... in a row!
Here is another You Tube of the ride (there is music and screaming... a lot of screaming)
7. Nitro - Six Flags Great Adventure - This was a nice ride. I got to ride this one a couple of time... once in front and once at the back. If I had the opportunity to go on a coaster more than once, I swapped between the front and last row as you get a different feel of the ride. The front car is exciting due to the point of view but the last row is exciting because of the "air time" you get when you feel weightless as you get lifted out of your seat. This ride had some great air time from the last row. The other nice element to this ride was a sharp high g turn. See if you can find it in the video.
Alternate funny video (screaming, swearing... it is funny)
I will come back to this park someday...
6. Superman - Six Flags Great Adventure - This is somewhat of a unique ride... they call it a "flying" roller coaster due to the fact that once you sit in the seat and get locked in, they tilt the seat forward so that you are facing the ground. And... you ride the coaster as though you are flying... like Superman... get it? I have been on a ride similar to this at Six Flags Magic Mountain but this one was nicer. And... my friend Mike was brave enough to ride it with me... since his stomach cannot handle roller coasters... he was so brave.
This ride was highlighted by a pretzel loop and really cool inversions and a 360 degree twist at the end.
Here is a non-POV:
Here is a short video that shows what I mean by flying.
I couldn't find a decent POV video... but here is the best one (it's a little loud).
Okay... well... there is 10-6... I will do the top 5 soon. They only get better... I hope you have enjoyed this post. I still have more to write about... so keep a look out.
10. Bizarro - Six Flags NE - almost didnt make the list just from the poor experience I had at that park. But, it was a solid ride... fast and good ride elements.
And here a first person point of view that someone recorded and posted to You Tube (shows the fire and mist special effects):
9. The Incredible Hulk - Universal Islands of Adventure - This was the best of the stand-up coaster that I rode. It was fast with a lot of unique twists and turns... and 7 inversions (that means I got turned upside down). Overall, it was worth the drive down from Virginia... and this was a fun park. They are building a Harry Potter "ride" that should be open some time next year.
Another You Tube (and by the way... I blame the Discovery Channel for planting the crazy idea for this road trip into my head years ago):
8. Apollo's Chariot - Busch Gardens Williamsburg - This was another fast coaster with some solid high g turns (this means I got sucked into my seat). I went on this one a few times... in a row!
Here is another You Tube of the ride (there is music and screaming... a lot of screaming)
7. Nitro - Six Flags Great Adventure - This was a nice ride. I got to ride this one a couple of time... once in front and once at the back. If I had the opportunity to go on a coaster more than once, I swapped between the front and last row as you get a different feel of the ride. The front car is exciting due to the point of view but the last row is exciting because of the "air time" you get when you feel weightless as you get lifted out of your seat. This ride had some great air time from the last row. The other nice element to this ride was a sharp high g turn. See if you can find it in the video.
Alternate funny video (screaming, swearing... it is funny)
I will come back to this park someday...
6. Superman - Six Flags Great Adventure - This is somewhat of a unique ride... they call it a "flying" roller coaster due to the fact that once you sit in the seat and get locked in, they tilt the seat forward so that you are facing the ground. And... you ride the coaster as though you are flying... like Superman... get it? I have been on a ride similar to this at Six Flags Magic Mountain but this one was nicer. And... my friend Mike was brave enough to ride it with me... since his stomach cannot handle roller coasters... he was so brave.
This ride was highlighted by a pretzel loop and really cool inversions and a 360 degree twist at the end.
Here is a non-POV:
Here is a short video that shows what I mean by flying.
I couldn't find a decent POV video... but here is the best one (it's a little loud).
Okay... well... there is 10-6... I will do the top 5 soon. They only get better... I hope you have enjoyed this post. I still have more to write about... so keep a look out.
Thrilling Thought #5
Well... I am home now and catching up on sleep. Adrenaline does wonders for keeping one going on little sleep and long days of walking/standing. And now that I am coming down off that adrenaline high... I am tired.
So... here is my next thrilling thought... and this is an observation from the plane as I was coming back from Orlando. As my plane was landing in Phoenix, AZ... I was looking out the window and saw nothing but dry desert... and the city in that desert seemed almost unnatural.
Having not spent a lot of time on the East Coast in my life, I was amazed by just how green the countryside really is. I expected to see more urban sprawl... and that is there. But, outside of the cities there is lush green country. PA was very green... a lot trees and rolling green fields. I expected MA to be wooded... and it was. But, then on my drive to NJ... I didn't expect there to be so many trees. From the vantage point of the roller coasters at Six Flags NJ, the entire park area was surrounded by nothing but trees... for what seemed like miles.
And, of course the further south I drove, the greener and wetter everything became.
Then, flying back to CA, I became more aware of the desert like environment we live in... even here in San Diego. We, as in mankind, have been able to do some amazing things... like build amazing roller coasters... or build cities in places where cities shouldn't really exist.
So... the east coast was so very beautiful to drive through. And, I was reminded of the rich history present on that coast. There were so many roadsigns that reminded me of important historical events in our nation's past.
Okay... that's all... not too thrilling I guess. Up next... my Top 10!
So... here is my next thrilling thought... and this is an observation from the plane as I was coming back from Orlando. As my plane was landing in Phoenix, AZ... I was looking out the window and saw nothing but dry desert... and the city in that desert seemed almost unnatural.
Having not spent a lot of time on the East Coast in my life, I was amazed by just how green the countryside really is. I expected to see more urban sprawl... and that is there. But, outside of the cities there is lush green country. PA was very green... a lot trees and rolling green fields. I expected MA to be wooded... and it was. But, then on my drive to NJ... I didn't expect there to be so many trees. From the vantage point of the roller coasters at Six Flags NJ, the entire park area was surrounded by nothing but trees... for what seemed like miles.
And, of course the further south I drove, the greener and wetter everything became.
Then, flying back to CA, I became more aware of the desert like environment we live in... even here in San Diego. We, as in mankind, have been able to do some amazing things... like build amazing roller coasters... or build cities in places where cities shouldn't really exist.
So... the east coast was so very beautiful to drive through. And, I was reminded of the rich history present on that coast. There were so many roadsigns that reminded me of important historical events in our nation's past.
Okay... that's all... not too thrilling I guess. Up next... my Top 10!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
I am home again
Well... the trip is over. But, my blogging is not. I need to rest. I have a lot of work to catch up on for work tomorrow and before my boss leaves on Friday. So... I need to get back at it.
I still owe you all some things... a full ride report, my top 10s... a few more Thrilling Thoughts.
So, for now... I am going to experience some hardcore extreme sleeping... in my own bed (yea!)... check back tomorrow sometime... and on Friday.
And, again... if there is anything you want me to comment or reflect on, let me know... and I will add it to the blog.
Thanks and good night.
I still owe you all some things... a full ride report, my top 10s... a few more Thrilling Thoughts.
So, for now... I am going to experience some hardcore extreme sleeping... in my own bed (yea!)... check back tomorrow sometime... and on Friday.
And, again... if there is anything you want me to comment or reflect on, let me know... and I will add it to the blog.
Thanks and good night.
Thrilling Thought #4
Okay... it is the morning of my last day. I need to make this quick so I can catch the shuttle to Universal Islands of Adventure so I can ride the last 2 roller coasters of my trip. I hope they are not disappointing (and I doubt they will be).
But... I wanted to comment on 2 things... all of the "parks" I have been visiting have a name... theme park or amusement park. Most all of the park I visited had some sorta theme to them... but not all. However... they have been amusing.
As I was thinking about this vacation of mine... I thought about what I would get out of it. And, in the past week, each of these parks have lived up to their name... and I have been amused.
With all the bad stuff happening right now... sometimes it is important to sit back and enjoy life a little and not get caught up in all the craziness that can just bring you down. I have been there... so enraged by politics, big media, the economy, social injustices... that I have brought my self to a stand still and into a deep dark place.
Well... this trip has reminded me that some days you need to take time to be amused... and to not be so serious all the time. It is important... to slow down and relax... disconnect from the craziness and take care of yourself.
So, I want to thank Six Flags and Cedar Fair and Busch Gardens... for amusing me.
And... the other thing I want to comment on... is the what is inside all of these parks... roller coasters or thrill rides. And... let me tell you... in the past week... I have been thrilled.
I have been dropped 120 feet straight down... I have been launched forward at 120mph hour 420 feet straight up and down again... I have been lifted 300 feet in the air just to be rushed back down again 300 feet... I have felt chills down my spine... and felt an empty weightlessness in my stomach... I have been dangled on a track facing 100 feet straight down with only a harness holding me in place... I have been pushed to the back of my seat by extreme g forces... I been lifted out of my seat... I have felt the wind in my hair and rain whipping my face... I have felt the adrenaline rush... the endorphins... the elation... the urge to laugh out loud... scream at the top of lungs... and the want for more. I have felt alive.
One does not feel this way on a regular basis. And, I am glad to have been privileged enough... with the ability to experience this past week... the financial and physical ability to take this vacation and enjoy all of these thrills.
So, again, I want to thank Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and Busch Gardens for thrilling me.
And... I want to thank you all for coming along for the ride. But... there is more to come... so hold on to your seats! Literally!
But... I wanted to comment on 2 things... all of the "parks" I have been visiting have a name... theme park or amusement park. Most all of the park I visited had some sorta theme to them... but not all. However... they have been amusing.
As I was thinking about this vacation of mine... I thought about what I would get out of it. And, in the past week, each of these parks have lived up to their name... and I have been amused.
With all the bad stuff happening right now... sometimes it is important to sit back and enjoy life a little and not get caught up in all the craziness that can just bring you down. I have been there... so enraged by politics, big media, the economy, social injustices... that I have brought my self to a stand still and into a deep dark place.
Well... this trip has reminded me that some days you need to take time to be amused... and to not be so serious all the time. It is important... to slow down and relax... disconnect from the craziness and take care of yourself.
So, I want to thank Six Flags and Cedar Fair and Busch Gardens... for amusing me.
And... the other thing I want to comment on... is the what is inside all of these parks... roller coasters or thrill rides. And... let me tell you... in the past week... I have been thrilled.
I have been dropped 120 feet straight down... I have been launched forward at 120mph hour 420 feet straight up and down again... I have been lifted 300 feet in the air just to be rushed back down again 300 feet... I have felt chills down my spine... and felt an empty weightlessness in my stomach... I have been dangled on a track facing 100 feet straight down with only a harness holding me in place... I have been pushed to the back of my seat by extreme g forces... I been lifted out of my seat... I have felt the wind in my hair and rain whipping my face... I have felt the adrenaline rush... the endorphins... the elation... the urge to laugh out loud... scream at the top of lungs... and the want for more. I have felt alive.
One does not feel this way on a regular basis. And, I am glad to have been privileged enough... with the ability to experience this past week... the financial and physical ability to take this vacation and enjoy all of these thrills.
So, again, I want to thank Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and Busch Gardens for thrilling me.
And... I want to thank you all for coming along for the ride. But... there is more to come... so hold on to your seats! Literally!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
In Orlando... safe and sound
Hey All!
I made it to Orlando in just under 10 hours! It helped that the speed limit along I-95 down the eastern seaboard was 70mph. I could safetly drive 79mph... hehehe. I did stop in Savannah to have a late lunch at a great local restaurant... called the Sweet Potato... great fried chicken... and well... baked sweet potato!
But, so far, Orlando is not impressing me. I got into town with an empty tank and needed to refill it before returning it to Alamo rental. It was $4.49 a gallon and it cost me $75 to fill it. Just to find out that Alamo would have refilled it for me at $3.39 a gallon. Way to take advantage of "tourists" Orlando... especially in this economy. They are only hurting themselves... as soon as families decide they can't afford to vacation in Orlando... this place will be hurting even more.
I have an early day tomorrow. I need to catch the shuttle to Universal Island of Adventure at 8:50 tomorrow morning. The park opens at 9am. The plan is to hit the 3 rides there and come back to the hotel to catch my ride to the airport at 3:40pm. It is going to be a quick trip tomorrow. I need to ride Dueling Dragons (1 ride with 2 different interlocking coasters) and The Incredible Hulk... I also want to do the Spider Man "ride" or 3D attraction. Could be fun.
This may be my last blog post from the road... I have a couple more Thrilling Thoughts to post... and a total review of my experience. Some folks have been asking me to post my top 10 of all the rides. And... if there is anything any of you want to know... just let me know. And, I will respond.
Good night for now...
I made it to Orlando in just under 10 hours! It helped that the speed limit along I-95 down the eastern seaboard was 70mph. I could safetly drive 79mph... hehehe. I did stop in Savannah to have a late lunch at a great local restaurant... called the Sweet Potato... great fried chicken... and well... baked sweet potato!
But, so far, Orlando is not impressing me. I got into town with an empty tank and needed to refill it before returning it to Alamo rental. It was $4.49 a gallon and it cost me $75 to fill it. Just to find out that Alamo would have refilled it for me at $3.39 a gallon. Way to take advantage of "tourists" Orlando... especially in this economy. They are only hurting themselves... as soon as families decide they can't afford to vacation in Orlando... this place will be hurting even more.
I have an early day tomorrow. I need to catch the shuttle to Universal Island of Adventure at 8:50 tomorrow morning. The park opens at 9am. The plan is to hit the 3 rides there and come back to the hotel to catch my ride to the airport at 3:40pm. It is going to be a quick trip tomorrow. I need to ride Dueling Dragons (1 ride with 2 different interlocking coasters) and The Incredible Hulk... I also want to do the Spider Man "ride" or 3D attraction. Could be fun.
This may be my last blog post from the road... I have a couple more Thrilling Thoughts to post... and a total review of my experience. Some folks have been asking me to post my top 10 of all the rides. And... if there is anything any of you want to know... just let me know. And, I will respond.
Good night for now...
Thrilling Thought #3
So... this one gets a little personal.
As I was waiting in line yesterday for one of the coasters, I started talking with a father and his son. They were sharing with me about their summer vacations that they take each year. They have been doing what I am doing... to some degree... but they do visit theme parks each summer to ride roller coasters... and they have been doing it for years. They had some great stories to share, ride suggestions for me... And, they had a great connection, as father and son. The son was especially excited talking about coasters and asked me about my experiences. There was just a general excitement and happiness between them.
It made me start to think about family and the happiness that I could be experiencing. You see... I have been feeling like I don't want to have kids. The state of our world today... global wamp wamp, the economy... we have some problems that I don't want my children to adopt. I am cynical and pessimistic about things getting much much worse before they get much better.
But, there are also a lot of joys in this world that need to be shared and experienced together. Christopher McCandless, from the Into The Wild story, wrote before his death something like "Joy cannot be experienced alone." And, I am really starting to believe that. With all of the crazy things/problems we have created, we have also designed the roller coaster... which has the sole purpose to instill a sense of fear, exhilaration, joy, and happiness all at the same time... engineering masterpieces (Davinci would have been blown away). So, things can't be all that bad.
I think I would make a good father in a lot of ways but I still worry about what a child has to endure in these days. So, I don't know... it's something I need to think about more... and their is always adoption maybe... right? I do know this though... I need to focus on not being "alone" anymore.
Okay... gotta get on the road.
As I was waiting in line yesterday for one of the coasters, I started talking with a father and his son. They were sharing with me about their summer vacations that they take each year. They have been doing what I am doing... to some degree... but they do visit theme parks each summer to ride roller coasters... and they have been doing it for years. They had some great stories to share, ride suggestions for me... And, they had a great connection, as father and son. The son was especially excited talking about coasters and asked me about my experiences. There was just a general excitement and happiness between them.
It made me start to think about family and the happiness that I could be experiencing. You see... I have been feeling like I don't want to have kids. The state of our world today... global wamp wamp, the economy... we have some problems that I don't want my children to adopt. I am cynical and pessimistic about things getting much much worse before they get much better.
But, there are also a lot of joys in this world that need to be shared and experienced together. Christopher McCandless, from the Into The Wild story, wrote before his death something like "Joy cannot be experienced alone." And, I am really starting to believe that. With all of the crazy things/problems we have created, we have also designed the roller coaster... which has the sole purpose to instill a sense of fear, exhilaration, joy, and happiness all at the same time... engineering masterpieces (Davinci would have been blown away). So, things can't be all that bad.
I think I would make a good father in a lot of ways but I still worry about what a child has to endure in these days. So, I don't know... it's something I need to think about more... and their is always adoption maybe... right? I do know this though... I need to focus on not being "alone" anymore.
Okay... gotta get on the road.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Yes... 2 parks in one day!
So... I managed to visit 2 parks today. And, I am so glad that I did. Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Kings Dominion can best be described as "Meh!". It really was not that impressive... not the prettiest place and not the best rides. BGW on the other had... such a wonderful place. Amazing rides and very well maintained park... with attentive, courteous, professional staff.
Kings Dominion park is a Cedar Fair park... like Cedar Point... but no where near as good. On the list of rides for the park (on coasterfanatics.com) there were 4 rides worth hitting. So, I got to the park a little later than expected... fatigue... but still managed to hit 4 rides in about 3 hours or so. Dominator, Volcano, Anaconda, Flight of Fear... they were okay... but nothing to rave about. The only cool thing about this park was the Hanna Barbera cartoon themed rides... well... kiddie rides. There was also a life size Scooby Doo taking pictures with kids. I was tempted but passed on the opportunity... especially since it didn't look like he had any scooby snacks.
I then headed out to Williamsburg... about an hour and 15 minutes away. Easy, pretty drive... again... more beautiful countryside.
Now... BGW... completely different experience. This park has a European theme... and they organized the park so well. Areas for England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Austria and Germany. Rides named appropriately for the area they are in. The grounds are well maintained... and nearly authentic. I really thought I was in Europe... no really!!
If any of you were on Facebook this afternoon, you would have experienced my crisis. Right after I entered the park and got in line for my first ride, Apollo's Chariot, they shut down all the rides in the park due to a thunderstorm that was about to hit. So, I waited near the front of the line from about 4-6pm for the storm to pass through. Once that happened the park had emptied out significantly. Then, the rain and lightning stayed away for the rest of the night. Thank you Mike and Puck for giving me weather reports. That allowed me to ride on an unprecedented number of rides... 6 different rides... for a total of 13 runs. I don't have any good video to share today... since by the time I got around to taking video, it was too dark. All of the coasters at BGW at steel coasters... no wooden ones... which was surprising but okay.
The 2 standout rides this park are Apollo's Chariot and Griffon. Both were amazing. I went on Apollo's Chariot 4 times. And rode Griffon 6 times... 3 times in a row right as the park was closing. The ride attendants were really cool to let us stay on the ride since there were no riders waiting to get on. Griffon was a beast of a ride... it is not your average roller coaster... I have never seen anything like it. 30 riders in 3 rows of 10. Check it out here: (http://www.buschgardens.com/BGW2/Gallery/Default.aspx?tag=Griffon) 2 amazing drops... on the first drop they stop the car and dangle you for about 5 seconds before dropping you. I would have kept going on the ride but the park was closing (9pm??? not 10 like I thought). The ride attendant actually said "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay on this ride". I laughed because I was thinking the same thing right before he said it. I will add a pic of the Griffon ride signage later... too tired now.
Okay... time for bed... it is 1am and I am in North Carolina... I actually drove 2 hours after getting out of the park to shave some time off my drive tomorrow.
And... So... yea... tomorrow... my only ride will be the rental car... 700 miles from northern North Carolina to Orlando... with a short stop in Savannah, Georgia to have lunch with my friend Sally.
Oh yea... I have another Thrilling Thought ready to go... in my head... if I have time in the morning, you will get it.
Kings Dominion park is a Cedar Fair park... like Cedar Point... but no where near as good. On the list of rides for the park (on coasterfanatics.com) there were 4 rides worth hitting. So, I got to the park a little later than expected... fatigue... but still managed to hit 4 rides in about 3 hours or so. Dominator, Volcano, Anaconda, Flight of Fear... they were okay... but nothing to rave about. The only cool thing about this park was the Hanna Barbera cartoon themed rides... well... kiddie rides. There was also a life size Scooby Doo taking pictures with kids. I was tempted but passed on the opportunity... especially since it didn't look like he had any scooby snacks.
I then headed out to Williamsburg... about an hour and 15 minutes away. Easy, pretty drive... again... more beautiful countryside.
Now... BGW... completely different experience. This park has a European theme... and they organized the park so well. Areas for England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Austria and Germany. Rides named appropriately for the area they are in. The grounds are well maintained... and nearly authentic. I really thought I was in Europe... no really!!
If any of you were on Facebook this afternoon, you would have experienced my crisis. Right after I entered the park and got in line for my first ride, Apollo's Chariot, they shut down all the rides in the park due to a thunderstorm that was about to hit. So, I waited near the front of the line from about 4-6pm for the storm to pass through. Once that happened the park had emptied out significantly. Then, the rain and lightning stayed away for the rest of the night. Thank you Mike and Puck for giving me weather reports. That allowed me to ride on an unprecedented number of rides... 6 different rides... for a total of 13 runs. I don't have any good video to share today... since by the time I got around to taking video, it was too dark. All of the coasters at BGW at steel coasters... no wooden ones... which was surprising but okay.
The 2 standout rides this park are Apollo's Chariot and Griffon. Both were amazing. I went on Apollo's Chariot 4 times. And rode Griffon 6 times... 3 times in a row right as the park was closing. The ride attendants were really cool to let us stay on the ride since there were no riders waiting to get on. Griffon was a beast of a ride... it is not your average roller coaster... I have never seen anything like it. 30 riders in 3 rows of 10. Check it out here: (http://www.buschgardens.com/BGW2/Gallery/Default.aspx?tag=Griffon) 2 amazing drops... on the first drop they stop the car and dangle you for about 5 seconds before dropping you. I would have kept going on the ride but the park was closing (9pm??? not 10 like I thought). The ride attendant actually said "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay on this ride". I laughed because I was thinking the same thing right before he said it. I will add a pic of the Griffon ride signage later... too tired now.
Okay... time for bed... it is 1am and I am in North Carolina... I actually drove 2 hours after getting out of the park to shave some time off my drive tomorrow.
And... So... yea... tomorrow... my only ride will be the rental car... 700 miles from northern North Carolina to Orlando... with a short stop in Savannah, Georgia to have lunch with my friend Sally.
Oh yea... I have another Thrilling Thought ready to go... in my head... if I have time in the morning, you will get it.
Lightning, Thunder and Rain... Oh my!
So, yesterday in my drive from NJ to VA, I stopped to get gas and ended up there for 30 minutes while a storm passed.
Now, I am at Busch Gardens. Just walked into the park... and 10 minutes after... just as I enter the line for Apollo's Chariot... They shut the ride down until the storm passes.
Patience...
Now, I am at Busch Gardens. Just walked into the park... and 10 minutes after... just as I enter the line for Apollo's Chariot... They shut the ride down until the storm passes.
Patience...
2 parks in 1 day?
Well... I bought a shirt yesterday that defines me right now... The shirt says "Coaster Junky" on it... and well... I cannot get enough! I need more.
So, there are 2 parks within an hour of each other. I am staying across the street from Kings Dominion so I can be there in a flash. I can get in before the park opens (with my season pass) and probably get out of there in 2-3 hours.
I can then drive the hour or so to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I have been pushed by some friends and inspired by stories from other riders that Busch Gardens is worth the trip. So, I am going to drop a little cash (since I have not spent as much as anticipated on food and gas) and make the little side trip to the Virginia coastal area of Williamburg. This place has 2 steel coasters in the top 25... so I am excited.
So... call me crazy... well... crazier... since I am sure most of you think I am crazy already. 3 days left...
So, there are 2 parks within an hour of each other. I am staying across the street from Kings Dominion so I can be there in a flash. I can get in before the park opens (with my season pass) and probably get out of there in 2-3 hours.
I can then drive the hour or so to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I have been pushed by some friends and inspired by stories from other riders that Busch Gardens is worth the trip. So, I am going to drop a little cash (since I have not spent as much as anticipated on food and gas) and make the little side trip to the Virginia coastal area of Williamburg. This place has 2 steel coasters in the top 25... so I am excited.
So... call me crazy... well... crazier... since I am sure most of you think I am crazy already. 3 days left...
Thrilling Thought #2
So yea... I am awake earlier than expected today. Which is good but I am tired.
Here is something I find interesting. Along this whole trip and at each of the parks I have visited, I have seen people I know. Not the friends I stayed with or the friends that rode coasters with me... but I have seen the faces of people I know in the faces of the other guests at the parks. At least once a day, I have found myself thinking "Wow! That looks like..." or "He/She reminds me of...". There is some benefit of seeing all these people in line.
That makes me wonder about the true diversity in our human gene pool. And... I wonder if there is someone out there that looks a lot like me. Well... other than the young Anthony Hopkins.
Oh... and this one goes out to someone who knows... Prince's "Purple Rain" turned 25 today.
Here is something I find interesting. Along this whole trip and at each of the parks I have visited, I have seen people I know. Not the friends I stayed with or the friends that rode coasters with me... but I have seen the faces of people I know in the faces of the other guests at the parks. At least once a day, I have found myself thinking "Wow! That looks like..." or "He/She reminds me of...". There is some benefit of seeing all these people in line.
That makes me wonder about the true diversity in our human gene pool. And... I wonder if there is someone out there that looks a lot like me. Well... other than the young Anthony Hopkins.
Oh... and this one goes out to someone who knows... Prince's "Purple Rain" turned 25 today.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Another "Great" Day
So, today was another good day of roller coastering... not sure if that is a word really. But... it works. Six Flag Great Adventure in New Jersey was a great park... with awesome rides... it is well managed and operated (which cannot be said for Six Flag New England)... and not many people were at the park today. My friend Mike explained that the people of New Jersey are church going folk... and so wouldn't usually be at an amusement park on a Sunday. Either that... or the weather report of massive thunder storms kept them at home. Regardless... it was good for once to have membership of a non-majority religious faith and for the weather-person to be wrong.
Overall... great day... and hanging out with my friend Mike was a blast... even as he rode the "Big Red Car" in Wiggles World. Highlights... Superman... a flying steel coaster... the put you in a seat... then tilt it forward so you face the ground... and you do the whole ride this way. Makes the multiple loops on the ride awesome. And then... getting to ride El Toro 3 times back to back was awesome. This ride is the best wooden coaster in the US... with a 75 degree first drop... lotsa speed and switchbacks. Overall... amazing... and #3 best ride of the trip. See the video below. I also rode 3 other coasters... Batman, Nitro(twice), Bizarro and The Dark Knight.
And, I got to leave early and drove all the way to King's Dominion in Doswell, VA. I can open the door to my room and see the park... so I can get a quick start in the morning... more on that later.
And... so yea... Six Flags NE... is the suck. I am going to write them a letter and tell them about my poor experience at the park. And, I will write Six Flags NJ a letter as well to tell them about my positive experience. It needs to happen...
Here is El Toro in all of it's magnificence(tilt your head to the left to wacth it... sorry... and it is a smaller format... so again... sorry):
Overall... great day... and hanging out with my friend Mike was a blast... even as he rode the "Big Red Car" in Wiggles World. Highlights... Superman... a flying steel coaster... the put you in a seat... then tilt it forward so you face the ground... and you do the whole ride this way. Makes the multiple loops on the ride awesome. And then... getting to ride El Toro 3 times back to back was awesome. This ride is the best wooden coaster in the US... with a 75 degree first drop... lotsa speed and switchbacks. Overall... amazing... and #3 best ride of the trip. See the video below. I also rode 3 other coasters... Batman, Nitro(twice), Bizarro and The Dark Knight.
And, I got to leave early and drove all the way to King's Dominion in Doswell, VA. I can open the door to my room and see the park... so I can get a quick start in the morning... more on that later.
And... so yea... Six Flags NE... is the suck. I am going to write them a letter and tell them about my poor experience at the park. And, I will write Six Flags NJ a letter as well to tell them about my positive experience. It needs to happen...
Here is El Toro in all of it's magnificence(tilt your head to the left to wacth it... sorry... and it is a smaller format... so again... sorry):
The Ups and Downs of Koaster Karma
Get it? Ups? Downs? Karma? Oh nevermind...
So yea, whereas I spent little to no time waiting to get on rides at Dorney Park, the lines at Six Flags New England were looooooooooooong. And, it didn't help that I got there later than I wanted to and had to wait close to an hour just to get into the park. I managed to get on 2 rides in about 4.5 hours and then decided I should just head to New Jersey. I look at the other 2 rides I wanted to try... but they didn't seem worth the wait. I did go on Bizarro and Batman: The Dark Night which were this parks best 2 rides.
Overall, I couldn't believe how many people were there. It is a small park overall and they dont have too many rides to spread people out on and it was a Saturday. So, I really cannot be too upset. Hence... koaster karma... short lines, long lines... patience must come first... as one cannot race to the starting line.
I hope my time today at Six Flags Great Adventure will be better. I am going to get there before the park opens... or else! And they have 5 awesome coasters that I need to ride.
Okay... so below is some of the ride footage I promised you from Dorney Park. First is a ride called Hydra... and second is ride named Dominator.
Here is Dominator with some commentary and a cameo (of me!)
So, I will be on later tonight... and will add some more stuff... and Thrilling Thought #2... this time it will be about the gene pool. Thank you Mike and family for hosting me for the night.
So yea, whereas I spent little to no time waiting to get on rides at Dorney Park, the lines at Six Flags New England were looooooooooooong. And, it didn't help that I got there later than I wanted to and had to wait close to an hour just to get into the park. I managed to get on 2 rides in about 4.5 hours and then decided I should just head to New Jersey. I look at the other 2 rides I wanted to try... but they didn't seem worth the wait. I did go on Bizarro and Batman: The Dark Night which were this parks best 2 rides.
Overall, I couldn't believe how many people were there. It is a small park overall and they dont have too many rides to spread people out on and it was a Saturday. So, I really cannot be too upset. Hence... koaster karma... short lines, long lines... patience must come first... as one cannot race to the starting line.
I hope my time today at Six Flags Great Adventure will be better. I am going to get there before the park opens... or else! And they have 5 awesome coasters that I need to ride.
Okay... so below is some of the ride footage I promised you from Dorney Park. First is a ride called Hydra... and second is ride named Dominator.
Here is Dominator with some commentary and a cameo (of me!)
So, I will be on later tonight... and will add some more stuff... and Thrilling Thought #2... this time it will be about the gene pool. Thank you Mike and family for hosting me for the night.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wounded Calf!
Literally... Shin splints!! Ow!
And... A little late start is hurting... The line at the bag check/enterance is going to be an hour wait.
"Eeek!" said the mouse.
There has to be a better way!
And... New England is not Pennsylvania. I almost saw 2 families duke it out over cutting in line. That would have been the highlight if my trip... lol!
And... A little late start is hurting... The line at the bag check/enterance is going to be an hour wait.
"Eeek!" said the mouse.
There has to be a better way!
And... New England is not Pennsylvania. I almost saw 2 families duke it out over cutting in line. That would have been the highlight if my trip... lol!
A New England Night
This is going to be a short entry... as I am staying at my friend Jennifer's place and she just moved in and so is without Internet.
Dorney Park was fun yesterday. There were not a lot of people there so the lines were non-existant... I wouldn't even call them short. I managed to ride all 4 of the park's major rides 2-3 times each in the span of 3 hours... which was pretty damn cool.
I did manage to shoot some 1st person video from 2 of the rides... I will get them posted here later. Just so you can see how much fun I am having.
Okay... today is Six Flag New England day with my friend Rob. And... I get to ride Bizzaro! It is the top rated ride steel coaster on coasterfanatics.com. I will be the judge of that!!!
Signing off... more tonight...
Oh... one more thing... the thunderstorm I heard last night was awesome...
Dorney Park was fun yesterday. There were not a lot of people there so the lines were non-existant... I wouldn't even call them short. I managed to ride all 4 of the park's major rides 2-3 times each in the span of 3 hours... which was pretty damn cool.
I did manage to shoot some 1st person video from 2 of the rides... I will get them posted here later. Just so you can see how much fun I am having.
Okay... today is Six Flag New England day with my friend Rob. And... I get to ride Bizzaro! It is the top rated ride steel coaster on coasterfanatics.com. I will be the judge of that!!!
Signing off... more tonight...
Oh... one more thing... the thunderstorm I heard last night was awesome...
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thrilling Thought #1
Okay... so last week, I was talking about my trip with a friend, when another person, who already knew about my trip, made a comment about it (kinda under her breath... but not really since I could hear her). Well... kinda a comment about me and not the trip... and she said " Malik... 37 going on 13... ". Well... shortly after, I started feeling bad about that comment.
My stream of consciousness: so here I was planning this big trip to visit theme parks? What a childish thing to do? Well maybe... But, I dont care really... maybe a I should plan a "real" vacation... like to the Bahamas... pina coladas and sandy beaches... nah... what the hell! When am I gunna do this kinda trip again... Oh well... it's too late anyway... I already booked my flights.
So... fast forward to Cedar Point on Thursday... and me a single rider (and that is single as in solo... not single as in available). Since most coaster cars are designed for 2... I got share cars with people I didnt know. And... well... I did share a car with a gentleman that could be my father's age... and I shared a car with someone that could be my kid's age.
I started looking around... mothers, fathers, grandmothers and father... fathers and sons... couples, groups and families, friends... people of all color and creed... from all over the US and beyond... all here... at Cedar Point... enjoying the thrill of the roller coaster.
They call these thrill rides... and they are... they enliven something in us... adrenaline maybe... but really something more. One of my friends was a afraid to go on one ride... and yet this 8 year old kid said he had been on it 2 dozen times in his lifetime... and he was talking about the ride with such excitement and fervor... like an old wise man... "Back in my day...".
So, what is it about theme parks... and roller coasters... could they be the great equalizer... the joiner... that people from all walks of life and in all places in life can enjoy together? I dont know... but maybe after 6 more days I will know more.
And... so maybe I am 37 going 13... I had fun when I was 13... and I am having fun now. And, that says a lot.
My stream of consciousness: so here I was planning this big trip to visit theme parks? What a childish thing to do? Well maybe... But, I dont care really... maybe a I should plan a "real" vacation... like to the Bahamas... pina coladas and sandy beaches... nah... what the hell! When am I gunna do this kinda trip again... Oh well... it's too late anyway... I already booked my flights.
So... fast forward to Cedar Point on Thursday... and me a single rider (and that is single as in solo... not single as in available). Since most coaster cars are designed for 2... I got share cars with people I didnt know. And... well... I did share a car with a gentleman that could be my father's age... and I shared a car with someone that could be my kid's age.
I started looking around... mothers, fathers, grandmothers and father... fathers and sons... couples, groups and families, friends... people of all color and creed... from all over the US and beyond... all here... at Cedar Point... enjoying the thrill of the roller coaster.
They call these thrill rides... and they are... they enliven something in us... adrenaline maybe... but really something more. One of my friends was a afraid to go on one ride... and yet this 8 year old kid said he had been on it 2 dozen times in his lifetime... and he was talking about the ride with such excitement and fervor... like an old wise man... "Back in my day...".
So, what is it about theme parks... and roller coasters... could they be the great equalizer... the joiner... that people from all walks of life and in all places in life can enjoy together? I dont know... but maybe after 6 more days I will know more.
And... so maybe I am 37 going 13... I had fun when I was 13... and I am having fun now. And, that says a lot.
Cedar Point Part Duex
Hello everyone! I am finally back on the net and I have some coolness to share with you. Well... at least some stories and pics/videos to share of my first park. I spent the first day hanging out at Cedar Point with my friends Paul and Garrett. They had been there before so they helped me get oriented to the park and to help me prioritize rides. Even though the weather kinda put a damper on things. So, even though the park was not crowded (I am happy I visited on a Wed and Thur)... the rain ended up shutting down some of the rides temporarily, which then impacted other rides and made the lines longer. But, we still managed to hit some awesome coasters and almost all the ones on my list... Millennium Force, Mean Streak, Magnum XL, Corkscrew, Mantis, Raptor, Maverick. Overall it was a good day... I didn't get to ride on Top Thrill Dragster since the line was long... and one of my friends was a little too chicken... bak bak!
Day 2 at Cedar Point... I knew I wouldn't be able to hit all the rides in one day... especially since we started at close to noon on day one. So, I planned to come back... and on the second day I was able to take advantage of my Platinum Pass and got into the park an hour early. The only down side was the rain (again) and that kept some of the rides offline. But, I did manage to hit Millennium Force 2 times before the park officially opened. I then waited FOREVER for Maverick to get online... it has electromagnets that drive the ride so any bit of rain will shut it down. I was well worth the wait! Then... I waited... and waited... and waited... for Top Thrill Dragster to open. It also cannot run in the rain... but even after the clouds parted there were mechanical troubles that kept the ride down for a while. But, my patience paid off as the ride re-opened and I was able to ride it in the front car with a very short wait. Now... keep in mind... this right shoots you out at 120 mph into a 420 foot ascent and then back down in a 400 drop. It is pretty much the best thing ever... I then went on a couple of smaller rides before leaving the park around 5pm for my 6 hour drive into PA.
Here are some videos of the rides:
Here is Millennium Force and the amazing first drop... I went on this ride 3 times!
And here is Top Thrill Dragster... well worth the wait for repairs.
Day 2 at Cedar Point... I knew I wouldn't be able to hit all the rides in one day... especially since we started at close to noon on day one. So, I planned to come back... and on the second day I was able to take advantage of my Platinum Pass and got into the park an hour early. The only down side was the rain (again) and that kept some of the rides offline. But, I did manage to hit Millennium Force 2 times before the park officially opened. I then waited FOREVER for Maverick to get online... it has electromagnets that drive the ride so any bit of rain will shut it down. I was well worth the wait! Then... I waited... and waited... and waited... for Top Thrill Dragster to open. It also cannot run in the rain... but even after the clouds parted there were mechanical troubles that kept the ride down for a while. But, my patience paid off as the ride re-opened and I was able to ride it in the front car with a very short wait. Now... keep in mind... this right shoots you out at 120 mph into a 420 foot ascent and then back down in a 400 drop. It is pretty much the best thing ever... I then went on a couple of smaller rides before leaving the park around 5pm for my 6 hour drive into PA.
Here are some videos of the rides:
Here is Millennium Force and the amazing first drop... I went on this ride 3 times!
And here is Top Thrill Dragster... well worth the wait for repairs.
And, finally... some video on a ride... this was Meanstreak... a backbreaking wooden coaster.
All right... that's it for now. I am running late for day 3. Dorney Park in Allentown, PA. I am gunna come at you like a spider monkey!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
1st report and tech problems
Okay... So for my big report of my time at Cedar Park, I won't have photos or video due to the lack of Internet access in my room.
But, my first day started early with my flight coming in on time. I managed to get some intermittant sleep on the way. Rental car upgraded... for the cheap. I made it to the park about an hour later and connected with my friends, Paul and Garrett.
Cedar Point is a HUGE park. They have a large piece of real estate right on the coast of Lake Erie. It was not too crowded, however, the rain shut down some the rides so the lines at other rides became more impacted. I hit all of the rides I wanted too except for one... But I will catch that one today.
Millenium force - Amazing! The first drop was gut wreching but awesome. I am going to hit this one again today.
Maverick - Now this ride was a engineering masterpiece. Electro- magnetism is my new best friend.
I post more on the rides and some pics and videos when I can net access.
Today, I am going to get an early start. Cedar Point has a Platinum Pass Perk of letting people in an hour early to ride certain coasters. So, I am going to take advantage.
Weather is still going to be an issue today... And there is a tropical storm off the central Atlantic coast. All I can say is... What the pluckett!!!! Rain sucks!
Okay... I am going to get ready for the day. Peace out for now!
But, my first day started early with my flight coming in on time. I managed to get some intermittant sleep on the way. Rental car upgraded... for the cheap. I made it to the park about an hour later and connected with my friends, Paul and Garrett.
Cedar Point is a HUGE park. They have a large piece of real estate right on the coast of Lake Erie. It was not too crowded, however, the rain shut down some the rides so the lines at other rides became more impacted. I hit all of the rides I wanted too except for one... But I will catch that one today.
Millenium force - Amazing! The first drop was gut wreching but awesome. I am going to hit this one again today.
Maverick - Now this ride was a engineering masterpiece. Electro- magnetism is my new best friend.
I post more on the rides and some pics and videos when I can net access.
Today, I am going to get an early start. Cedar Point has a Platinum Pass Perk of letting people in an hour early to ride certain coasters. So, I am going to take advantage.
Weather is still going to be an issue today... And there is a tropical storm off the central Atlantic coast. All I can say is... What the pluckett!!!! Rain sucks!
Okay... I am going to get ready for the day. Peace out for now!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Anthony Hopkins at Cedar Park???
I was just asked if anyone ever told me if I looked like Anthony Hopkins. Not sure if it was a compliment... But she did clarify that the resemblance was to a young Anthony Hopkins.
No sunshine but rain
Alright... So first stop on the trip... And it's raining! The rides are still running so I am not worried. What's a little rain in the middle of summer. Right?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Ready to go!
Okay all... I am packed and ready to go. 8 days and 6 Parks... and hopefully 45 thrilling roller coaster rides. I am meeting up with friends along the way... old friends and new ones. I have my route all mapped out on googlemaps (I will get the googlemap up soon) and my brother is letting me borrow his GPS so I wont get lost. 2130 miles in total along the route... here is my agenda... and if all goes well, I can stick to this plan:
7/22(Wed) and 7/23(Th)(1/2 day) - Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio www.cedarpoint.com
7/24(Fri) - Dorney Park in Allentown, PA www.dorneypark.com/
7/25(Sat) - Six Flags New England www.sixflags.com/newEngland
7/26(Sun) - Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure
7/27(Mon) - Kings Dominion in Virginia www.kingsdominion.com
7/28 - Travel day with a stop in Savannah, GA
7/29(Wed) - Universal Island of Adventure in Orlando www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/islands-of-adventure.html
And, I fly out that night.
The only thing I am worried about at this point is the weather. Looks like the entire eastern seaboard is going to have thunder showers and lightning for my entire trip. I think I need to make a couple of phone calls to clear things up... I need mild temperatures and clear skies.
Be checking here often... I will have pics and video updated daily/nightly... and live reports from the parks via my iPhone.
Thanks for following! I am out the door!
7/22(Wed) and 7/23(Th)(1/2 day) - Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio www.cedarpoint.com
7/24(Fri) - Dorney Park in Allentown, PA www.dorneypark.com/
7/25(Sat) - Six Flags New England www.sixflags.com/newEngland
7/26(Sun) - Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure
7/27(Mon) - Kings Dominion in Virginia www.kingsdominion.com
7/28 - Travel day with a stop in Savannah, GA
7/29(Wed) - Universal Island of Adventure in Orlando www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/islands-of-adventure.html
And, I fly out that night.
The only thing I am worried about at this point is the weather. Looks like the entire eastern seaboard is going to have thunder showers and lightning for my entire trip. I think I need to make a couple of phone calls to clear things up... I need mild temperatures and clear skies.
Be checking here often... I will have pics and video updated daily/nightly... and live reports from the parks via my iPhone.
Thanks for following! I am out the door!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Weekend Adventures
So, I needed to head up to LA this past weekend for my 20 year high school reunion. That was a fun experience. Times have changed... but some people haven't. And... that's all I am going to say about that.
While up in LA I decided to purchase my 2 season passes, to Cedar Fair Amusement Parks (at Knott's Berry Farm) and to 6 Flags (at Magic Mountain). While there I decided to go a few rides. I hit Xcelerator, Supreme Scream and Silver Bullet at Knott's and X2, Terminator and Dejavu at Magic Mountain. All were very fun. Here are some pics... nothing too exciting:
And... I recorded a video of Xcelerator... this ride was amazing... zero to 80mph is less than 3 seconds... straight up and back down again. I ended up in a back car, so I got alot of air time at the peak.
Things that I learned from the weekend...
While up in LA I decided to purchase my 2 season passes, to Cedar Fair Amusement Parks (at Knott's Berry Farm) and to 6 Flags (at Magic Mountain). While there I decided to go a few rides. I hit Xcelerator, Supreme Scream and Silver Bullet at Knott's and X2, Terminator and Dejavu at Magic Mountain. All were very fun. Here are some pics... nothing too exciting:
And... I recorded a video of Xcelerator... this ride was amazing... zero to 80mph is less than 3 seconds... straight up and back down again. I ended up in a back car, so I got alot of air time at the peak.
Things that I learned from the weekend...
- I need a new pair of shoes. Walking and standing in old shoes... even old shoes with new Superfeet insoles is just not going to work for 8 days.
- Bring a lot of dollar bills with me. At Magic Mountain, they make you lock up your stuff in $1 lockers before getting on most rides. It was disappointing.
- Nylon is my friend... the right clothing is going to be key to staying cool and unburnt on this trip.
- And, finally,the weather on my trip may be really really bad... my iphone weather app has little clouds with lightning bolts for each city along my trip for this whole week. I just hope it does effect which roller coasters will be running (there is a coaster I read about that has been shutdown for a while due to a lighting strike). Eeeek!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Prep work for my trip...
First post!
So... I have my flights booked... into Clevland and out of Orlando.
I need to reserve my rental car out of Clevland... but I am hesistating since that will be the most expensive part of my trip.
I have made some purchases... a Camelback... with pouches and pockets to secure all my stuff. I am going to need to stay hydrated and secure. And... I bought a long sleeved nylon shirt that will help to keep me cool and keep the sun off of me. It even has UV protection.
This weekend... I get my season passes to 6 Flags and Cedar Fair Amusement parks... best way to go... since 5 of the six places I am visiting will be covered. And... parking is free for season pass holders. And... I will actually go into Knott's and Magic Mountain to hit a couple of thier cool rides.
The driving map is almost complete... I am actually looking for routes that will help me avoid rush hour traffic. And... I have been told not to trust googlemaps for thier time estimates. But, based on the distances... and my calculations, I plan to drive faster than the times they estimate.
More to come...
So... I have my flights booked... into Clevland and out of Orlando.
I need to reserve my rental car out of Clevland... but I am hesistating since that will be the most expensive part of my trip.
I have made some purchases... a Camelback... with pouches and pockets to secure all my stuff. I am going to need to stay hydrated and secure. And... I bought a long sleeved nylon shirt that will help to keep me cool and keep the sun off of me. It even has UV protection.
This weekend... I get my season passes to 6 Flags and Cedar Fair Amusement parks... best way to go... since 5 of the six places I am visiting will be covered. And... parking is free for season pass holders. And... I will actually go into Knott's and Magic Mountain to hit a couple of thier cool rides.
The driving map is almost complete... I am actually looking for routes that will help me avoid rush hour traffic. And... I have been told not to trust googlemaps for thier time estimates. But, based on the distances... and my calculations, I plan to drive faster than the times they estimate.
More to come...
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