DerekRx

The following day was split at 2 parks, Lightwater Valley and Flamingoland, both of whom offered us ERT sessions. Lightwater Valley hadn't really changed since 2002, except they removed the Bat Flyer and log flume and replaced them with 2 other coasters, a Wacky Worm and a Pinfari Galaxi. Lightwater is a strange park, with lots of walking to actually get to rides, then lots of empty spaces. There's a nice wooded area, and then the rest of the park is essentially in a field. The big draw here is the Ultimate, an inhouse built terrain minetrain of randomness. What is it the ultimate of, waste of steel? oddity? combination of 2 extremes, sleep and insanity? Whatever it is, its messed up! They also had one of these, but we didn't ride it because they loaded it slower than Gwazi It left me more dumbfounded than the pseudo-hamburger we had for lunch that day That ends up in this Malaria Lake 4: Toad Hole Basin Its essentially a shuttle shoot the chutes Now exactly WHAT is the Toad Hole? That answers that question "now where the heck is the Toad Hole?" Rock on, Dave! Also fairly new is the Caterpillar Coaster, a kiddie Everyone is smiles on this ride, unlike in 2002! Ladybird is an RCT-type Tivoli Casey doesn't look too sure about this, especially with the gas cans in the backseat The Grizzly is one of the newest coasters, a Pinfari Galaxy Rat Ride is an indoor Wildcat, built underground You know its an inhouse creation when they need a "3rd lift" to get it back into the station World's slowest lift And here's the big draw to the park the Ultimate After walking by the greenhouse, here's the park entrance

Well its good to see that they fixed the problems it was having and that they finally got the second train on. Now if they would only work on their dispatch times and stapling. I still don't like the idea of the cable lift on a woodie.

Just as an FYI to everyone, apparently El Toro is ALREADY down for some random reason or another. No idea how long it'll be down for. Guess Balder will remain undisputed #1 for a bit longer in my book

After Southport, we headed back to Blackpool for some ERT on Big Dipper. After that was a credit run to South Pier for some people, where I finally experienced the evil super spinning Waltzer there. Riding when we did worked to our benefit, Nicole and I were the only ones on the ride and the ride ops were double teaming our tub, spinning it at unbelievable speeds. It was the most insane spinning ever, and my neck really hurt. The following day would take us back to Blackpool, a park I still can't seem to get enough of. Its so classic and historical, with ride upon ride upon ride. I pitied the people there for the first time who went off on their own, as even I was still having trouble remembering what was where. Blackpool is definitely in my top 3 parks in the world and has some great coasters and darkrides too. Too bad the park closed so early, I could have so spent another 5 hours here Tommy needs another ride on the Wild Mouse, solo for the best airtime Before evening ERT, we just HAD to finally get our 99s Next up, the Derby Racer. Too bad it doesn't actually race anymore and offers a really nice view of the park It dried us off nicely after Valhalla with its intense speed Next we'll head to the Circle Swings Don't forget the River Caves, a really nicely themed old mill And Trauma Towers, complete with a secret ride at the end! Time for the darkride tour, with goodies such as the Gold Mine Next to Valhalla is the old Vikingar wooden shoot the chutes, or whats left of it...as the boneyard for Blackpool rides of yesteryear And then we head to the greatest ride ever built, Valhalla! The crew scores the last credit at Blackpool before lunchtime It may be the only vertical loop in Blackpool, but I still love the park James is preparing for next September's TPR trip to Japan Lots of neat tricks and a long walkthru Just one of the many darkrides, Noah's Ark is much better than the redo Kennywood did Unique layout and awesome airtime The Wild Mouse really impressed me this time A few of us actually rode Space Invader 2 before it broke down, too bad its just a retheme of the original, with different trains Finally, Avalanche opened to close out our ERT. This is the shortest but the most insane of the Mack Bobsleds Big One wasn't too bad, and the first drop is fantastic No one was interested in riding Tommy's Big One The Big One was also a ERT gift. Would we have anything left to ride when the park actually opened?! It didn't flip enough for my tastes, nor did it spin fast enough. Gimme a TopScan over this any day Represent! Bling was also opened for us. It looks better than it is Roller coaster was also ours for ERT, shame they added seat belts The following morning would give us ERT on Steeplechase, but only 2 sides were running Here for 3 nights, so I got settled in with my beers Our very posh hotel room at Big Blue. I could have slept on the floor with the heat on and it would have been better than Pontins Dinner was held at Coasters, I got the salmon, which was awesome! Ride ops would come from other rides just to spin people, but no one had a ride quite like Nicole and I The ride ops really enjoy making you spin even more than you normally would The best flatride experience ever! Tommy and James enjoyed the "carousel spinny coaster" I mean Crazy Mouse at South Pier. Sadly the guy would not pull the pin for us This trash can offered a warning to people like Dave and Bret "don't fall over me while gawking at all the dark rides" Nicole liked the classic feel to the station with the fountains and such The time at Blackpool started off with some ERT on Big Dipper

^Smart move, not trying to compete with me I'm also anxious to try the BBQ and Wing sauces, hopefully I'll be able to find them around here. So yeah, I've been back home for 3 days, and its the 3rd straight day of rain. Guess that means no yard work, just skipping straight to the reward...beer! Nice and citrusy, much better than that Circus Boy crap they tried to pass off as beer I'll start by trying the seasonal HIPA from Magic Hat, thanks to Heath

After Drayton Manor, the next day had a few hours at Southport before heading back to Blackpool. I was really looking forward to Southport, since it was so cool the last time I was there. Of course, a lot has changed in 4 years; the flying scooters were in pieces, the ghost train didn't spin anymore, the helter skelter slide and wacky indoor whip-like ride were removed, and 2 coasters were closed. The wheel in the funhouse was still there though, and I'm sure it was great, but I didn't wear socks that day, so I couldn't partake. With 2 credits closed and little crowds, we devoured this park and still had time to go bowling Very strange looking ride Southport got a new rotating Ferris Wheel Loaded to the gills with random theming and a photo drop Nicole still managed to get a few credits, like this Wacky Worm The Traumatizer was also closed. Too bad? James forgot sunscreen, so he took this umbrella. No one expected the weather would be nice in England for once The park had a few dark rides. Too bad the Ghost Train didn't spin anymore, and the haunted swing was closed Looks like the lift was constructed by old Lazy Eye Cyclone also gave us some ERT. Too bad it was running kinda sluggish Guess we won't be riding any flyers today The original dark dark dinosaur was filled with random oddities Dave takes a dive filled with airtime Ted and Catrina enjoyed their ride together on this wooden mouse We had ERT on this bad boy King Solomon's Mines was still really scary and fun, though the restraints hurt when 2 people ride together Everyone died on the wheel, pretty much

The next day was spent at Drayton Manor after some morning ERT at Alton on Air and Nemesis. I don't know if it was the lack of ERT at Drayton, the rain, or the new management, but the park seemed to really be different than last time, and not in a good way. I had a much better time back in 2002, but rode less and was stuck in the park with loads of school kids. This time the park was empty, we rode pretty much everything in the park, and still didn't really feel like we were having a lot of fun. James enjoys his 19th Rollover for the day before the bus departs early for Blackpool "Quack! Take us with you, we won't poop on everything like we do here!" Tommy and James enjoy the shooting darkride, one of the best rides in the park Yeah, here's your vertical loop shot for the day The Zamperla Buffalo Coaster wasn't a very thrilling powered coaster Nicole was starting to get homesick Still one of the best drop towers out there. Sadly it was running at really terrible capacity mode Malaria Lake 3: Jacuzzi Springs This ride was new since 2002 The hottest action this pirate has seen in quite a while. Oh to be that pirate The Pirates of the Caribbean rip-off had no wait But after the drenching ride at Alton and seeing this, I opted out I was thinking about riding this... The only standup zero-g roll. Not a painful element, or coaster for that matter, just not really thrilling Shockwave, still being painted, but no longer sponsored by 7-up I finally got to ride the Intamin version of a frisbee. Good stuff Nicole scores the Super Dragon The X-car was just painful with its constricting and restraining restraints G Force was the newest coaster at the park, taking the place of the Pinfari looper. I wish the Pinfari was still there instead

Next up was a day at Alton Towers, one of the most well known parks in England. Its a really odd park, but is really cool, and is freaking HUGE. Nemesis makes us go "teehee" And its got my favorite inversion stuck in the middle of it With a layout really twisted and a really unique setting, its just awesome This ride stole all the forces that Silver Bullet, Talon, Patriot, Nemesis Inferno, and Great Bear were supposed to have But here's the reason I love Alton so much, Nemesis! I found more than just pink and purple in the gardens. Here's a hint of yellow too! Worst darkride ever! Just ask Barry! Oblivion isn't as good as Sheikra, but it'll still make you crap your pants! w00t! Though lying on your back is just odd and pointless and its fun, not too extreme Air, not one of my favorite rides, but at least you don't have to hang for 10 minutes while the other train is dispatched like at SFGAm and SFGAd The haunted house was redone into a shooting darkride. It was really good I may not count powered coasters, but I'll still ride them. And this one was sweet The RCT rapids didn't get you very wet Wettest flume ever! They added power boats to the lake at the park entrance Hex, one of the most elaborately themed Vekoma Haunted Swings is actually inside the castle Sorry Dave, you're not allowed to eat until we get to Liseberg Barry rides with a chick, now he's happy and pathetic Yeah baby, the corkscrew. Why I rode this again, I have no idea. It must have been love Spinball Whizzer was another spinning coaster, but wasn't as cool as Dragon's Fury But it was fun and only beat up Elissa Rita is their newest coaster, an Intamin Rocket. I think its like their junior rocket, or a launched rollerskater The centerpiece of the park is a real live old castle which can hold like 23 Disneyland Castles Our hotel, Splash Landings had an indoor waterpark that was opened for like 9 minutes a day I said my first photo would be of something "flowery and stupid" so here's James!

The next day would find us at a good park with a great new coaster, Speed: No Limits, a Gerstlauer Eurofighter. Definitely the best new for 2006 coaster in England. Did I mention Speed has some vertical stuff, like this loop!? We wanted to ride this, but didn't feel like being wet for the 4 hour drive to Alton Hydro: Water's Revenge...on Dan! Nicole rode her first skycoaster, but I was too busy popping her skycoaster cherry to take a picture of the event The Clown Coaster was a hard credit to get on this trip, mainly because of a ride op who didn't want to work Even the sheep have better queueing skills than most humans, single file, you'll all get your turn They act like they've never been this close to a coaster before! People seemed to enjoy this coaster Oh yeah, the park's also got a CCI woodie, Megafobia They've added some Larson flyers since my last visit. Not the best flyers ever, but at least they're working! mmm, and a vertical slide. Is there nothing this park doesn't do vertical?? Ok, NOW its the best thing ever! Yeah baby, this is pretty much the greatest thing ever. Only one thing is missing... Vertical lift and beyond vertical drop, definitely Derek approved

Our surprise from Robb and Elissa was a stop at Coney Beach on the way to our hotel in Wales. Even I didn't know we'd be going here, so it was a nice little bonus 2 credits and memories to last a lifetime. Dan was hoping this would send him into an Insulin coma and he'd wake up when we got to a good park. You know the place is bad when Dan doesn't even feel obligated to go into private to shoot up If only the clientelle actually looked like this! With boobage to boot! Probably the best ride at Coney But the others just seemed to go nowhere Melanie enjoyed the powered coaster At least they had a cool little trailer type funhouse And Nessi, another cha-ching! like Mega Blitz, a not too painful Pinfari...until the final brakes Coney Beach, home to some of the vilest scum in Wales...

The first official day of the trip was to Chessington World of Adventures. I'd been here before, back in 2002, but new to me was Dragon's Fury, as well as taking in a lot more of the park. Last time we were here was during a really crowded school day. Fortunately, this time it was a bit less crowded. The log flume was nice and didn't get you too wet Dragon's Fury even had an animatronic entrance dude who told you either ride the coaster or be fed to some hungry marsupials Finally we found the monorail, after walking around the park twice and walking up and down like 9 flights of stairs This way to House Bastard Just monkeying around in the zoo Yo, we're penguins. Don't try to take us home I never learned this in Pharmacy School Best darkride ever? Maybe to some, but to us its just House Bastard And the baby Sea Lion was pretending he was Thunder Dolphin, but good Turns out nothing in there was creepy. Here's some turtles doing their best Robb and James impressions Mare is a bit concerned about what lies in the Creepy Caves Dave was beyond excited to be in a soap themed darkride. See his excitement levels, they're off the charts! Malaria Lake 2: Stagnant Pond Someone told Dave Barry would be his roommate, so Dave tried to kill himself by eating the Cadbury Castle Later on we'd catch up with Tommy and James again. and again, James was eating Rattlesnake was still nicely themed, though seemed a bit more braked this time Vampire was also ours during ERT. Hooray for not having to wait over an hour this time to ride We kept yelling "90 degrees!" This horseshoe curve was off the hinges Dragon's Fury was one of the best coasters of the trip The coaches were all made up with a strategic assigned seating that would last for 1 day. At the hotel we saw Tommy and James. Of course James was eating breakfast!

I took over 1800 photos of the entire trip, over 100 photos a day. I've selected the best for either quality or random story to share. I figure others will cover similar stuff. Before the trip officially started, a few of us headed up to Skegness. I'll leave those photos for someone else to post, as the weather wasn't really photogenic. The following day, was the Legoland pre-trip add-on. It was my first Legoland, and was really worth the amount of time we spent there. It could have just been a credit run, but there is so much theming in the park that I didn't even notice some things until I went back and looked at my pictures. But he was probably just happy to be on top Not sure what this guy was advertising And we took in a football game, complete with streaker I found a bar! John almost blew up the space shuttle by taking a picture of it during launch Mini Brighton Pier Miniland London was really cool, with working parts and everything Looks like Nicole gets to see the London Eye after all Badger, badger, badger, badger, mushroom, mushroom Hey Barry, do you know whose hair this is? I grabbed a Magnum Double Caramel, as they were really hard to find this time around Lego theming is everywhere, even in the fish tanks Cameron didn't mind though Dan was not too pleased though when he agreed to ride the Aquazone ride Jungle Coaster had little theming, but what it did have was pretty entertaining. The beer gods were pleased Dragon's Apprentice was a pretty cool little kiddie coaster I had to pee after looking at this lego statue I'm a dragon, gimme some peasants! I'm not sure if Will is trying to film the coaster or if he's making a documentary on Robb This be taller than Disneyland's fer sure Lots of cool theming, like these Easter Island dudes Here we are at Legoland, the most popular thing in Windsor (at least to coaster enthusiasts)

Back in my routine. Starting off tonight with the new Hops Infusion from Weyerbacher. mmmm, Hoptacular New look, new better taste. Though I still prefer the old logo

Well happy birthday to the brothers Non German. Ed, hope you don't turn out to be as weird as your brother! Tom, hope you stop losing stuff all the time!

"Face of God"- HIM

Just got home after a nice long wait for luggage in Philly. What do I do after being away from home for 18 days? Check mail, turn on the AC, check phone messages, start unpacking, do laundry? No, I grab a beer! A beer experience I've missed dearly for the last 2+ weeks. Truly a beer worthy of the Heathface mmmm, tastes so much better than the crap I've been drinking Hooray for frosty mugs in the freezer! Oh HopDevil, how I've missed you

I turned down the free beer because we all wanted to get back to London. I, specifically, wanted to go back so I could see Nicole. Besides that, in turning down the beer, we had time to stop at a grocery store so I could stock up on beer for the trip AND get back in time to see Nicole. There are very few things I'll pass up free beer for, the good of the group and to see certain people are some things.

Last night at dinner I had another Finnish beer, Karjala, on draught. It was pretty tasty, went well with my pepper steak. Nice lager, Robb liked the fact that it had bubbles, it reminded him of the Great Movie Ride Finnish beer on tap, woohoo! Found pretty much everywhere, in fact, I think every hotel has a bar (and every park too!)

Nice PTRs so far, Eric. It was good hanging out with you again for a bit. It seems like the trip was so long ago (and I'm still going thru the aftermath of the trip over in Finland right now!) Glad to see a few people got to see me getting my credits on the funhouse Looking forward to the rest of the pictures!

Wow, yeah, roller coasters are dangerous. Tear them all down, especially Volcano! I bet the Smurfs never hurt anyone!

Awesome focus, Chuck! I also love darkrides, from really good ones to really bad ones, each one is unique. Blackpool has loads of them and some are really tough to find, but it seems like I end up riding them all on each trip there, some multiple times. I think my favorite part is how both the River Caves and the Gold Mine are in the same building, and even share a scene together, along with a restaurant.

Here's the real reason the Blackpool update wasn't done last night... These are just some of the "perks" we got for helping out during the course of the official UK trip

Last night when the sun wouldn't ever go down, I decided to Finnish some beers in the minibar. Lapin Kulta was a pretty good brew. Since Nicole isn't here, our lovely models will be Elissa and Robb

^I'm not all alone, with Robb, Elissa, Dan, and Jeff (and Tommi). Sadly, I AM without the one I want here, but if she was here, I probably wouldn't be in the beer thread much right now anyway

Glad you enjoyed DFH, Adam. Today I woke up at 3am, flew to Finland, went to Linnanmaki, and by lunch time was ready for some beer. Tried Koff, wasn't bad, wasn't amazing, but it was cold, and beer, so I was happy. I will definitely "Finnish" this beer! The view outside beer and pizza, not just an American past time The food place we chose had some good stuff, like beer!