USA 2008 Koaster Krazy

amigasat · USA 2008 Koaster Krazy

The trip has started........ Reports to follow!!

Dave

Rough Rider

Well Hi guys, here we are in the USA,
Arrived safely after a huge amount of turbulance Crying or Very sad

My bum is still like a bunny rabbits nose Laughing

Well on arrival, first stop was a hooters bar..........whay hay! ( for those who are not familliar.its a bar come resteraunt served by well endowed young women),,,,,,,,,,,,,,hence HOOTERS Laughing

Women and breasts everywhere Laughing

Then after a lot of my birthday drinks we headed off to a casino with a complimentary $30 gambling money Laughing

...............which lasted me personally 3 mins...HA! Laughing

All in all what a great first day of the tour, and really looking forward to riding my first coaster of this short tour tomorrow at 6 flags great adventure Laughing

.
The time this end is almost 11 pm and we are all totally shattered, after travelling almost 24 hours.
Hope you are reading this COOPS........ and say hi to all at the Meads.
More trip reports to follow Laughing

Leave a message COOPS to confirm you are reading this
Night , night ,
Ryan

amigasat

Well what can I say...........

I have finished uploading my Theme Park Road Trip Photo's and have put 8 photo's from Day 1 of Koaster Krazy, and guess what, they're mainly in a bar!!

Have fun, more photo's to follow..

Dave

Magic

Ryan, I thought Hooters was an owl themed restaurant!? What's all this about well endowed women? Did Dan get to go to the private back stage area this time?

Hope it's a bit cooler for you at SFGA, was sweltering at Coney Island.

Big Stevie B

My pictures are now going up here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevie-b/collections/72157604009884548/

Has all the stuff form me, Carol, Smiler, Steven Caine and Iceblast Rachel.

Innit! Very Happy

Trip is going great. Pictures speak better than me.

Wozza

We're sorry but all this talk of having a great time and the photos to prove it is making us

with envy. Can you stop it please??

Only joking. Just wish we were on the trip too - looks like you're all having a blast. Love the ice cream challenge - was that a club idea? Looks really funny.

June and Haz
.... maybe next year....maybe next year ....

Rough Rider

Hi Ryan
Glad you got there ok. Bet you loved the turbulance ha ha!
Hope you had a good birthday like im sure you did.
Everyone is asking after you and sends their regards.
Enjoy the rest of your time and we all look forward to seeing the holiday snaps Laughing

amigasat

Rough Rider

Hi Ryan,
Glad to see your having a great time and kept yourself well hydrated with water Rolling Eyes

Dont forget when you get back to call to the vets for a glove Laughing

Why dont you sleep on the bus like the rest ??????????
Have a safe journey home and hope the bunnies nose is not called into action Laughing

See you soon

Coops & kim

amigasat

Well that's it for another year! Great 2 weeks in the states. I've completed uploading pictures from the tour.

Due to awful traffic in Chicago we never made it to the mall and as a result there are no final presentation photo's as this was done quickly on the coach on the way to the airport.

If anyone want's a souvenir CD from the trip then please send me a PM.

Have fun and see you at Oakwood.

Dave

USfriends

Hello to all!
Thought I would get some trip reports started here. Thanks once again to
Nev, Mike ,Bob , Gareth, Gareth, etc. (list to long to mention) for yet another trip of a lifetime!! Our 8th now!! Thanks for making us so welcome, thanks to new faces and old, and heres to next year!
Thoughts and notes, my trip report.
We got home 3am, found out that you beat us home. A 3 hour delay at the airport, and 3 gate changes, returning to Seattle with Gareth and Gareth. On our second gate change, guess who we ran into.... the "other club"! They were returning from their 2 week trip only 2 gates
away. Hello to Lee Bennet, Andy Huckle, David, Susan, Chris, Paul, Justin.... Rolling Eyes

small world.

6 Flags GA : El Toro solidified its position as one of my top coasters. ERS
was excellent, and that night was noticably faster. A steelie in wood clothing. Nitro also top notch. Kingda Ka was nothing compared to Dragster.Batman Dark Knight....why bother.
Over 100 degrees and high humidity almost took everyone out the first day. Water rides were a necessity!

Knobels : Knothing is more fun! Phoenix ERS is a hand slapping, seat switching great time! No wonder Nevs location is seat 3....Airtime City!!
So many good adjectives come to mind, I can't use them all. Going to Knobels with the club is like being part owner of the park. Cool

Hersheypark: Better than I remember, Lightning Racer perfect ride for ERS. Farenheit was good, Storm Runner was an Owww.. Exit pass worked out well.
Interesting note; all racing coasters on tripo were racing...Rolling Thunder Lightning Racer, the Racer , and Gemini. First time I've seen that.

Kennywood: So cool, sneaking in at night for the lights, and for 3 straight goes on Phantoms Revenge. That ride Rocks!! Membership has its priveledges! Great food, classic style, excellent variety of rides.... 'nuff said!

And Cedar Point: What else can you say? I think this is the best park in the world! (from what I know of the world )Even with useless weather you
can always overcome and have a lovely day. Millenium force has lost a little in my standings..too many other great ones. Raptor still kicks ass,
no head banging there.Magnum still going strong, and the club has reached a celebrity status there. Lisa got in on this, getting her picture in the paper with "Sir Andy". Also getting stuck in the lift on Raptor, with Jeff "Hot Wheels" , nearly missing TTD ERS. The park repaid them with a first go rollback, for just the two of them. She proceeded to get two more, and I would not have been able to live with her, but finally scraped one out for myself. I apologize to anyone I offended with my" little" wobbler, the F word became my only available vocabulary for a while. Apologies also to Andy S, since Rowan got the rollback that should have been yours.
Friday the 13 proved lucky for us! CP also proved that with all the science,
they still can't control a rollback. Confused

This trip once again proved that joining the RCCGB was the best decision we have ever made in our lives! ( Next to getting married!) Wink

We love you all and can't wait to see everyone and more next year!

Pete Marshall (finally a member of the rollback club!)

Sir_LANs-a-lot

Welcome to the "club" Pete ;D

coaster-andy

The Saint

Paul H.

I arrived home and told my wife that I too had joined the rollback (twice) club on TTD............the only recognition I received was a "Thats nice dear".........unbelievable , don't these people understand what we put ourselves through?

David Ellis

butler

I am also a member of the rollback club. I am please you didn't call Andy at this ungodly hour as I think it was my idea. She may never have spoken with me again either.
Paul H I got the same response from My wife also. She dose not realise that I suffer for my craft of coaster riding.

John

Rough Rider

Hi guys.
Well I think I should start the EXCLUSIVE..................(Not done the Roll back club) Crying or Very sad

I really can't beleive my luck (even after drawing out the lucky YES ticket for the so called planned rollback)
I have now been to C.P. 4 times now and STILL not experienced a ROLLBACK Crying or Very sad

Well saying that I couldn't manage one in 1999, as it wasn't built then Crying or Very sad

Is there anyone else out there who have been to C.P. and not yet had a rollback?? it just might make me feel that little bit better knowing i'm NOT the only one Confused

Ah! well, yet another excuse to return to C.P. Very Happy

Ryan.
p.s.
How many of you got to ride the fab woodie MEANSTREAK??
Wasn't it just running fab....................and smooth as silk HA!! Laughing

Paul H.

WildMouse

Don't worry Ryan. I'm also a member of said club Laughing

Maybe next time eh.

And yes, I did ride Mean Streak (sponsored by Anadin). Just the once though Wink

My Cedar Point highlight was Magnum XL 200 (airtime central). She was flying! Bob's face in the on ride photo said it all Wink

krusty_the_clown

coaster-andy

Mean Streak rocks. On Ryans advice I did do that coaster 3 times 2 on the front and 1 on rear and it flys after the rain I think I got concussion from rear ride. Laughing

As for roll back my wife said wow thats great and what was it like.

Ryan you will get there for a roll back some time but you are the one of few who has had air time on TTD Laughing

stevencaine

Good news Ba has found my bag and it will be delivered to the house before 9.30 tonight i can finally do my washing,thank god those club t shirts havent been lost they are priceless Wink

hopefully the othe club members whos baggage got lost get theres back

WildMouse

Rough Rider

Nimmykins

chillichutney

frosty

The speed at which the last train launched on TTD and went over the top, being lightly filled and seemingly with the power cranked up, it must have been close to the fastest it could go. Maybe not a rollback, but a great ride.

c anderson

Well we are back from a fantastic trip. thanks to Andy and everybody on the trip for making it so much fun. Of course there were press reports. Here is a link to two such reports spot the errors.

www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080614/NEWS17/806140364

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/06/14/front/792796.txt
_________________

bradpeet

Can anybody find a link to the article at Knoebels?

I've searched the 'net with no joy, although it does not help that I have forgotten the name of the paper that published it.

Paul H.

This is a link to the Knoebels article that appeared in The News-Item...I can't find the pictures though.

www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19759991&BRD=2715&PAG=461&dept_id=562463&rfi=8

c anderson

The newspaper pictures from Knoebels (including ones not in the paper) link is below
http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?gall...ocess=gallery&page=thumbnails

this link is the first photo, rest are later on the site

smiler

Finally all the pictures of the tour are now up. Enjoy Very Happy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10803540@N02/sets/

frosty

What a fantastic trip. Great parks, a great atmosphere due to club members and many of those actually running the rides (so friendly and welcoming) and some nice surprises added on for good measure (the Phantom's Revenge late night ERS was truly amazing). The casino visit on the first night was very enjoyable too. For the most part there were no long queues and most rides were open, which is always a good thing.

To be given the chance to walk the 'Flying Turns' was a real privilege. The 'cars' on the flying turns look very strange, but hopefully next time we'll get to ride it.

Unfortunately Maverick was closed all day and everytime we passed the Iron Dragon that was shut too.

My favorite rides is a tough one to answer, but my top steelies must be Phantom's Revenge, TTD, Millenium Force and the Great Bear. The EXterminator was also exiting for that kind of ride. My favorite woodies has got to be El Toro, Phoenix and Twister - all very good in their own way.

Many thanks to 'sir' Nev and all who made this trip possible and so much fun. My first major club trip and it's given me a huge craving for future trips.

My coming down with some kind of 'bug' part way through the trip was not pleasant for me or those around me - so apologies and thanks to all who had to put up with someone coughing, sneezing and suffering for the 2nd half of the trip.

Steve

Tom

ccp

Rough Rider

bradpeet

This was my first trip with the Club outside of the UK. I live in Bradford, West Yorkshire and through the RCCGB online forum I had discovered that a fellow Bradfordian Tom was also going on the trip and had already arranged to fly from Leeds Bradford to Heathrow on 6 June and to fly back on 15, so I decided to copy his arrangements and travel with him.

We both booked into the Travelodge in Feltham, which turned out to be a good move as there were frequent buses linking it to the airport. (There had been nightmare reports on the forum about the minimum charge from the taxi ranks at Heathrow)

We arrived at Heathrow Terminal 4 in good time on Saturday morning, to find many club members already assembled. Andy Hine was busy circulating with an individual envelope for each Koaster Krazy Kandidate, which contained the necessary forms to be completed before arrival at Liberty Airport, Newark NJ together with comprehensive information on how to complete them. I was able to complete the forms while enjoying a coffee before boarding the plane, which I found much more convenient than trying to do them on the plane as I have done on my previous travels (not with the club).

After a reasonably uneventful flight – other than the turbulence we encountered as we approached the coast of Canada and lost 2000 feet (how's that for a first drop?) - we duly cleared immigration and customs formalities and went off to find the coach and vans that were to transport us to the hotel. I had been allocated to the Fahrenheit van, and soon started to discover the delights of having Andy Hunter as driver and guide. We arrived at the hotel before the check in time of 4pm, but Mike soon appeared with room keys for everyone and I proceeded to the room to unpack a few things (remembering to hang the official trip t-shirt so the creases could drop out – as per the amazingly comprehensive 'Trip Tip Guide' produced by the ever helpful Andy Hine – in readiness for wearing it on the day at Six Flags Great Adventure the following day). Then it was time to gather together with the others who had opted for the optional trip to the casino on the first evening.

Thanks to the ever resourceful Dave Perry, we were all to get a $25 free play per person on taking out membership of the casino that would normally have been only available by applying online within the USA. A member of the casino staff came on board the coach to welcome us and explain how the memberships would be processed. Moments after, another member of staff joined him to say that she had authorised for us to have $30 free play instead. Everybody seemed to have a good time, and used their free play to explore the facilities. Some gained, some lost – and others gambled their own money too.

Sunday morning, after a buffet breakfast in the hotel (but no doughnuts yet) we set off for SFGA in the promised heatwave. We assembled outside the gates for the obligatory group photograph, and then all headed off for the first ERS – EL TORO. As I waited in line, I was dreading the slow ascent of the lift hill – even the Big One at Blackpool gets me so tense as it crawls its way up. What a pleasant surprise I had – my first experience of a 'ski-lift' hill, we were at the top very quickly. Then we completed the 180 degree turn at the top that seems to feature on so many woodies in the USA, and I got my first glance of the drop – it just seems so steep. It made me feel nervous every time that I rode – which was 7 times in all. At the moment, this is my second favourite woodie of all time. I like the smoothness of it, that first drop which gets me every time, and the surprise elements at the end.

Then it was off to Kingda Ka, which had been opened early for us. The acceleration here literally left me breathless – I remember thinking “I hope this stops accelerating soon as I need to breathe!” It did of course, and then after a few more feet we were heading vertically upwards. I was disappointed by the speed at which we went over he top – it seems so much faster than Stealth and somehow that lessened the sensation. I was also surprised that doubling the height did not significantly change the feel of descending back to earth – but no doubt other people would view this differently.

The rest of the say was spent at leisure in the park. (Well – it could be described that way, although it's not my recollection). I rode 11 different coasters, although El Toro, Kingda Ka and Nitro were the only ones I rode more than once. The longest queue of the day was for the rapids ride – and I think that was because everybody (and I mean everybody) needed the chance to cool down. I did go to the arena for the Blondie concert at 6pm, but when I discovered that there was a warm up band for an hour (and that the acoustics weren't too clever either) the need to ride became irresistible. All too soon, it was time to grab something to eat, watch the Glow in the Dark Parade and make our way back to the transportation.

Now a little feedback please. I have more like this, for the rest of the trip. Would anybody like to see the rest? Or am I going to be hogging the board and upsetting people? What should I do guys?

coastergraham

^I would love to see more of what you got up to Very Happy

Nimmykins

Go for it.

I'm still intrigued by the hotel from hell.

stevencaine

go for it i will read it im sure others will if not they can just scroll it

bradpeet

Here goes then - part 2.

Monday morning, with everything packed back into suitcases, we headed for Knoebels. We arrived a little after noon, to be greeted by Dick Knoebels himself on a golf cart. We were led to one of the pavilions, where a lunch of burger, hot dog and chicken was provided. Dick welcomed us, and Andy replied – presenting a plate to celebrate Dick and Barbara's Ruby Wedding anniversary. Then we were led to ticket booth to get our wrist bands and ticket for the Haunted Mansion, before being released to explore the park. Having heard so much about Phoenix, this just had to be the first ride. First impressions (especially after El Toro) were that is was a nice woodie with lots of airtime, but nothing special. So we headed off for the other woodie in the park 'Twister'. My companions all declared that the preferred Twister to Phoenix, but I found the ride to be a bit wild for my tastes. They all went for a second ride, but I decided to sit that one out. And then it was time for the ice cream challenge on the High Speed Thrill Coaster. I don't want to spoil it for future first timers, but I will just say that it is a great spectator sport. (I was not man enough to rise to the challenge, but there were plenty of takers. Next time I might just summon up the courage).

Then it was time for the evening ERS on Phoenix. Having been running all day, the coaster was now running faster than on our first ride. It is definitely a good ride, and there is plenty of airtime (I was beginning to wonder if it was really a stand up coaster). But the real beauty of Phoenix is that it is so re-ridable – and every ride is just plain fun, what more could I ask for? This is now my favourite woodie. Then it was time to head off back to the hotel, where Andy Hunter had persuaded the bar to stay open and it would have been rude not to have a few drinks. Next morning – after finally finding a doughnut among the breakfast choices - it was back to Knoebels, to commence with an ERS on Twister. I braved 2 more goes before I decided that it was too wild for me, and standing back to watch the others enjoying their ERS. After a few more hours in the park (including a ride on the bumper boats which are included pay-one-price plans, unlike at Blackpool Pleasure Beach) it was time to board the van (or coach) and head off for the night's accommodation.

That accommodation must have been the low point of the trip. The amount of renovation work being carried out there, with door keys that did not work, curtains missing and various rooms which were barely habitable meant that place should not have been taking bookings.

bradpeet

Here is the rest. Starting after the night in the contruction site, although the breakfast room did seem remarkably clean.

But we survived, and next morning we all set off for Hersheypark. The ERS was on Lightning Racer, which of course brought out the competitive spirit in many of us. The lift hills are not adjacent, so no hand slapping antics here, but it is an interesting feeling to be heading towards the other train in places. Things did become a little more nerve wrecking though when one train got stuck on the lift hill. The heat wave was still with us, and I for one was glad when I was able to get into the shade. We went straight over to Fahrenheit (97 degrees and falling fast) to get to the head of the queue before the public were admitted. I found this an enjoyable ride, and prefer it to the likes of Speed at Oakwood – although I heard many voices expressing a different view. Then it was over to Storm Runner, which was a pleasant launch ride with a decent coaster ride after the top hat but somehow a bit tame after Kingda Ka. Comet is a great woodie – not least because of its length. It holds its own for a classic coaster – and as Andy Hine commented, it must have really made an impact when it first opened. I also enjoyed my ride on the wildcat woodie here. If there had been time I would have riden both of these again. This was one park where I was certainly able to cool down – by riding the Roller Soaker, followed by Canyon River Rapids and finally Tidal Force. I have been wetter – but only after standing under a waterfall! Towards the end of the stay, after I had dried out, I went for a ride on the Dry Gulch Railroad and got squirted by an Indian with a water pistol in one of the lineside exhibits! I also enjoyed the Flying Falcon, although I was surprised how intense it was.

All too soon, it was time to get back on the van and say goodbye to Hersheypark. As usual, we did not pay much attention to the journey – chatting away or dozing through it as had become the norm. At least, not until somebody who had been before commented that we were awfully close to Kennywood. He was right, Andy Hine had planned a detour to enable us to ride Phantom's Revenge in the dark. What an experience! And somehow I managed to get 5 goes that night. I subsequently discovered that some on the trip had only got one ride, so I don't understand how that happened. Then it was back on the van for the short trip to the hotel for the night. Next morning we were back for a half hour ERS on Jack Rabbit followed by a half hour ERS on Thunderbolt and then we all headed for the Ghostwood Estate to beat the queues. It took me a few goes on Jack Rabbit to get used to the idea of the lift hill not being at the start of the ride. The Racer was fun of course – but somehow it just does not seem as good as the Grand National at Blackpool. I did get to ride the turtle (never having ridden turtle chase at Blackpool in all the years I have been visiting) and to visit Noah's Ark. Andy Hunter also said that the Auto Race was a 'must', and it sure was great fun. I can only imagine what it must be like if the club does a takeover on it. And then there was Exterminator, which I think lived up to the name of high speed thrill ride. As ever, time passed far too quickly, and I had to head back to the van.

Next day was Friday 13th – and an early start to get to Cedar Point. Here they sprung a surprise on us, presenting us with a souvenir t-shirt to commemorate the 20th anniversary of RCCGB and the visit to Cedar Point together with a small souvenir cup (which entitled us to free soft drinks throughout the day). Then we headed off to Millennium Force for the ERS. I suspect this has been 'over-hyped' to me in the past – especially by the people who are so disappointed by the PMBO after the first drop. It is a good coaster – and obviously very high, but somehow it did not feel that special. Although I did notice that it was running noticeably quicker towards the end of the ERS, so perhaps I did not experience it at its best. Then we all headed for Top Thrill Dragster, to join the hotel guests who had early access to the park. I did not find this took my breath away like Kingda Ka had, although I did prefer the way that it went over the top slowly. By the time we had one ride, the queue was already being swollen by other people in the park. My next ride was on Raptor, which I found to be a headbanger. I need somebody to tell me what I am doing wrong – because everybody else who I speak to says that it is a smooth ride. Next I rode Blue Streak in the front row, which I found enjoyable. But a later ride near the back of the train proved to be very rough. I was just heading for Wicked Twister when a thunderstorm hit, and Cedar Point just about closed down. I can understand that this is due to its exposed position and the real possibility of a lightening strike, but not why they need to close such rides as the carousel and mini-dodgems which are low lying and under cover. After sheltering for about 20 minutes the rain eased off considerably, and I made a dash for the lunch venue on the shores of Lake Erie.

Lunch today was hot dog, potato salad and chicken – followed by ice cream. After a few speeches welcoming us to Cedar Point, congratulating the club on its 20th anniversary and saying how they genuinely enjoyed having RCCGB visit and thanking the catering staff for very quickly relocating the lunch from outside to inside because of the weather conditions, we returned to the park to carry on riding. Disaster Transport was now closed, because of the amount of water which had accumulated in the track. The guy at the entrance said that they needed to run empty cars until the tracks dried out. I then got my first ride on Wicked Twister. I was rather nervous about the prospect of coming backwards down the first hill then being launched backwards up the other side, but I joined the queue and rode the back seat. I should not have worried – I really enjoyed the ride. I was able to return later, and ride in the front seat which is a different experience but equally enjoyable. I then went on to ride the Iron Dragon and Mantis before the rains came in again.

So, I decided this was as good as time as any to stop for food. It was then that I noticed the only rides that appeared to run in the rain were the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad and the Antique Cars – both of which are self powered and do not use electricity. As I finished eating the rain eased off, and I noticed that mean streak was running. So, now that I knew the weather was just as unpredictable as at home I headed off in the direction of the ride. I arrived at the station and waited for the front seat, since there were only 2 people in front of me. When they got back to the station, in reply to the obligatory “How was your ride” from the Operator they shouted out in unison “painful”. Undaunted I took my place in the front seat and as we set off up the lift hill the rain began again. Fortunately I was wearing my sunglasses, which now doubled up as goggles. Nonetheless the rain did not add to the experience of the ride and I was not intending to ride again. However, 2 other club members were now waiting for the front row and the ride was not running again because of the rain being back. We all stayed there chatting to Brad, the ride op. Somewhere along the way I was invited to cross over the train so I could be with the other guys. Then the rain eased off, and I had to return to the non-operational side of the gates. So, I was almost forced to ride the next train. This time I elected for the middle of the train. When we got back to the station we were offered the chance of a repeat ride – but I begged to be let off, since the train had felt like it was trying to shake itself to bits! Everybody else stayed on, and when it came back again my fellow club members decided to take a ride in the back. I think they may have regretted that decision later – but good luck to them.

The three of us then did Corkscrew and Magnum together, before I set off in search of the Cedar Creek Mine Ride which they had done earlier. That was another experience! I don't understand why the lap bars are so tight. I nearly gave up trying to ride it, even with my ankles crossed to lower my knees. But it eventually clicked into position, but I was far from comfortable. Maverick was under repair all day, and Wildcat seems to still be non-operational after the incident earlier in the year. And although I saw Gemini test running once, it was never open when I was in the vicinity. (It seems I will just have to go back to Cedar point again – how I suffer for the coaster count). I returned to Disaster Transport, and found that running as a walk on. I would certainly have been disappointed if I'd queued a long time to ride it. I also got to ride Demon Drop – which is quite fun even though I don't really enjoy the drop experience. Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed maXair in much the same way as Maelstrom.

Then it was 10pm, and time to head for the laser show, and prepare for the final ERS of the trip. This was on TTD, and it seems to be common knowledge that the most likely time for a rollback is when the ride has cooled down after being stood between being closed to the public and re-opened for the ERS. I was 'recruited' to ride in the back part of the train, in the hope of precipitating a rollback. The train launched with its usual force, and slowly climbed over the top hat and kept going. We had failed in our endeavours, but never mind we could carry on riding. After about 3 goes, I was not in a big rush to ride again (one can only stand so many thrills) but then the chance came to ride the front seat which I just had to take. Off we went again, and slowly crawled over the top hat. But wait, we're still slowing down. Sure enough, the train came to a halt, and then slowly reversed – ROLLBACK! (My first ever – and the idea had previously scared me). But it is nowhere near as frightening as I had anticipated, so rollbacks no longer worry me. Then after everything was checked, and people given the option to diesmbark (nobody did) we were launched again and completed the ride without further excitement.

Somebody decided that the very last train of the night would be loaded to try to cause a rollback, and a draw was taken among those trip members who had never experienced one for a seat on that train. The rest of us were encouraged to join the train in front, which would be the penultimate launch of the trip. This front train proceeded to the launch area, and waited there while they made the necessary preparations for the final train's despatch. Then we were launched, and off we went up the top hat. But somehow we never quite got there – a second rollback! After the necessary procedures had been followed, we were launched again and completed our final ride. As we left the train, we turned to watch the final train launch, and saw it going over the top hat rather quickly. It is rumoured that this is the only time anybody experienced air time on TTD.

With the excitement over, it was time to head back to the van and the hotel. Saturday was very unexciting in comparison – a drive to Chicago Airport and then a flight back to Heathrow. Although there was one last spanner in the works – somehow the coach took a different route to the vans and got delayed, hence only the people in the vans got the planned mall visit. (Although it was not an exciting mall, trust me)

Even when we arrived back at Heathrow things did not go entirely smoothly. Somebody decided to unload the flight by transfer buses, and we had to wait for the steps to arrive. And my own onward arrangements were delayed by the arrival of Airforce One, which resulted in us sitting on the plane at the gate for an hour before getting a push off. Still – I had a fantastic time, and a few hiccups were not going to spoil that. Roll on the full trip in 2009!

stevencaine

great report i wish i was on that trip mysef sounds like i missed a good one Very Happy

A great description of the hotel construction site(where did that reception desk come from)
I indeed managed the mall experience where did Bob get too that day,Ba lost my luggage this year so i came home from Heathrow with no washing or club t shirts Sad

But it did turn up the following afternoon)must have booked an add on without telling me

BAGuru

Forgot to tell you about that Steve!! Tho it did get a free upgrade to the forward cargo hold as recompense. Wink

bradpeet

There are a few pictures here.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php...5300&l=9e99d&id=647566453

frosty

I feel so lucky to have been part of this years US club trip. It included some of the finest examples of wood & steel coasters out there, and of course all the other things that went into making the week so fantastic.

Unfortunately, unlike you Peter I never got to experience a rollback - sadly. Still, it was great sharing much of the trip with you and the other guys.

ccp

bradpeet

Just got my statement for my post office mastercard, covering the period of the trip.

Exchange rate varied between 1.9723 and 1.9403, and no commission charges. Way to go!!!