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Looks like these rides will fit in well with Tivoli. I really like the way this park "themes" up their rides.

^Thank Larry for it. I'm using his list for the names of the rides in the more obscure parks. I'm glad he found his notebook!

I'm nervous about the name "Empire of the Penguin." I mean, we had "Empire of the Ants," and look at how well that turned out! Ants and humans living together! Aghh! But, seriously, I'm looking forward to checking out Sea World's new attraction--the old penguin exhibit was looking pretty long in the tooth.

^The "Vegas" thing didn't dawn on me, either, until I sorted through my Wuhan photos.

I also prefer Silver Bullet as a somewhat "foreceless" coaster. I love the fact that it feels so smooth and free-flying throughout the entire ride up until the helix. Feeling those tight forces like on Batman can be fun, but I find the smooth feeling to be more enjoyable that being "forced" around all over the place. I have to agree with you on that one. I like a coaster with smoothness, and delivers on what it promises (the feeling of flight). I do like forces though, but I think the reason why SB gets so much negativity is because it's a B&M. People, since when has B&M been forcefull? I bet if it was made by any-other manufacturer it wouldn't recieve all this negativity. Which is why I don't understand all the over-hype of I305. Greying out is "fun"? I guess this is the world I live in I don't hate Silver Bullet, but I do think it's a bit boring compared to other, older B&M inverts, such as the Batman rides, Nemesis, and Montu.

We hit two little parks after Happy Valley Wuhan--Peace Park and Zhongshan Park. Welcome to Peace Park. Now where's that credit? Not here, it would seem. I think a few determined enthusiasts with some machetes and weed whackers could have this ride going in no time. "The coaster is closed! I, angry Chinese guy, have told you so!" Well, there was a credit around here someplace. So, we took a nice walk. Eureka! A little kiddie park! What? A Jungle Mouse called "Jungle Flying Squirrel"? Why, I never get tired of these! This might've been the roughest Jungle Mouse of the trip. You really had to brace yourself to avoid cracking a rib. (Or I could have it confused with another one. It's a bit difficult to tell.) "I'll swallow your soul!" Yet another unique attraction! A powered Sliding Dragon--with rock-wall theming! Er, better you than me, sir. We ended the day at Zhongshan Park. Oh, dearie dear--another knock-off loopscrew! Now that inspires confidence. "Your cadaverous pallor betrays an aura of foreboding." "Foreboding, hell--we're just plain scared of this thing!" OK, brace yourselves. It's another Jungle Mouse, only it's called "Flying Mouse." Unexpected! In China, it's common to see squirrels singing to bananas--just before they kill them! Hey, Larry--here's a sign for you! Hanno is either contemplating his place in the universe or deciding about whether he needs another Coke. "All my life, I've dreamed of riding a pink mouse! My life is complete at last!" OK, here's something that's a bit more unusual--and it's right next to the smelliest toilet in China (which is saying a lot). This "Flying Saucer" is the weirdest spinning coaster yet. It's like that ride at Crab Island and a Jungle Mouse had a baby. "Help! The random Chinese person next to me has died!" Look, Scott--another state-of-the-art monorail! And we'll end this chapter with one last look at the "High Five," just because it's so cool! That's all for now.

Still more Wuhan to come! Time to snag the park's remaining credit. Cool--it's themed to racing! Go, Speed Racer, Go! I bet the trains look like Formula 1 cars or Ferraris or . . . . . . semi-trucks? "Yay! We've always wanted to be in a semi race! Let's jam some gears!" As you can see, classic Mine Train double lift ala Golden Horse. I did find the giant, dismembered hands a bit disturbing. "Now put your hands on your face! And cover up your eyes!" "Don't look until I signal!" "Peek-a-Boo! Haw, haw, haw haw!" This is a very "military" sounding name for an S&S ride. This is my OCT Thrust SSC 1000! This is my gun! One is for work! The other's for fun! Yes! Another haunted walk through! China rules! "This is how much longer you have to live, mortal!" Even the queue is full of scary dudes! Good to know. "I just want a piece of your mind!" Yes, they do, indeed, have a CARNY DISK-O. I knew you were wondering about this. (At least it makes sense in a circus-themed area.) There are two interesting aspects to the park's rapids ride. First, it has nude cave people. Second, it has water cannons pointed right at people's heads! Yes, it's pretty much impossible to miss at this range. Oh, crap--it's not that Leslie Nielsen flick, is it? "Who cares? There's seats and air conditioning!" Larry is doing it wrong. As I recall, it was Yogi Bear--slightly better than the Leslie Nielsen movie, I guess. At least I'd never seen it before. I think Larry went in here to play blackjack--but found a Midway Mania knock off, instead (it was somewhere underneath). Probably just as well. Well, that's certainly very nice of your colleague. After all, you never know when someone will want to purchase, er, whatever this disturbing thing is. I call this "The Three Faces of the Coaster Enthusiast." That's all from Happy Valley Wuhan--a park that's coming along. Next--some more credit whoring! Stay tuned!

Chapter 9: A Park that's Almost There--Happy Valley Wuhan Have you had enough "culture" for now? Are you ready for another Chinese theme park, along with a wee bit of credit whoring? Very well. Let's move on. We left Chendu that night for Wuhan and exchanged Sammi the guide for Erik--or was that Eric?--the guide (Never got the spelling straight.) And, like a good Chinese guide, Erik filled us in on the culture of Wuhan. Well, I don't remember any of that stuff, so let's get to the park, shall we? Happy Valley Wuhan reminded me a bit of Victory Kingdom, thanks to its lack of shade and "unfinished" quality. That is, two of the park's major rides--a launched S&S coaster and a launched X-Car--weren't ready (this is the newest park in the Happy Valley chain). Theming wasn't as elaborate as the other Happy Valleys, either, but this chain tends to fill in as they go. Their observation tower didn't run that day, either; in fact, I think they were still working on the queue area. That being said, Happy Valley was much better than Victory Kingdom and has potential. It also has "Dauling" Dragon, a damn good Gravity Group dueling coaster. At least the blue side is damn good; the red side is a wee bit brutal. The filming session on this ride was great fun; there's a good mix of airtime and crazy laterals; and, of course, there's the insane "High Five" element. Robb captured all this perfectly in his video. Again, my thanks to Robb and Elissa for another excellent ERT/filming session. If only the park would duel (or "daul") the dragons consistently. Robb and Elissa also arranged for us to be "backdoored" on Hidden Anaconda, the park's Skyloop. I was dreading this ride a bit, thanks to the problems Magic Springs had with their version and the rather uncomfortable ride I'd had on the "inverted" lift hill of Drayton Manor's G Force (another Maurer Sohne X-Car coaster). But this was a pleasant surprise! Although it is pretty freaky when you top that lift and turn over, the ride itself was excellent (even when "rocking" back and forth at the end). My thanks to TPR and the park for setting this up. There was the inevitable "Mine Train" ride, this one courtesy of Golden Horse (not Vekoma)--Monte Carlo Raceway. It was OK, but a bit odd (as you'll see in the photos later). The park also had a good haunted walk through, as well as a 4D movie--yes, my first time sitting through Yogi Bear. (I think--the sign outside and the theming in the theatre suggested pirates.) The park also has a rather well hidden Midway Mania knock off, but I missed out on it. (Word is that the ride was, at best, blurry.) Overall, Happy Valley Wuhan is a fairly solid, enjoyable park. Let's have a look around Hmm--something tells me that we might be near a theme park. Or maybe a casino. Happy Valley is in a "No Bugle Zone." We went in through a side entrance before the park opened to the public. Looming up through the haze were our two objectives. We made it! High Five, bro! You see? "Dauling." And the "dragon" is actually two trains. Based on the engine number, I assume the one on the left is the "party train." Here's what we were getting ourselves into. The ride is actually much crazier than this map suggests. I think Barry White would find this ride much sexier than the knock-off SLC at his "pleasure" park in Victory Kingdom. Apparently, Soviet-era Russian car = "theming." Every now and then, the trains let off some steam--nice touch. We had some time to kill while the staff finished testing the ride; so, we took a little walking tour of the empty (well, except for the staff, of course) park. This is the S&S "Not Ready for Prime Time" Coaster. Like Chendu, Happy Valley Wuhan has a circus-themed area. Here's the "Still Working Out the Kinks" Coaster (aka, Magic Express, the launched X-Car). One last look at the S&S before we head back to "daul." OK--time to ride and film! I think the sign is Chinese for "Mind Thy Head." Here's just a hint of how insane this ride really is. Robb and Hanno set up the rider cam. "Robb? What's my motivation?" "Your motivation is that you're some guy who really wants to ride a roller coaster--a lot!" The blue side has an insane beginning--see how it drops under the red side's track? "Save me Jeebus! High Five!" The ""dauling" on this ride is the best I've seen since Lightning Racer--if only the park would run it that way consistently. Speaking of "Save me Jeebus" . . . It is rather ominous looking. You know, I think I'll watch you folks as you ride first. So far, so good. Pray that it doesn't pull a "Magic Springs" on you here! Yay for gravity and momentum! Yes, a surprisingly good ride! Maurer, you've redeemed yourselves greatly since G Force! More to come.

Nice details shots of Crystal Wing, Hanno. It really is an impressive looking ride.

Jaws would be right up there with me, too.

I think the ride I miss the most is the Wacky Soap Box Racers at Knott's--we need more of those old Steeplechase rides, and this one was great. The replacement, Windjammer, was terrible, but at least they replaced that piece of junk with Xcelerator. As for the ride I was most happy to see go, that's a tough one--probably a toss up between Drachen Fire at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure. The Spanish Inquisition would've loved these rides.

The double-down on that ride was crazy.

^And that would be a good thing. More competition, better rides.

^Agreed! I'd been dreading Insane and figured I'd be "one and done." I was shocked that I liked it!

So it you're smaller or smaller, you're equally screwed? Some in the group I was with had trouble with the restraints, too.

Deja va all over again (to coin a phrase). We had a similar conversation here when they built New Texas Giant. I figure the folks at SDC and Rocky Mountain know what they're doing.

^There are a lot of highlights from that trip--the Tagada is another good one.

It sounds like a good idea for the park--and a nice source of seasonal work for, say, college students.

I thought I heard you shriek with excitement during the entire ride... oh wait, that was just you gasping for air from the restraints. Wild Eagle was pretty much what I expected it to be--with a nice view. I didn't have a problem being "squeezed" by the restraints, but I did bang my knee a few times on that little bar next to the inside front seat.

I've never even heard of this "Fire Crew" thing--it sounds great.

^I wish it worked when someone used the toilet: "The spirits will materialize only if you remain quietly seated at all times."

Did anyone watch the video of the "special bathroom" in the house? Your guests will be either amused or repulsed by this feature.

^And, thus, the prophecy is fulfilled!

^I agree. You have to see this ride in person to completely appreciate it. They really did a great job with the "mountain" and the little western town.

Frankly, they're wrong. But that's just my opinion.