Cross country trip the last part Added 4/4/06 Page 6

[Alexander Nagel]

WG Carosel? is it still a carosel if none of the horses jump or is it a Merry go Round? Let's do a Poll

 

I don't think many people know this but a Carousel only has horses and other animals. A Merry-Go-Round might or might not have horses but has non-living things.

[trustkill22]

I learned something today!

 

Good TR so far man

[dws_57]

Ok Sorry for the delay heres the rest

Saturday June 25; 150 miles

Slept in had nice easy ride up to Geauga lake. Went through Geneva on the lake on the way up there. No coasters there but a nice little tourist trap with a nice collection of flat rides. (Sorry no pics here just had lunch and moved on. Checked into an econo lodge about 8 miles or so from the park. Geauga lake is a park still in transition. The plus were they have done a lot of work to Raging Wolf Bob. Much of the track had been replaced and was noticeably smoother on the new track. Much of the old themeing was still visible but the park is very well maintained. Very clean and friendly staff. While waiting for dominator they took one train off the tracks dropping to two train operation. But had the empty one in he station after the removal and couldn’t get it to launch. Finally a manager showed up and got thing rolling along. Villain was a bit rough but a pretty decent ride. They also have the first arrow with twin vertical loops. A record setter in it’s day. Still a fun and not to painful arrow. (I liked it, but what do I know). X flight a Vekoma flying coaster. Broke down before I got to ride it. A vekoma boomerang and SLC Thunderhawk. Mr hydes nasty fall an older drop tower. Round out the rides. There was what appeared to be a Jet star track laying next to the lift hill of villain. (Coming, going or rusting anyones guess) I Enjoyed this park even though is seem to have an identity issue. But still a nice collection of rides.

Sunday; 125 miles;

Another short day riding up to Cedar Point. Got my room at the Maples (lucky 13) and headed off to do laundry. No really, then headed out to the point for the evening. Parking crew really didn’t know what to do with a motorcyclist. They sent me to one place. Told me I couldn’t park there sent me to another, told I couldn’t park there they sent all the way around to the back lot. By the water park and Magnum. Security back there said I missed the motorcycle lot but let me park back there. Yeah!!!. I’ll sum up the evening by saying I was treated rudely by some of the ride staff on the first few rides. Which put me in a really bad mood. So rather than whine about here onto Monday (which wasn’t much better)

 

Monday; aprox25 miles total.

So here’s the rest of the bad things that way I will finish on the good side. Top Thrill Dragster had broken down on Sunday (while waiting for it) and would not reopen for several days. Ok I know breakdowns aren’t really the parks fault but I had some of the worst luck here. Waiting for Raptor it broke down. Repair time Aprox. 2hrs broke down while in line for it later in the day twice but only each time for about ten minutes. (This really shortened the line so it got me on in under an hour with a posted 1 ½ hrs wait.) Blue streak broke down while waiting for it. Only 20 min. break down so I waited it out. M. Force broke down 3 times during my 2hr wait to ride Each time about 15 min.. Mantis and Gemini had some of the slowest loading I have ever seen. I had my Restraints checked 4 times by 4 different people on Gemini. Each one at least one min. a part. Stacking trains the wonder this thing had a 45 min. wait.

Corkscrew’s crew was a little better but not much. Also their Derby racer is really tame compared to Rye’s playland Much slower.

On to the high points. (Very few of these) Mean Streak had very small lines on in under 5 min. and a good crew. Also Magnum XL crew was running a bigger line than Gemini and only taking about 15 min. to ride. They were also having a good time and it showed. I rode this coaster the most, the crew was Great!!!. Disaster Transport also had short lines and a good crew. Wicked twister is a nice twist on the launch coaster. Wildcat Schwartzkopf goodness. Iron Dragon is worthy of a mention as their crew also was pretty on the ball. Demon drop another older drop tower and Max Air was fun too. Real steam train and the paddle boat excursion. Round out the highlights.

All in all ths was a HUGE Disappointment, I will not go back here for a long time to come. (Unfortunate for me as I did like a number of the coasters here) I usually vote for stuff with my wallet. I went out of my way to have lunch, dinner outside the park on Monday. Spent very little in the park.

I know a lot of you really like this park. This was my experience here As always thanks for reading if you made this far and onto the pics.

Dwskunks.

[dws_57]

Geauga lake

Trying to figure out why Dominator will not leave the station. Note the cars are empty.

Mr Hydes Nasty Fall running no less see I can prove it.

Headspin a Vekoma Boomerang.

El Darado it's big too.

Dominator enough said.... What!your still reading aren't you? stop that go to the next pic alreday

X-flight another fine Vekoma product. Ok I didn't get to ride it so email Dan if you did. But only as X flight.

New track on Raging Wolf bob smooths things out.

thunderhawk another slc yeah!!!

park in transiton, power city rockin party? really

Arrow double loop lift hill and motor.

[dws_57]

Cedar Point

Raptor before the Vertical Loop!!!

Splash Cedar Point style.

Cedar Points rather Nice Carousel

Steam Train Real steam too. Look out it's hot. Ok I used all the good caption already.

Maxair and the Disater transport in the distance.

Travelling through the mist the Iron Dragon appears.

The Derby Racer Ok that's all I got here. really

Artsy midway shot. maybe the money shot?

Just Before it broke down. Is it suppose to go that fast?

[dws_57]

More From the Point

The bugs get you on your way back to the maples

But after the suns sets on Mantis

One of the bugs try to take my motorbike.

MF in the last turn Ok so I'm stating the obvious.

Corkscrew over the midway

The Fish say Feed me Semore. Or was that a Plant opps.

Blue Streak and I, well blue's closed for now but will reopen shortly. I on the ohter hand well we won't go there.

Gemini Racing Sunday Blue wins Monday Ornage wins. They change it and the same train wins all day long. Did you know that?

[dws_57]

Remember to get your earplug if you stay in the cabins at the Maples. Trains all night with a crossing right across the way. Two longs and a short on the horn before every crossing. Warm night windows open Fan going all night. The Trek home. This will just be a quick some up for you with a pics.

 

Tuesday June 29, 513 miles;

Stopped outside of Iowa City. Taking Interstate 80 all the way back. Will be a lot faster than the smaller roads I have been using. Pretty smooth day other than a lot of traffic on the east end of Illinois, after getting through that pretty good time made.

 

Wed June 30, 649 miles.

Hit heavy rain early on in Iowa but only occasional showers after crossing in to Nebraska. Strange how It can pour on one side of the freeway and be bone dry on my side. That was nice. Riding about 12 to 13 hours a day now. Gaining time coming back is nice. Made it into Sydney NE. For the night . Temp drops fast as the sun sets a the higher elevation. Ever notice how the motels at the freeway cost twice as much as the ones one to two miles in. Stayed at a little family run place called stay for less. Very nice rooms and reasonable. Econo lodge at the freeway was twice as much. Atm card dies and I’m down to $22 dollars cash. Well at least the credit card is still working. Guess I will be charging a lot more now.

 

Thursday 672 miles

Cooking with gas (as they say) made all the way to West Wendover, I stayed on the Utah side. (Borders with NV.) Cool day windy too but no rain. Very enjoyable scenery. A very nice day in the saddle. Wyoming Travel through the highest point on I80 and cross the Continental divide twice. (Look at I80 on a map) That’s so weird, where does the water go that lands in the middle of those two places?

 

Friday June 31, 687 Miles.

Still quite a bit of green in the high desert coming through NV. Still some snow on Donner Pass in the Sierras. Nice sunny day lots of open space to view. I liked this section of road also. Hit some traffic in Sacramento. Turn south on I5 Bid farewell to I80. Get back in time to meet with a few friends in Campbell for dinner. Then over hwy 17 and back home.

Well this concludes the trip here is a few random pics from the way home. Enjoy.

Dwskunks

Where to next? That is the question.

Opps heres a sunset shot from Iowa it's out of sequence but a nice one to end on.

Classic case of Helmet head. Almost home crossing Donner Pass.

The Snow still at Donner Pass

Sunset on the salt flats outside of Salt Lake City

Behind the gas station in WY Not a John Deere though.

At the Highest point in WY stands this statue to Abe Lincoln for the Lincoln Hwy route 30. 80 pretty much sits on top of most of whats left.

Old tracktor I guess there alot of these in the midwest. I live a sheltered life in CA.

Avoiding some rain in Iowa I stop for gas at ????

The View From Cabin 13 Note how close the train is. Get some free earplugs from the front desk.

[dws_57]

Just for fun the TRIP top list;

 

Coaster with the most leg room; Phantom’s revenge, Kennywood

 

Coaster with the least leg room; tie Son of Beast, PKI Wildcat, Williams Groove & Cedar Point

 

Parks with Reasonable priced food; Holiday World, Kennywood, Williams Groove.

 

Friendliest staff; Holiday World, P. Kings Dominion (Special mention to the Beast crew. PKI) BGWB. and Williams Groove.

 

Funniest thing to do with staff; Playing Charades with the Mr Freeze crew. SF St Louis

or Watching the staff laugh at you for riding the Grizzly at PKD 5x in a row.

 

Park that allowed the most rerides with out going around if no one was waiting; PKD

 

Park with the best selection of dark rides; Playland Rye NY. (no shooters though)

 

Park with best chocolate and Plastic cows; Hershey park and Chocolate world. (duh)

 

Most forcefull launch coaster (I actually got to ride); Hypersonic xlc, PKI

 

Best all around launch coaster; Storm runner, Hershey park. also best monorail. distant second Volcano, PKD

 

Best head chopper helix; Mamba WOF (ok so it’s the only one too.)

 

Best Motorcycle parking; Holiday World, SF St. Louis, (both have reserved spots in front)

 

Friendliest park goers; (or easiest to strike up a conversation in line with strangers) Holiday world, Kennywood SF St Louis and SF America (shocked me too.)

 

The only Batman clone that turns right (first hill); SF St Louis. (did you Know that?)

 

Best theme park web site; RCD opps theme park review home of the Rodents too.

 

A Big Thank you to Robb and Elissa for hosting this and putting up with all us crazy people.

 

To the rest of you see you in a park or around the forum sometime soon.

DWSkunks.

[USRoadTripper]

Kevin and I stayed at Maples Motel when we went to Cedar Point. Never again...worst night I have ever spent in a hotel, and I don't think earplugs would have helped! If they go to the trouble of giving out free earplugs, they should warn people in advance of the noise!

 

-Julie