Big Mike

The defending Big Mike Road Show Most Valuable Reader of the Year Champion IS BACK!!!!! Welcome back Champ! Peace, Big Mike

Just so everyone is aware, Big Mike is on the case just in case everyone misses a quote GREAT TURNOUT SO FAR!!!!! Everyone tells me that posting on a Friday night is the worst time, but we had 30 people already guess in a half a day, thanks everybody!!!! So here are the standings so far going into this Round #3: CURRENT 2009 FIND THE DUCKY STANDINGS: 1ST PLACE WITH ONE WIN: Lenaapple1974 kezrez11 bhartley Brandy524 Emiroo robinschroeder Coaster Palooza The Bebes Reality15 SuperShawn coreysjunk STR8FXXXINEDGE mmousefan lisadancer Yeti762 megamatt hansrubens picknyourseat 2ND PLACE WITH NO WINS: Everyone else on TPR! The contest is still WIDE OPEN to win, 13 games to go!!!!! Here is this rounds recap after 1 day of guessing: 4 duckies: Calicoasters B&Man Brandy524 ajinaz Emiroo monkeyoverlord71 tigerxeyez jbarner14 Mechanic Jojo19799 5 duckies: robinschroder Homeboy23 cprocks22 mush619 jakizle cal1br3tto 6 duckies: Crazy4Coasters bhartley KnottsDisneyFarm ernierocker Hikaru-chan Yellow Jacket Jon34MA tunnel lover#1 STR8FXXXINEDGE coaster_dad traincrossin hyyyper 7 duckies: X2coasterfreak themeparkguy27 I will let this contest run until I get home from work Sunday night, then I will post Kings Island Monday Morning!! Good luck to all! Peace, Big Mike

Damn! How many females were on this trip??? I have to start hittting these US trips Glad everyone had fun! Peace, Big Mike

I have to humbly disagree that nothing stood out at this park.... I personally thought this girl stood out Peace, Big Mike Big Mike is da man!

Hello Fantastic Friends!!!!! This is Round #3 of Find the Ducky!!!!!!! Remember everyone, you need to win 3 rounds of Find the Ducky to achieve the ducky quest in order to win the Big Mike Reader of the Year Grand Prize of a free one week condo stay!!! We have some people that found the very elusive Mikestery Treasure Hunt Cards but still have yet to play the Find the Ducky Game!!! Don't waste those cards my friends! Remember, whoever is the overall champion in the 15 rounds of ducky games this year automatically advances to the finals! Even if you have NEVER played the ducky game, it is not too late as the leaders only have 1 win so far this year and there are 13 rounds to go!!!! This trip report is from Beech Bend in Kentucky, Big Mike's first ever visit there! In attendance that day and being guest stars on The Big Mike Road Show was once again was Craig (Iggyace), Gage (Iggyskid), and making his World debut on the Road Show, Guy (Guy T. Koepp)!!!!! As usual, Big Mike will go out of his way for all The Valuable Big Mike Readers and show them how fun the park is, all the coasters, and pictures of all the other rides at the park! Big Mike's in depth coverage for the TPR Park Index, as well as the overall enjoyment of viewers being able to see what is exactly at the whole park has been an overwhelming success as Big Mike gets letter after letter on how great a job he is doing bringing the park to the people! Hope you enjoy and wishing you luck this round in guessing how many duckies there are! Don't forget, ANYONE can play the ducky game, but just answer how many you found, NOT where they are! Peace, Big Mike Thanks to Gage, Craig, and Guy for making this stop on The Big Mike Road Show so much fun! Good luck with the duckies everybody! Peace, Big Mike .... who knows, maybe even his matchmaking skills were working that day! This is a good sign! After a fun filled day, Big Mike was proud to have Guy check off Kentucky on The Official Big Mike Road Show 2009 T-Shirt!!! Guy was a GREAT dude and a lot of fun....... Hate to say I told you so! lol Gage asking Dad "what's wrong?" Big Mike warned you about weak stomachs earlier!!! Craig, Gage, and Guy ride as Big Mike did not feel like throwing up. Power Surge Tornado Flying Bobs Random vehicles Tea Cups This Sea Dragon came from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch! The New for 2009 ride, The Sea Dragon! White Water Express Jalopy Junction Crazy Bus Whip Happy Pond Guy liked them so much that he decided to play matchmaker. All the guys in our group liked the animals. Granny Jones Petting Farm Kiddie Bumper Cars Bumper Cars Jumping Jumbos Moby Dick Dizzy Dragons Antique Cars Tilt a Whirl If you have a weak stomach, you shouldn't be riding rides like these! Scat 2 Weak stomach?? Haunted House Cars Super Slide 2000 Jitter Bug My good buddies! Shock Drop Bumble Bee Bop Ferris Wheel Carousel Rockin Tug Sizzler. A Dale Earnhardt cut out was a nice touch. The tradition continues as once Big Mike is done collecting all the coaster credits, he goes wayyyyyyyyy out of his way to show every Valuable Big Mike Reader all the other attractions at the park he is visiting. Big Mike is proud to increase the usefullness of The TPR Park Index with all his photos. Go Carts. Credit #770 for Big Mike while flashing the signature move stolen by someone else during the UK Trip in 2006 when that other person saw how cool it looked doing it! Lift. Train. Overview. Saving the best for last, the Kentucky Rumbler! Not only does Big Mike bring you in depth info about the park, but he also throws in at various times expertly taken photos too! We need to have Guy guest star more often!! Big Mike was right but still collected Credit #769! Big Mike thinking to himself that this looks like it is going to be painful! Overview. Looping Star! Credit #768 for Big Mike! Big Mike's riding partners! Lift. Overview. Wild Mouse! Big Mike enjoyed it though since it was Credit #767! It does not appear that Guy is enjoying this! Lift. It is a Big Mike staple to show you these in order, no matter how boring Train. Overview. Continuing their extended guest star spots on The Big Mike Road Show also is Craig and Gage!!! Here they show you the gang riding The Dragon! Todays VERY special guest star on The Big Mike Road Show is none other than GUY T. KOEPP!!!!! Big Mike is bringing in the major stars lately! Big Mike has always been a big Guy T. Koepp fan and was glad to see that he is just as cool and awesome as Big Mike lol. Wow!!!! The owner's daughter welcomes The Big Mike Road Show to Beech Bend at the front gate for everyone else to see! Prices. Beech Bend! Here is today's guest ducky! Bloody Nose Ducky is who you are looking for!!! As always, this one picture does NOT count toward the total!

Yay! Another new credit to get at Phoenix Phall Phunfest this year. Now we need Flying Turns to open one of these days! Any word? Peace, Big Mike

Awwwww man!!! That would have been awesome!! I miss Guy. To compensate for this heart braking news, Big Mike is going to do something special in Guys honor tonight..... Tonight, Big Mike will speed compose the Big Mike Road Show's visit to Beech Bend and post it for all The Valuable Big Mike Readers to see!!! The exciting news??? Beech Bend has a very special guest star featured... GUY T. KOEPP!!!!!!!! Making his first EVER appearance on The Big Mike Road Show!!! If that is not special enough, since Guy was such a blast to hang out with, Big Mike Productions demanded we do MORE for Guy's appearance, SO.... Beech Bend and Guy will also be partnered with THE 3RD ROUND OF FIND THE DUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that is a blockbuster lineup tonight here on The Big Mike Road show!!! Peace, Big Mike

Shane dude!!! I will be in town on Sunday and Monday, Aug 2 and 3! Will you be at the park for a Big Mike Road Show visit?? Peace, Big Mike

Thanks buddy for the tips! I would have LOVED to meet up with you guys again! The pretzel and drink sound great! Peace, Big Mike

What nice theming at this park, I am very impressed! Hope dinner is as good as the awesome dinner you guys made me Yummy! Peace, Big Mike

LOL That picture of the Mikestery Card hiding it from Lady Bebe is sheer brilliance! I laughed so hard! Excellent post my friend!! Peace, Big Mike

Is it just me, or does that sound a bit naughty?? - Lady Bebe Maybe it is just the way I singled you out telepathically and said it to you disguised in a trip report? I can't believe you deciphered my coded message to you lol. You are good! Peace, Big Mike Electricity!

Schnepf Farms is closed on Wed, but the great people there are going to open the coaster just for me that day. It pays to have a Road Show. Lol Looks like the North Rim is winning, any supporters for the South Rim?? Peace, Big Mike

You got that right! That was the first thing I looked up, but I don't think it is by either rim, it is way west and out of the way! Darn! Peace, Big Mike

Thanks Chris!! I guess since I have not been there, and you are right, I am just looking to see it and take some pictures, will I miss anything important if I go to the North Rim instead of the South Rim?? It would get me there quicker so I can see it middady too! Also, how is the drive south if it gets dark, dangerous or flat? Thanks again! Peace, Big Mike

Hi there April!! Wow, I miss you guys sooooo much I finally got some free time to check your report out and I am amazed and totally fascinated by everything you posted! The tigers, toilets, food, sponser kid, EVERYTHING! I am even more impressed with you, to be able to go over there and look like you feel right at home. I liked when you told everyone that Jeffrey interprets for President Obama, reminds me when Jeffrey told me that he and Obama were talking about The Big Mike Road Show together!!! That made my day when he told me that lol. So many great things to talk about in your trip report and I know I missed a whole much of things I wanted to compliment you on, but I will just say that I really cant wait to read and see more, and actually see you Jeffrey and Parker again real soon! Awesome job April! Love Big Mike

Shawn and Jordan, that sounds awesome!!! Chris, I was originally going to the North Rim, but my parents said there is really nothing there and the South Rim is where all the fun is. So I am heading to the South Rim unless others come up with a reason I shouldn't. What do you think? Peace, Big Mike

Hello Fantastic Friends!!! It is time! BIG MIKE'S COASTERS, CANYONS, CORNERS, AND COWABUNGA TOUR SCHEDULE!!! This schedule is a rough outline, with my expectations very high and my reality of hitting everything maybe somewhat optimistic. Like last years Middle America Tour, it is best to stay tuned to the Big Mike Road Show 2009 thread and the constant updates on Facebook (mike betzler) to see if Big Mike is still on schedule or has fallen behind on the tour. One rain day or mishap and the schedule will have to be revised. Before we hit the schedule, here is some more info: Big Mike will be visiting the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico!! There has been a great response to meeting up in the states of Utah and Arizona, thanks!! I will try my best to keep on schedule for those spots. Arizona is going to be a quick fly through, but we can make the best of the time there! Big Mike, The North America Leader in Coaster News, is once again ready to make a major announcement that no other coaster site has a wiff of already! The coaster in Arizona at Funtastics is broke down at the moment and high level sources tell The Mighty Big Man that it will NOT be repaired and there are already plans to have a new attraction in that very spot. Hope you all got that credit already as the rest of the general public will still be going there expecting it to be open since every other coaster website has it as operating! Big Mike will be passing right by there anyway and will do a quick report for all The Valuable Big Mike Readers. Thus, with this failed credit attempt, Big Mike has to come up with an alternative plan to satisfy his coaster thirst. This new plan is going to totally alter The Official Big Mike Road Show T-shirt for the 2nd year in a row, but after seeing how much fun the TPR crew just had in Texas..... The state of Texas must now be added and written in on the Official Big Mike Road Show 2009 T-Shirt! Everything is bigger in Texas and what better state does "BIG" Mike belong in?? Thanks to Jeff (JNETrains) for tipping me off on an extra coaster close to my schedule! Thats what I LOVE about the Big Mike Road Show, I help you, you help me, everyones happy in our nice big family Also, some really good news. Schnepf Farms coaster is scheduled to be closed mid week when The Big Mike Road Show will be in town. When the Schnepf family heard that Big Mike was going to be in the area, they were more than happy to make special arrangements and go out of their way to open up the coaster just for Big Mike!!!! Anyone in the area that day that needs the credit, come hang with The Big Man! I know this upcoming schedule is packed and grueling, but I will still try to do as many tv interviews as possible! Contact Big Mike World Headquarters for details! Also, even with time at a rare commodity on this tour, Big Mike will STILL give 100% trip reports for the Theme Park Review Park Index, STILL hides some duckies, and STILL place some Mikestery Treasure Hunt Cards at the parks!!! Taking care of The Valuable Big Mike Readers will always remain PRIORITY NUMBER ONE!!! OK, here we go: Friday July 31st Arrive Denver at noon Santa's Workshop at 2pm Fish N Farm at 5pm Lakeside at 7pm to close Saturday Aug 1 Elitch Gardens at opening 10am Mile High Flea Market at 2pm Drive to Salt Lake City Utah Sunday Aug 2 Cowabunga Bay Water Park at opening 10am Park City Mountain Resort at 1pm Hollywood Connection at 5pm Monday Aug 3 Lagoon at opening 11am Liberty Land Fun Center at 5pm Drive to Bryce Canyon Tuesday Aug 4 Bryce Canyon Wildlife Sancuary Grand Canyon Drive to Phoenix Wednesday Aug 5 Enchanted Island at 10am Castles N Coasters at opening at noon Schnepf Farms at 3pm Funtastics at 4pm Drive to New Mexico Western Playland* at 9pm *The rest of the schedule depends on if I make Western Playland this night since it is only open from 7pm - 10pm each night. Thursday Aug 6 Oasis Lanes at opening at noon Roswell New Mexico to hunt for UFO's *If I missed Western Playland, then it is back to there and Carlsbad Caverns to see the bats fly out at dusk. If I made it the night before, then it is a drive to Albuquerque. Friday Aug 7 Cliffs Amusement Park at opening at 11am IT'Z Center at 2pm 4 Corners USA at 6pm Saturday Aug 8 Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park at opening at 9am Drive to Denver for Big Mike vs. Big Mike showdowns Sunday Aug 9 Fly home to Big Mike World Headquarters OK everybody, its time for you to help me out. Any other suggestions on things to do? Not knowing the area, is this plan achievable? Any problems I should be aware of? Did I leave enough time for all places? Who wants to meet up somewhere along the way? Anything and everything, good or bad, give me your thoughts!!!!!! Thanks! Peace, Big Mike

Hello Fantastic Friends!!! The next trip report comes to you from Holiday World in Indiana! Thanks to Craig, Gage, Adam, Eric, and Jarad for coming out to say hello and share in the fun! The Big Mike Road Show will post the schedule for the Coasters, Canyon, Corners, and Cowabunga Tour sometime tomorrow after a little final fine tuning to the schedule! Also, the next report, Beech Bend, will be the 3rd Round of Find the Ducky!! Be ready, its anyones ballgame! Hope you enjoy! Peace, Big Mike Thanks once again to everyone for the great turnout! Hope to see more Valuable Big Mike Readers on the upcoming trips! Peace, Big Mike Frightful Falls. The only FAIL of the day as I did not get a picture of the ride. HallowSwings Turkey Whirl. Raging Rapids. Revolution. Eagle's Flight. Scenery. Freedom Train. Doggone Trail. Star Spangled Carousel. Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. Indian River. Salmon Run. Scarecrow Scrambler. Reindeer Games. Prancer's Merry Go Round. Blitzen's Airplanes. Comet's Rockets. Dasher's Sea Horses. Holiday World's complete ride lineup: Dancer's Thunder Bumpers This was the afternoon shift to keep The Big Mike Road Show company. We had a lot of fun all day long, and we actually had seperate shifts of people. This was the morning shift to keep the Big Mike Road Show company. Craig wanted to dedicate this to Mr. Moose! Rough Riders. The only coaster that you can actually get an overview of at the park. Train. The Howler! Train. Knowing that, the Raven gets my respect with double Raven signs. The #1 coaster on the planet back in 2003! Raven! Lift. Train. Legend! Choices. We worked up a thirst, so it is nice of Holiday World to give out free drinks. The answer = seniority. "Why do I have to ride all by myself?" Liberty Launch. Here are some other rides we rode that day: Gobblers Getaway. Here is the final part of the ride and The Voyage in the back. Pilgrims Plunge never opened all day long Boat. Lift. Overview. The other reason I was here was to ride the new ride Pilgrims Plunge! Credit #766 for Big Mike! Editors Note - Since people were asking for my thoughts on The Voyage, here it is: I have been lucky enough to ride The Voyage, Balder, and El Toro all this year. With how they are running this year, I will have to go with this: 1. The Voyage 2. Balder 3. El Toro Eric and Big Mike. Eric and Big Mike take a front row seat. Adam. Adam takes a front row ride. Craig and Gage take a front row ride. Lift. This is as close as we got to an overview picture since all the coasters here are off in the woods. Big Mike only needed one credit here, his first ride ever on The Voyage! and Jared (Reon) Eric (Emiroo) Adam (spaceace12) Gage (Iggyskid) Lets introduce the stars of tonights episode of The Big Mike Road Show: Craig (Iggyace) Prices. Proof. Maybe I will be up there next year as Holiday World is Big Mike Approved! Owner Pat Koch must have been tipped off on our pending arrival as she was waiting for The Big Mike Road Show to arrive with open arms. Holiday World!

Not yet! Yours is coming soon!! Peace, Big Mike

Hello Fantastic Friends!!! Just in time for the weekend getaways, its a whole new batch of hidden Mikestery Treasure Hunt Cards for everyone to find!!! Before we reveal where they are, I want to aplogize to Edward for his wild goose chase. I am trying feverously to get page #1 on this thread caught up so that there will be a constant up to date standings on which Mikestery Crads have been found and which ones are still out there. We have also run into the problem of Big Mike not totally figuring out how to get everyone to post thier pictures with the cards when they are found. People do say they found them sometimes, but it gets buried deep in the pages of this monster thread. There is also a clause that a few people may be using that says if you found the most cards, you will get a free pass on one element, so people are holding cards waiting to decide if they need to use the free pass or can enter twice with another family member. Big Mike is learning as we go on how to avoid this pitfalls next time! SO IF SOMEONE HAS A MIKESTERY CARD AND HAS NOT POSTED A PICTURE YET, GET TO IT!! LOL Here are the 4 Mikestery Treasure Hunt Cards hidden last weekend, all in Virginia! Peace, Big Mike Clue #6 THERE IT IS!!! Good luck everyone! Peace, Big Mike Clue #5 Clue #4 Clue #3 Clue #2 Clue #1 Clue #5 THERE IT IS!!! Clue #4 Clue #3 Clue #2 Clue #1 Clue #6 THERE IT IS!!! Clue #5 Clue #4 Clue #3 Clue #2 Clue #1 Clue #5 THERE IT IS! Clue #4 Clue #3 Clue #2 Clue #1

One month from yesterday!!!! You ready?? Peace, Big Mike

Good job with the video Kevin, it was fun to watch! Peace, Big Mike

Thanks Jeff! That was really cool of you to say and awesome to hear!! I try my best. Peace, Big Mike

I am still not swayed and my vote will remain with Renee and her lovely knockers! I have always been a big Renee fan! Ice Bat was some tough competition though, but he took his Valuable Big Mike Reader Pin off, so he came in 2nd! Peace, Big Mike