Hhappy

This summer was a blast for me. Had an amazing time with a great group of people. The following will be an attempt to present some of the pictures i took during this trip and hopefully show a part of the fun i had. I had been to some of the parks on a previous trip and some were totally new to me. Benefit of these second visits was more time to chill and relax at these places. It is so much fun chilling at a park with an awesome group of people. Enough rambling for the moment, it's time for some pictures. Here's the update index: Day 1: Carowinds (scroll down) Day 2: Dollywood Day 3: Ober Gatlinburg Day 3: Pigeon Forge: Speedpark and Jurrassic Boat Ride Day 3: Pigeon Forge: Zorbing Day 4: travel day (no pictures) Day 5: Busch Gardens Williamsburg Day 6: Kings Dominion (East Coast Bash) Carowinds, a new park for me and my encounter with the first Intimidator of this trip. New credits to score, pictures to get and fun to be had.. darn it.. busy day.. Now this is a view i don't mind waking up to looks like fun owh yeah, the park is called Carowinds and the waterpark will be closed... entrance area.. looks similar to plenty of other parks (i think) the infamous sign... first stop of the day how's it going birdie?? happy riders on the front row.. roll, flip call it whatever you want.. it's fun no worries TP, i see you not sure what's happning front row... that good of a ride?? hmmmm upside down so many opportunities to get some decent pictures.. Afterburn, thanks for the ride next stop turnaround boo blasters building yeah.. rode it once... it looks so pretty... much needed refreshing point.. juke box diner (and hurler) First drop fun.. do i need to add any words to this?? and yes.. there were some interesting buildings out there as well free tv?? ehm.. Hooligans?? i'm guess it means something else then in the UK/Europe?? sorry, no train.. but still pretty cool guess i'll have to come back to get this credit... lots of steel, wished they cleaned the glass a bit more.. dark clouds.. ok, something totally different.. now would she be like: let me check if everything is still there or would she be checking if she's still female?? not sure... as seen from the food area.. tour time the other side of the station 69 dude, 69... underneath the trains and the guests waiting in line.. different view ok, who let TPFail in there?? owh wait.. everybody is checking out the inside.. geek paradise.. see? back outside, there's still more to see going up... stop?? why?? the ride is way too much fun trying to be artsy random people having fun.. hair and airtime Cannonball down the first drop.. spot the TPR members.. looks like they are having fun more random people ladies.. all the ladies.. curvy.. it looks so big.. fun (and first time surprising) part of the ride heading for the turnaround.. a picture a gazillion people have.. just some random people having fun on the first drop..

thanks so far for the comments (love the picture Chuck) Larry... i'll keep an eye out for pictures.. Anyway time for Day 2 Adventureland Same story, i did not have a clue about this park before heading there. I gues i'm not much of a coaster nerd... Just wanted to have a good time and take some pictures. I'm not much of a story teller, i just take pictures and hope people like them. Here's a few of them. I guess we're there loving the small entrance building (area) looking forward to the return of Mainstreet plenty of shows, including 3 hours of Wonder... random Jack How come all the water looks so blue in the parks?? owh wait.. there are coasters here as well?? wicked empty train... ehm.. magic?? owh wait.. they are still testing the ride.. duhh park maps are handy so you can find your way back (in case you need to) water, trees and coasters.. yup.. and yes, another one of these pictures.. raft rides are fun.. especially if they spin... what goes up... .. must come down... somewhere behind that wall of water... .. are some people.. (looking forward to the pictures from the other side) have fun owh wait.. there's another coaster here?? come on Dan, it's ok to smile swinging and spinning thing.. ehmm brings some fun expressions.. although some outfits might be tricky.... fish... plenty of fish food area.. looks like a lot of people are hungry fun flat ride time for some more coaster pics.. Tornado and yes.. a waterpark as well.. you do have some interesting angles from the waterpark... looks like they are having fun.. turn time looks like a lot of slides.. i just love long hair on coasters.. presents some nice photo ops hairtime the outlaw looks like most people are having fun.. which one do you prefer?? loop1 or loop2?? and the silly silo.. another one of a kind ride (sort of)

Based on this info i would be looking for something slim (thin) as a camera. If you want to get overall images of things youre doing while being in town i would not want to walk around with a "big"camera and having to change lenses etc. Start with a "simple" point and shoot device and if you start noticing that you want to do more with it.. then you could always look into a big DSLR and different lensen, flash stuff etc etc etc.. for now.. keep it simple. There are a number of camera's out there that have 12Mp or more and still fit in your pocket.. But these are my 2 cents.

can i ask a very simple question before trying to answer some of your questions? why do you want to start photography as a hobby? The reason for taking on this hobby will be very important regarding budget and camera choice. for the rest, it's mostly a case of trial and error, try new things and try to keep an open mind for new/different angles. trial and error will help you evolve yourself and in the end should make you a better photographer. There are some guidelines for taking pictures and certain special shots (weddings stuff etc) but the biggest things is to have fun doing it and the rest.. the rest is the rest..

Let me guess.. because he's taking the pictures???

This summer was a blast for me. Had an amazing time with a great group of people. But unfortunatelly all good things have come to an end and after 3 weeks of fun and travel it was time to get back to work. Due to some unforseen things i'm a bit late with starting this report.. but i hope you'll still like it and will comment on it. The following will be an attempt to present some of the pictures i took during this trip and hopefully show a part of the fun i had. I had been to some of the parks on a previous trip and some were totally new to me. Benefit of these second visits was more time to chill and relax at these places. It is so much fun chilling at a park with an awesome group of people. Enough rambling for the moment, it's time for some pictures. Here's the update index: Day 1: Mall of America (scroll down) Day 2: Adventureland Day 2: Worlds of Fun Day 3: Worlds of Fun (and Prowler) Day 4: Silver Dollar City (and Powder Keg) Day 5: St. Louis Gateway Arch Day 5: St. Louis City Museum Day 6: Six Flags St. Louis Day 7: Holiday World Day 8: Indiana Beach Day 9: Six Flags Great America Day 10: Mt. Olympus Day 10:Timberfalls Day 10: Knuckleheads (Bonus) Day 11: Valleyfair let's get this trip started with a short morning walk to.. Mall of America owh boy owh boy.. there's a themepark inside the Mall let's go and ride some coasters that's how big this place is.. small ferris wheel inside a building.. that does look like fun coaster ehmm time for some first drop fun hi there gravity can be fun same and some random kids it was cool to see how they managed to fit this fun coaster in this small area signage fosters... ok, time for something totally different.. how's the ride Dan? and yes.. it went round pretty darn quick everywhere you look there's something else to see.. the second one of this kind i encountered they even have a logflume inside i see coaster, track supports.. ok, time to check out the mall there is a roof.. but otherwise.. game over Harley Davidson store view from the top floor area looking to the left.. just to give you an idea of how big that thing is.. spinning coaster fun time to move on after having a quick look at some Lego is this still the same mall? ehmm, something does not look right here.. it was possible to decide which way to face on this no fake trees (i think) ehhmm ok, back to this fun thing how's it going dude dutchman?? owh more coaster pics happy people upside down and yes.. these trains have some moves tight fit just for the fun.. just about every single inch of free space is used so close.. yet so far away another overview look of this place part of the spinning coaster layout that does look like a very weird ride whip fun if you get to the Mall, don't forget to visit this corner drum fun fun ride i spy TPR members don't look down showing of yeah.. it basically goes all the way up to the ceiling going up... and that funny looking ride.. it produces hairtime..

I do know it's late (like really late) but yeah.. i feel like i have to finish this before starting a new trip report. So here we go. Final Scandi trip day: Today we visisted Linnanmaki which is smack in the middle of Helsinki. I'll let the pictures do all the talking. Still love looking back at these and thinking about all the fun things that are part of a TPR trip. Looking forward to a future Scandi visit entrance area hmm, that does look like a lot of fun ehmm.. i feel like i've seen something like this before.. the smaller version.. not as insane as Insane.. but still a lof of fun Robb looks happy here and TPDave.. a well the entire coaster the beauty of this place and the many different angles time to enjoy some old school riding.. including a brake man at the end of the train fun, lots and lots of fun expressions tell most of the story.. how's it going Steve?? and yes.. it does provide air as well awesome time for some Icebat love and don't forget to pass the egg joy joy joy ok, time to head out and see the rest of the park fire good Tv reporter and the egg nice spining coaster does this get you wet? guess so there are people behind this wall of water.. (spot the arm) see, there they are random flat ride not sure what to say food theming ok, this looks interesting.. looks like it has some interesting moves.. and it does some funny things to the people riding.. but in the end.. it does get a thumbs up hmm, Scandinavia and gravity yes.. it's water.. no worries pointers if you get to this park, don't forget to visit this ride it has clowns.. lots and lots of clowns and somebody needs to do some cleaning as well thank you

^ehm.. just a few posts higher the following is stated..

Here's a quick update (and some pictures) from my visit today to the park. I noticed the weather being good for today and wanted to see for myself how good Geforce was running after reading some of the stories. The park is only open during the weekend.. so the ride should only have had today to warm up.. anyway Expedition Geforce was running as good as i remember it running during the last TPR visit in 08 (and maybe even a bit better) Plenty of air, the first drop was amazing (as usual) and it did not slow down. The brakes before the final turn and bunny hops was hardly noticeable. Only if you payed a lot of attention to it you could feel it (in the back of the train) I only rode it in the back so i'm not sure how much the experience for the other seats has improved. From a previous visit i remember the ride having a lot of shaking/rattling.. basically that's all gone (just a tiny little bit left, but that's an amount which is normal for this kind of ride (i think)) What else.. ehm the turn around before heading back through the supports of the first hill? i've experienced that as being slow (in the past) almost so slow that you could feel yourself sliding down... anyway.. no more sliding and some nice speed through there. Extra benefit.. you feel like you're going to hit some supports again (due to the air) All in all, the ride is back and it's running very very good at the moment. If you have time, go check it out. i spy.. i spy.. airtime.. i think shiny seats restraints area got some paint as well.. and it looks like some paddings have been replaced.. lots of new shiny (paint and/or parts) and the front looked very fresh as well.. nerd time going up.. a different way to experience the first drop.. bunny hops before the final brakes... lot of hair the infamous "OMG this ride is insane" pose another train and a different angle.. are there any words needed?? i don't remember this being that long... brakes... they have added some buildings in this area.. but the brakes are still at the same place something's missing here the other spot.. and just for the fun of it.. a first drop picture.. and one more Hairtime happy riders

Holiday Park - Holly's Wilde Autofahrt Here are some pictures i took today

here's a topic about resizing pictures and all kinds of tools for this.. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35725 Plenty of answers in there

This is already being worked on..

my biggest fear? serious... Dying and having nobody to remember me (aka no wife/kids etc) Just lying on that bed and nobody to say goodbye to.. that sounds like life was a waste of time to me...

easy answer: no if i would start worrying about what i'm eating and what that would do to me in a couple of years.. i would have been dead already due to stress and other stuff. Have fun in life, no worries. I guess it's a benefit as well to be from dutch where the meal sizes are not that insane as in the US. Free refills?? does not happen here and i can continue with that list. Most important thing.. keep on moving. Exercise helps

depending on how much it is.. either spent it and have fun.. or put it in a bank account, make a deal with the bank regarding when the interest is sent to another account number and life from the interest. Work would only be done as being fun and having something to do... but yeah i guess that's it. Depending on the sum there might be some money left for friends/family etc.. but yeah.. it all depends on the sum..

Insane. That night time ERT session was insane...

... please surprise me..... Looking forward to a custum title (if granted)

If you do full report.. i would say to go ahead and post your own.. you could then post a few pictures in here as a "teaser" to your report..

in outbox means that is has not been read yet, sent has been read..

^ so not likely...

we'll be boarding an airplane in about one hour.. then fly to Liseberg, the next day we will visit Grona Lund. After that it's of to Denmark for some awesome rides on Piraten and other amazing stuff. Hope this helps

^thanks ^^ please use the search before posting... topic locked

^They took out one of the two sides in 09.. So half of the lot is now empty space. and no.. i would not count on it... small update, after some searching i found the following info: the ride is coming to the spot where the Bobby Drop was located and Mambo will be (re)moved for this...

Please use the search before posting. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56162 locking this topic.

Europe Park is one of my favorite places i've been to so far. I just like to be able to walk around the place and spot new things every time. Things that have been there for years or new small changes. There's always something new to see. Regarding BlueFire.. for some reason i remember the launch being more powerful when it first opened and the ride going quicker through the different elements.. it's still fun (don't get me wrong) but there's more potential (i think) and yeah.. those restraints are amazing. regarding the other rides.. they all have their own special thing.. some you want (need) to ride as a group.. and some are just plain fun (even when riding by yourself). And yes.. there's more to parks (and life) then coasters. Hope this all makes sense, can't wait to go back there again. Loving this topic so far and looking forward to the same for the next TPR trips