BugEyed

After the Suicide Silence show the night before I decided to sleep in a bit. I was going to King's Dominion on a Tuesday in late August and it was still lightly raining and overcast. I took a gamble that the park would not be too crowded. I hit the ground running around 9:30 and discovered that the highway was practically deserted. When travelling to BGW the previous morning it felt like I was the lone small car in a breakneck race of bumper to bumper tractor trailers. My hangover was rather relieved it did not have to engage heavy traffic this morning. After a leisurely breakfast stop I was inside the park just before 11 am. It was dead. Yay! Volcano was a 10 minute wait for the front seat. Intimidator 305 was a single train wait for the back seat, a two train wait for the front and a walk-on anywhere else. Everything else in the park was a walk-on all day, everywhere, all the time. It did not rain the entire time I was in the park (I stayed until 6 pm) but it was overcast and a little gloomy. It made for a great day to marathon ride, which for the most part I did. This was the only park on the trip that I kept track of my ride count. It went something like this: 8 x Intimidator 305 5 x Dominator 4 x Volcano 3 x Drop Tower 2 x Windseeker 2 x Ghoster Coaster 1 x Rebel Yell 1 x Berserker 1 x White Water Canyon 1 x The Crypt 1 x Avalanche 1 x Anaconda 1 x Grizzly 1 x Hurler 1 x Flight Of Fear 1 x Ricochet 1 x Back Lot Stunt Coaster 1 x Shockwave Pretty good for 7 hours in a large park. I probably could have ridden more, but 5 of the coasters in this park beat the living daylights out of me and I didn't want to. At all. Anaconda, Grizzly, Hurler, Flight Of Fear and Shockwave were all rough. Very rough. I had no desire to go near them again after the first ride. Out of that group I would say Grizzly was the worst. Rougher than Minebuster at Canada's Wonderland. I'm gonna go out on a limb here... even rougher than Mean Streak. There I said it. I have re-ridden Mean Streak in a single day before. No way in hell was I getting back on Grizzly today. You can't make me. Here are some pictures from my day: I'm over here! I'm over here! Skyline. Dark cloudy stuff that scares away families and renders switchbacks moot. As much as my childlike brain wants to bolt for the rides, my hangover has been screaming at me all morning Thankfully there just happens to be a Denny's less than 30 feet behind me. I was fortunate enough to ride Dominator at Geauga Lake. Looks weird seeing it here. Not bad, just weird. This will be my first time ever riding before and after on a transplanted coaster. You just have to take a shot of the entrance plaza. You do. Even if it's slightly crooked. This was supposed to be a shot of me AND the entrance plaza, but the person wielding the camera had strange ideas about framing and composition. The kids cuddling on the right hand side are damn cute though. Dominator retains it's fantastic balance of intensity and smooth as butterness. It rode just as I remember it riding so many years ago. Excellent relocation job Cedar Fair! Longest wait of the day. 10 minutes for the front seat. The shot out the top was amazing. I love everything about Volcano actually. The fact that it is a very attractive coaster doesn't hurt either. Intimidator 305. I have no idea why I take pictures of signs. Lookin' sexy in that leather suit/porn 'stache combination. Tall. Fast. Angry. Everything I like about a coaster. My new #1 (I think) Anaconda. I have no idea why I take pictures of signs. Ouch! Oh good lord. Stop that! &$#% I hate you. Ricochet. I have no idea why I take pictures of signs. Hurler. I have no idea why I take pictures of signs. I like this picture. What the hell? Oh my god! OwWwWwWwWwcchh. I'm begging you, please stop. &$#% I hate you. Stupid bear. The only good thing about Grizzly is that it is close to something that won't hurt me. Hello Eiffel Tower! Will you hold my hair while I barf up my intestines? Slinky. Blistering. Let's make love. I hate you. Back at the hotel. Fall into bed. Wake up at 3 am. Pack my bags. Drive like a maniac to the airport Boarding an early flight to Illinois. I see Chicago through a haze of morning smog. The Virginia portion of my trip was amazing. Loved both parks. Found my new #1 coaster (I think). Next stop... Godsmack concert, another hangover and more roller coasters.

Pre-amble: I've been a member of this board since 2006 and obsessively read every thread update, every day. That said, I hardly ever post or interact with anyone. I have no idea why. I'm seriously considering registering for the 2013 Japan trip and have decided that maybe it's time to change this. I'd like for us to be friends. I have so much to offer. Every summer for the last 12 years I have taken a coaster trip that brings me to 4 or 5 parks I've never been to. My yearly coaster vacation is a very big deal to me. I spend an entire year saving money, planning, researching and looking forward to it. I also make it to Canada's Wonderland (my home park) a minimum of 5 or 6 times a season. I've been on coasters in the U.S.A, Canada, the U.K. and Australia so far. Despite this (and for reasons I cannot explain) this is my first trip report. I hope you enjoy it. If you don't, please tell me why. I can take it. I'm tough like that. Trip Report: I elected to start my 2012 coaster trip in Virginia. In addition to a lifelong coaster fanaticism I am also an enthusiast of heavy metal (in general) and Suicide Silence (in particular). Suicide Silence's current tour elected to ignore Toronto this round, but it did bring them to The National in Richmond on Monday August 20th. Having never been to BGW or KD this seemed like a great way to begin my trip. The plan was to hit Busch Gardens Williamsburg in the morning and then book it back to Richmond for the show that night. I arrived by plane on Sunday evening, checked into my hotel, drank a King's share of beer in the lobby bar and then passed out in my own filth (as far as I can tell I passed out in my room, not in the lobby bar). Everything was perfect... until I looked out the window early Monday morning. Rain. A lot of rain. Build a giant ark and make a small one for the skunks type of rain. drat. In 12 consecutive years of coaster tripping I have been fortunate enough to NEVER get rained out. Not once. Not even in England. It was bound to happen eventually. Oh well. Let's begin. Boarding the plane to Richmond, VA. Made a wrong turn and accidentally fell into a delicious pile of pancakes in the beautiful little town of Williamsburg. Arrived at the parking lot in time for it to begin raining harder. Torrential even. I've never been so relieved to see a coaster testing in my entire coaster riding career. I was certain that it was raining too hard. If this was Cedar Point... ahhhhhh whatever. Beautiful, even through watery eyes (and lens) Downpour. Pouring. Down. "We're siiiiiinging in the rain." Pretty sign, but no way am I going on this. It's difficult enough to stay dry today as it is. Might as well take an action shot while I am here. Suddenly a kind old woman asks me for directions. I turn to give her my full attention. Seconds later... * SPLASH * I am wet right down to my skull boxers. crap. It may be raining, but it's running. First coaster of the trip! And a walk-on at that. Don't know if was the rain, the fact it was the first coaster of the trip or having a gut full of pancakes but Apollo's Chariot kinda blew me away. I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 laps I took. It was flying in the morning. Give'r! Did I mention it was pouring? Cani e gatti!! (that's cats and dogs in Italian... I hope.) If he had skull boxers they would be wet. I swore I would not do this, but once you are actually standing there the compulsion becomes overwhelming. It's like some intoxicating magic takes over you. I literally could not stop myself. I feel shame. Yeah, you better run. Ingrate! Steamy hotness. I enjoyed Verbolten but found it surprisingly jarring. It rattled a lot during the indoor portion and vibrated noticeably during the run before the bridge. Maybe I got a bad ride? Dunno. I intended to re-ride later in the day but completely forgot. oops. Apparantly once was enough. Mach Tower was running. I love drop towers. I really do. Having read the reviews I expected to not like this one at all. In fact, I loved it. Of the 4 drop towers on this trip it was my #1. Mind you, the rain kicked into overdrive just as we began to ascend. The view was fantastic, but it was absolutely pelting during the ride up. There was a lightning strike on the horizon followed by a thunderous rumble. Everyone was laughing from the silliness of the whole thing and as a result the drop caught me off guard. The perfect storm? It was raining so hard by this point that I leapt off Mach Tower and ran full tilt for Griffon. I was certain they were going to close the park any minute and send us all home. I took a quick shot of DarKastle on my way by. Pouring! It's still running! I can't believe it's still running!! If this was Cedar Point... ahhhhhh whatever. Griffon was another walk-on. I got the front, right outer seat. What can I say? That first drop is amazing. The rest was also great, but I spent most of the layout thinking about how amazing the first drop was. Rode 4 times consecutively. Walk-on each time. It was still raining so, in the hope that it might eventually subside, I elected to take in some of the scenery. Time for some wildlife. Beautiful. Adorable. Foxy! The rats running through the crowd was a fantastic detail to an overall great presentation. Good job Busch! ...although the family staring at a bird's bum look like they might disagree. The cutest woman on the planet hosted the show. Her presentation was flawless, her words were heartfelt and she was JUST SO DARN CUTE! Some kid had an infestation of birds on his hand. Gross. Pulled up a seat to kick back and enjoy some wonderful eggplant parmesan just as a bunch of hornblowers erupted. Then this angry woman pulled out her root vegetable bum paddle. I got the heck out of there as fast as I could. Finally the sky begins to clear. Two more laps on Griffon. Walk-on. Walk-on. Don't mind if I do. Looping. Forceful Invert + Beautiful Surroundings = An Alpengeist Love Affair That Transcends Time & Space Back to Richmond. Enter The National. Donated! Unearth are rockin' The National. Suicide Silence. This was just days before Mitch (pictured) broke his elbow. Compound fracture. Ouch. What an amazing day. A little rain never hurt anyone. Next stop... King's Dominion.

done.

Approaching SFGadv for the first time and not realizing how close we were until I saw KK poking up above the trees. Big moment for me. p.s. yes, those are my hands on the wheel (in case anyone is into that sort of thing). Kinga Ka Above The Trees

The skies opened up as we were going up the lift on Mean Streak and it started pelting rain. I swear not only did MS fly through the course, but it was actually smooth as butter. I bought the on-ride photo due to the fact that everyone visible on the train had big goofy smiles rather then the shaken baby face that most people usually have while riding. I'll dig it out and post the pic later.

Saw Simon Gallup of The Cure ride Minebuster at CW (back when in the pre-neutered days... Minebuster, not Simon!) I was a train behind him. He had enormous black hair that was clearly visible sticking up from the train throughout the duration of the ride. The Cure we're playing at Kingswood later that night so the park was packed with fans. Word spread he was there and we climbed over him and the mob waiting at the exit.

duh, and Wonderland about 30 times including TPR Behemoth day of course. Can't wait to meet ya'll

credit #1 for the year happend last week for me. Montaña Rusa in Cuba. I don't actually know anyone else that has been on it. anyone? remaining 2008 plans include: - Kings Dominion + Busch (1st week in July) - Darien Lake (opening day... not my idea. ugh) - Mt. Olympus (Aug. 1st)... i'm actually giving up a bunch of other parks just to ride Hades. It's big on my list for this summer. - La Ronde (end of August) - Alton Towers last week of September (yay!)

Yes. Please add me to the contact list for details.

Magnum takes the cake, but honestly GASM comes a close second for me. I can't understand why everyone makes a big deal about it sucking. it doesn't.

Nitro. * sigh * I love Nitro.

The shot of Toro reflected in the pond made me weep. Please please please can I get a print-quality file from you?

phewwww, thank god for this thread. I just found out that I will be driving past SFGadv on Monday August 27th + will only have 3 hours at park opening to cram in as much as possible before I have to catch a plane. This is likely the only chance I will ever get to visit the park and I need to be as organized and informed as possible in order to hit as many coasters as possible. 1) where do I get a Flash Pass and can it be purchased in advance? 2) what do I need $$$ and I.D. wise to buy one? 3) how and where can I use it at SFGadv? 4) can you only reserve one coaster at a time + does it only apply to certain coasters? 5) any suggestions for my best plan of attack or in other words... what coaster should I run to first? second? third? HELP! bugz