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Europe in the Air was still Corkscrew Hill (a 3D motion simulator) back in 2008. Glad you had a good time there--it's my "home park."

The Halloween section could definitely use a good, old-school haunted-house ride.

Verbolten might fill the "intermediate family coaster" void. The park has stressed that it's going to be a thrill ride that families can enjoy. We shall see

^So does the Park Guide.

You can never have too many pictures of the Mysterious Island area--it's my favorite part of DisneySea.

I used Mapquest, which gave me perfect directions this time around. Ask Larry about using GPS.

Sounds like Dragon is the best thing at LaRonde.

I went over to the park after work last night for a few hours. There was a decent-sized crowd, yet the longest line was for the Loch Ness Monster--go figure. I got a pretty good look at the old Cursed area from Apollo's Chariot. It does look sort of "carnival-like" down there (lots of tents). My main objective was to check out this new "teaser" signage everyone had been talking about here and to get a few pictures of the work on Verbolten. As for Mach Tower, I did see it test once: It went up and plunged down successfully--yay! The "big dig" continues (as seen from the bridge over the Rhine River). Looks like these poor trees could use a hug. The old Big Bad Wolf station--as reported earlier, the waterfall is gone (or at least shutdown for the duration, I guess). This looks like something Dr. Frankenstein would have in his lab. Hmm-a promise of things to come, perhaps? This certainly looks ominous. Feelings of dread growing . . . (Is that a logo I see on the left?) We are? Yep--I guess we are at that. Even more dangerous that the road between Franklin and South Hill, Va.? If so, that's pretty dangerous! Let's have a look at this construction, shall we? Even this dragon fly is curious about Verbolten. That's a pretty good sized hole. But it seems that this area's role in Howl-o-Scream will contunue this year. (On the left is Drachen Fire's barn; the old station, which has been infested with vampires in the past, is on the right.) Looks like rebar-and-concrete time. Remember, when working on Verbolten, do not drink the water! The construction site--through the bumper cars! Noted! That's all for now.

^Same here--I guess who ever uses that locker doesn't share our opinion.

^Ah, so you noticed the ever-so-subtle political commentary in the Hershey Park shop.

I'd call them lapbars and ankle restraints.

SFA is a park with potential, but I doubt it'll ever live up to it. I've found that the spring is the best time to visit, before the water park opens and the barbarian hordes arrive. Good TR--thanks for posting it.

Not that I know of, but they do have an "update" TV monitor over the ride entrance that runs a POV of a test run (I think the POV is available on You Tube, as well). ^The Black Diamond tour was definitely a highlight of the weekend, as was the Phoenix ERT (what a great ride). I'm a big fan of dark rides, so having a dark ride/coaster combination is win-win for me.

^Thanks--I fixed the "phase" stuff. I know that we experienced at least a "phase 1" at some point, because an op at Lightning Racer announced it over the PA. I guess I wouldn't want to be there during "phase 5."

^I like Superdooperlooper well enough, but didn't get any pictures of it this trip--had a partcularly good night ride on it (and on Great Bear, too). It's not my favorite Schwartzkopf (that would be Mindbender at SFOG) but it's fun.

^Yeah, I was even planning on riding Coal Cracker this trip, but my group just never got around to it before the thunderstorms hit. I was confused by that parking lot the last time I was there, too. It was pretty freaky last Sunday when all the parking-lot lights went out just before I got to my car.

Who wants to see Skyrush supports and some backstage pictures of Lightning Racer? Well, you'll have to listen to this first. Thank you. We had some time to kill before another backstage tour, so we went to blessed Chocolate World. But we saw a bear and ran for our lives through a blinding thunderstorm for the other side of the park! Yet another secret entrance--where we were promised we would see Skyrush supports. But where can they be? I've looked everywhere! Oh, there they are. Thank you! We had to cross a raging river to get to them! "Yes, I believe these are coaster supports. I know coaster supports when I see them, by golly." Intamin-ness confirmed. Hmm--unusual. Some might even say, "Slightly irregular." Oh, I see--they bought them at the Intamin Outlet Store! But don't worry--"slightly irregular" supports are just as good as "regular" ones, and a great value. It was odd how they were just stacked up next to this neighborhood. I guess it's not like someone could put a support in his trunk and drive off with it. I think that's enough about the new ride for now--how about checking out a working, older ride? You can get great pictures of Lightning Racer from this side of the park's perimenter. (We were originally scheduled to get a tour of the ride itself, but rain had turned the area under the coaster into a swamp.) Now this is a coaster that really "duels." Engarde! Touche! Intamin and geeks as far as the eye can see. Wildcat says, "I want in on this action! Have at you!" To which Lightning Racer replies, "Take that!" Outback, how could you? I had no idea that the snake squirted you on the train ride. I rather liked the Halloween feel of the train ride, too. Dear Kings Dominion, Please see my letter from Knoebels regarding pretty lights on wooden coasters. Thank you, Chuck We hope you enjoyed your ERT on Angus McNasty: The Ride. If not . . . . . . here's the complaint department. Cheryl and Lauren agree that it's hard to top nighttime ERT on Lightning Racer. And, in closing, remember, "IT'S THE MILK CHOCOLATE!" Thank you Robb, Elissa, and Hershey for a great East Coast Bash!

Would this be a TPR Bash without a backstage tour of some kind? Nope! "OK, we're going to take you into some offices and the park's rather extensive shop area. Please do not steal any office supplies, power tools, or Zambonis. Thank you." This is the park's weather station. HP has a "five-phase" plan for dealing with inclement weather, and we got to experience a few of those phases that day. Yeah, I got one of these in my garage. Well, I would if I had a garage, anyway. I think an "EZ Arm" would be a handy thing to have--especially if it could bring you a beer while you sit on the couch. I think every workplace in the country has a sign like this. It's a federal law. "Yes, fondle the Intamin part. Caress it. You know you want to!" Here is the hot, sexy part in question--a cable cover. The park's shop area was huge. Hmm--I'm not sure what this belongs to, but it looks like it could fit on the front of a 1958 Ford Ranchero. There is great evil here . . . I can sense it . . . OH MY GOD! Old Sidewinder trains! Run for your lives! "Just ignore the growling and the scratching. You ignore it, it'll ignore you. It can smell fear, though." Hmm--parts to something in a rather interesting pastel color. What could these be for? Is something "transforming" back there? Pretty sure it's not Optimus Prime. Maybe it's Truckzilla. Piers took the tour earlier and left this behind. I'll have to ride Coal Cracker one of these days--missed it this trip. "Think" . . . er, can't make out the rest of it. Understood--I'll quite trying to crack walnuts with the drill press. Excuse me, but where can I find the sign shop? Time for a nutritious lunch. Zoo America brought an owl, a baby gator, and a skunk for us to check out. (At Kings Dominion, the skunks just run around the park.) As you can see, Piers takes his nutritional supplements very seriously. They are all getting proper nutrition the Piers way. The men behind the "Ride Institute of Technology" talked to us about how the park's campaign for Skyrush (next year's new coaster) came about. And these gentlemen told us something about the ride itself. And now, exclusive backstage access of Piers's recording session. Is it Lady Gaga or an English hair stylist? Sometimes, it's hard to tell. TPDave, Piers's manager, knows that he has found a gold mine. One last set of photos to come.

Thanks for all the comments, folks--on to East Coast Bash at Hershey Park! This seems to be my year of getting bashed by TPR. I've been bashed in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania so far--and I'm going to get bashed again in Georgia and Florida. Fortunately, this sort of bashing isn't particularly painful, especially because I avoided Sidewinder. About 160 TPR members got together for East Coast Bash, and what a bash it was--ERT on Fahrenheit (new credit for me), Storm Runner, and the Claw to start the day, food, beer, ice cream, backstage tours, and nighttime ERT on Wildcat, Wild Mouse, and Lightning Racer--and don't forget Chocolate World. Not even torrential rains the night before (and a bit later that day) and flooding stopped ECB! (Well, except for Roller Soaker--yes, rain shut down the water ride.) Let's have a look. To the left, then head due up, please. Hmm--I guess I'm in the right place now. Elissa gets the Road to Cedar Pointers squared away. "OK, I have my coffee. You can all go home now. Thank you." Uber secret entrance time. First, they told us about the park's water-pumping plant. Then it was Rock, Paper, Scissors--To the Death! "Rock crushes scissors! Now you die!" In Europe, this ride would be called "Celsius." But this ride would probably still be called "Storm Runner" (only in French, German, etc.). "And on the eighth day, God said, 'Guess I'll have some Storm Runner ERT--then create a platypus or something.'" This is where most people wonder, "What the hell was I thinking?" But at this point, there's no time left for thought. I think Storm Runner and Xcelerator are the two best Intamin launched coasters. This lift is 32.2 degrees Celsius. Fahrenheit was fun--Intamin's version of a Eurofighter. But that name just puzzles me. I mean, how does this suggest a Dutch-German-Polish physicist named Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit? I mean, was he a really twisted individual or something? Did you know that Fahrenheit is the official temperature scale of only two countries: the U.S. and Belize? Yes, we're right up there with Belize! USA! USA! USA! Toro! Toro! Ole! Ole! Our group followed the advice of Master Larry, and headed straight to Comet after ERT--it tends to have an insanely long line. Master Larry says, "The wise man who values his spinal integrity rides not the over the wheel of Comet." "Are we on the wheel seat? I forgot to check." Remain centered--or your coaster fu will be weak! I think this ride is a little underrated among the B&M inverts. I rather like its eccentric layout and funky-looking supports. Besides, it's built over a chocolate river! More to come.

^It could operate during Christmas Town, as well--if there are no limitations due to weather.

I always mix up those old artists. The original post has been fixed--thanks!

^^I think that's a good comparison. ^Thank you. I like Twister, too, but it was a bit rougher than I remember it being a few years ago (particularly in the backseat). Still a lot of fun.

It's the dark ride you can count as a credit.

I know we were all deeply moved at that moment.

Here's a last look at a great day at Knoebels--East Coast Bash will be next (probably tomorrow). Look! I met some members of the Campbell Clan at the Knoebels museum! Yes, you never know what you'll find there. Like an old Ferris wheel, . . . . . . a miner's head, . . . . . . an aquarium full of shark's teeth, . . . . . . or even Jeff Johnson! Once again, Reed and I are reduced to flat-ride voyeurism. Get a room, you two! Dear Kings Dominion: See those pretty lights on Twister? Remember when Rebel Yell used to have pretty lights like that? Regards, Chuck We caught the next train to Mordor. It takes you through scenic Mirkwood, . . . . . . and near the camp where Sauron is assembling his legions of evil. The Eye! It is upon us! Well, it's nighttime at Knoebels, and you know what that means! It means that Chris Fourmont comes out to play! That the tortured spirit of James K. Polk will walk the Earth! That the Goat of Mendes--the Devil himself--will make whoopee with a dog! That grouchy old men will be born from horse's butts, warning kids to stay off of their lawns! That Stacey will be even more scared of the Haunted House! And that it's time for glow-in-the-dark ERT on Phoenix--a great ride made even better! Remember those poor souls who were wandering between shadow and substance? Well, they're back, and they're armed with wackiness! Much yelling and screaming and insane laughter reverberated through the mountains of Pennsylvania that night! What a great ERT session! I leave you, for now, with the most amazing souvenir ever! My thanks to Robb, Elissa, and Knoebels for a great day! You can't go wrong with TPR and Knoebels!