Leaderboard

Part 13 Hey, It's an Old Park for TPR: Kolmarden I've been to Kolmarden a few times with TPR in the past, so I'm not sure how much more I can tell you about it now. It's still a great zoo with Wildfire, one of the RMC's best creations, which careens around natural rock formations and beautiful woods. The park is also mind-numblingly, blister-inducing big. It takes between 30 and 40 minutes to walk from the main entrance to Wildfire on some steep, hilly paths, which provided the biggest challenge to Barry and his comrades after the Skara Sommarland incident. Seriously--you need decent walking shoes for this park. I can't really add much here to what I've previously written about Kolmarden, but here are a few highlights: Wildfire is still amazing, both on the ride and backstage. We got a nice behind-the-scenes tour of Kolmarden's gondola safari, including the big engines that run it and the place where they store the gondolas at night. The park offers a fun opportunity to "camp out " (or perhaps "glamp") next to their wildlife habitats. We got a good look at the campsite when the group went there to feed their giraffes as part of a wildlife tour. The pictures and captions will tell the rest of the story of our great day at Kolmarden. Enjoy! Zombie mastodons can be dangerous--watch yourselves! Happy Halloween! So, their way is the highway? How novel! Who's ready for something you apparently can't do at Busch Gardens Tampa at the moment? Hey! Big-ass body of water! You're distracting from my view of Wildfire! "Whoever splattered me with this white stuff is gonna get the horns, I swear to god!" "I say, Cyril, you didn't spray paint the chap with the horns again, did you?" "Me? Er, why of course not. I'm too busy here, umm, enjoying these . . . sticks." "I'm a real zebra. Not like those phony ones in the old Tarzan flicks." They plunged into the mysterious fog and were never seen again. At least not in this dimension. One must step lively to take a backstage tour of Wildfire. "Welcome to Wildfire! Who's ready to lube a train?" Off they go. Back they come. Here we are at the nerve center of Wildfire. The train gave me permission to take this photo. "You sure you want to let those guys in here, sir? They'll see the BIG BOARD!" Here we have an example of "forced perspective." Is Wildfire's wheel really big, or is Robb's head really small? The only thing better than taking a tour of Wildfire . . . . . . is taking a ride on Wildfire. One of the best rides in Europe.. It's tough to beat this natural setting for a coaster. Who's ready to go behind the scenes at the safari ride? Watch your step. Here's where they store the gondolas after closing. The chords are for recharging the on-ride narration, which is offered in multiple languages. This ladder is even steeper than those stairs. This is like climbing around inside a battleship. "Yep--the lion dragged him down there. Well, half of him, anyway." Looks like something out of a 1970s sci-fi movie. "Captain! We canna maintain this speed much longer!" Is this the best theme-park "safari"? Possibly. It gives Kilimanjaro Safaris at DAK a run for its money. " Just call me 'Skull Loki.'" Aw, this coaster is so adorable! Who doesn't love dolphins . . . except for sharks? And orcas? "Hi. We're chimps and we're ready for some flingin' if you catch my drift." OK, who's up for some bear baiting . . . I mean feeding? Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake. Shot from Jason's point of view. "Oh, I'm so glad you're still alive. Pay no attention to the man in the hockey mask. Now you can give me some of those delicious pellets." "After you've fed us, we really don't care." "Yes, Jason can decapitate or eviscerate you then. It's totally fine." "Yes, you'd better move along. Jason is not known for his patience." Do not let his adorable, dreamy appearance fool you. This is a Satanic Raccoon! Die, panda wanna-be, die! They still have the half-buried bus where the tigers can whiz on you. "Could you toss me a small child? There's a good chap." One last look at Wildfire before we head out.

At 4:15 LOL. I guess tonight is going to be a shows night haha. Edit: and the mazes at 9:30: