Kings Dominion in an hour (5/30/2007)

[redfoot12]

Quick little TR...

So it's almost June and I still hadn't picked up my Cedar Fair Maxx Pass. So I headed on up I-95 at 4:45 PM to go get it processed and maybe ride a couple of coasters. I got to the park at around 5:10 and looked for the Season Pass processing center but noticed all the windows said "Closed". Not feeling very good about my decision to arrive at the park 45 minutes before it's supposed to close. Luckily, a nice young man called in a favor and I was ready to go.

So my fat old self was still stinging from being denied a ride on Apollo's Chariot last week and I was feeling jealous as my usual little coaster buddy had ridden Nitro, El Toro, and Kingda Ka yesterday (Great Adventure is still o n my to-do list). I needed some coaster lovin' but wasn't sure if I'd be able to make the grade (or rather, fit in the seats). SFNE2005's trashing of Grizzly made me misty-eyed for one of my favorites from the 80's. I power-walked (must burn calories) on over to the Old Virginia setting and waited one train for the front row. Not a bad ride but I slinked on to the back row. That was more like it! The ride seemed a little sluggish compared to my ride last summer but it was a good run. And... I fit!

Next up was Rebel Yell (my first "big" coaster from when I was a kid) and I heard one of the games ladies saying 15 minutes until the park would close.. Pretty good ride in the back and after reading about John Allen and his designs I have a new appreciation for it.

I got off and wasn't sure how much time was left but I waddled across the park to ride Volcano. Knowing how Intamins abhor fat people I got into the queue with feelings of great trepidation. It was a one train wait for the front seat and ...success!

After the ride I left KD with dreams of conquering Intamin-heavy Cedar Point by the end of the summer...

--Redfoot "25 pounds down since March, 81 more to go" 12

[sfne2005]

I am not a fan of old wooden coasters. I hate the rough transitions and painful airtime. Prior to the TPR UK trip, I usually avoided them. But after that (and learning to "credit whore", I grew to like them. I found most UK woodys to be enjoyable and not too rough (though not filled with airtime either). I love El Toro, Balder, Thundercoaster, Lightning Racer, Voyage, Kentucky Rumbler, to name a few. I hate Beast and its son, Grizzly, Villain, Psyclone and a few others. It just so happens that the ones I don't like were at the old Paramounts parks.

[redfoot12]

I've only been on like 11 wooden coasters so my feelings about Grizzly and other woodies might change once I've experienced more. The newest woodie I've been on was Gwazi which I actually liked. I guess rough wooden coasters don't really bother me at this point.

[alpengeist04]

^You're not the only one, I enjoy Gwazi too. I find it to be fun in the morning, but gets rough as the day goes on.

 

Oh and keep up the good work with the weight loss, and you'll be ridding El Toro, AC, Nitro, etc. in no time.

[redfoot12]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I was signed up for the Midwest Trip but I had to drop out for money reasons. I might not have been able to ride some of the biggies on the trip.

[Erik Johnson]

^^ Well keep up the good work with the "losing the weight" thing. Not only will you be able to ride more coasters, you will feel a lot better.