Trip Report: July 7th, 2009

[Justin_M17]

No pictures in this one, sorry! All pictures were taken via Rachel's camera phone, so expect them in her PTR!

I had originally thought that I wouldn't be able to attend this particular trip due to the fact that my father needs our car for school Monday through Thursday, but Rachel (StalkerChick) decided that she was going and that I had to accompany her, so that's what I ended up doing. And despite her beating me up all day, I had an absolute blast.

I woke up that morning at 7AM, which is the time I normally wake up for a KI trip. Rachel had told me the previous night that she would call me around 8 telling me whether or not we were going, because there was a question of her staying home for whatever reason. After playing around a bit on my computer (KIC, Facebook, etc.) until around 8:30 I decided that I would go ahead and get a shower and get ready just in case. And sure enough, no sooner had I set foot in the shower, my phone rang. It's funny how women have a habit of waiting for the most inopportune moments before calling you, isn't it?

After giving her my address and asking for a rough estimate as to how long it would be before she got here, we hung up. After another attempt at a shower, a bit of running around the house making sure i'd not forgotten anything, and an hour or two of waiting, she finally pulls up in front of my house. I jump in her car, scold her for her slow driving (Which she more than made up for on the way to the park, but i'll leave those events out of the TR to at least save the poor girl a SMALL bit of embarassment), and we're off.

We make it to KI in around 45 minutes, thanks to the aforementioned events. It was noon then. After passing through the metal detectors I text Gary (Beast79) to see where he is. As it turns out, he's just parking. So we decide to sit by the fountain just outside of Girl Space to wait for him. While waiting I text Kat (Violakat03) who was also supposed to be there that day, but she was still in D.C. and Andrew (Andrew), who had been giving me status updates on Diamondback since he got to the park just after ERT ended. Gary found us shortly after I had arranged to meet Andrew outside of the queue for Diamondback. After meeting Andrew we decided that since Rachel had never ridden it (Oh boy...) we were going to head over and ride WWC before we got in line for Diamondback.

Rachel REALLY didn't want to ride. She is like me in that she doesn't like getting her clothes wet while at theme parks. But I convinced her that the sun would dry her clothes out pretty quickly. She still didn't like the idea, but with Andrew and Gary blocking her from running out of the queue, and with me literally dragging her along it, we got her on the ride. The ride goes fairly well, Gary and I got most of the water from the rapids, although the rapids didn't neglect Rachel or Andrew either. As we came up on the first tower, Gary, Andrew, and I all shout out to the ride op controlling the cannons "IT'S HER BIRTHDAY!!!" while waving and pointing at Rachel. It really wasn't her birthday, but she was so scared of getting wet we felt that we had to help her conquer her fears...right boys? The ride op did TOTALLY delivered. He made sure that she was completely soaked. Epic ride on WWC

We got off WWC dripping wet, and headed to The Snake Pit (Is it The Snakepit or The Snake Pit?) to get some water for our wait in line for Diamondback. Even though all of the switch backs were open, the wait wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We were on the ride in about 45 minutes. Because Rachel had never ridden in Row 16 before, her and I took row 16 while Gary and Andrew took 15. As we were pulled up the lift hill, I instructed Rachel on the proper way to go about getting soaked during the splashdown. I didn't expect her to do it, but she totally did. Her and I walked off the ride with most everything above our waists dripping wet, despite being very nearly completely dry before getting on.

After this we went for a ride on Drop Tower, which Andrew opted to sit out. Not an overly eventful ride on this one, we waited through four cycles before getting on. Not much else to say. We stopped and got some more water, and then started to head back toward Flight Deck.

Flight Deck would've been a walk on had we not opted for 1-1 and 1-2. All the same we only waited through two trains. Once again, a fairly uneventful ride.

After Flight Deck, it was time for Adventure Express because Rachel hadn't ridden it yet this season. What threw her and I off guard was that there was actually a 10-15 minute wait for it. Niether of us ride it that often, but we'd never seen it at anything but a walk on, with the exception of the day that Knievel jumped last year. The line for the front car was ungodly, so we settled for 2-1 and 2-2. I'd forgotten how turbulent that ride can be.

After exiting Adventure Express we wanted to ride Vortex, but seeing as how The Racer was so close, we decided to get in a quick ride on that.

As we walk up to Vortex we see that the line was up to the top of the first set of stairs, with an undetermined amount of switch backs open inside the station. We were on in about 15 minutes, riding in 1-2 and 2-1. As Rachel and I were sitting down in 2-1 I spotted someone we didn't know at the time, but who turned out to be a great little friend! Scurrying down the exit side of the station platform was an extremely small mouse, no bigger than my thumb. I tried to point him/her out to Rachel, but she couldn't see because of the angle she was sitting at. I was slightly scared when the mouse jumped down onto the track, but it managed to make it's way back up and toward the exit before the train started rolling. On the way up the lift hill Rachel and I were debating names for the mouse. We had settled on simply "The Vortex Mouse" before I had an epiphany and decided to name it "Angie." I'd explain the reasoning behind that name, but nobody on here that has actually met the real Angie will have any questions

After Vortex we went to see Spongebob 3D. During the walk back to the actual building, Rachel entertained us all with stories about her time working Urgent Scare during last years Haunt. We arrived at the ride op and got our glasses right as the doors opened and let everyone who had already been waiting in. But we still had to wait for the next showing. The movie was as silly as ever, but highly entertaining nevertheless.

Exiting from the movie I got a text from Angie (Not the mouse...) saying she had gotten off work and was roughly 30 miles from the park, and closing the gap quickly. We decided that this was a good time to go for lunch. After a quick smoke break for Rachel and Andrew outside the bathrooms near Vortex, we headed out to Rachel's car. Gary went off to Wendys to find his own lunch, but Rachel, Andrew, and myself made do with the peanut butter, bread, and soda that Rachel had been smart enough to pack. We went to eat in Andrew's truck because it was so close to Rachel's car, and unlike Rachel's car, had working air conditioning.

As we were eating, I got a call from Angie saying that she was in the park and wondering where we were. When I told her that we were eating in the parking lot she decided that she would go ahead and ride some rides while waiting for us to get back into the park. As we left Andrew's truck we met back up with Gary. We also found a stroller abandoned right behind his truck that had not been there when we got in. We decided to be good citizens and return it to the rental place where it belongs. Rachel sat in it and Andrew pushed her up to the front gate (With me snapping pictures, of course). Just before we got to the metal detectors I called Angie again and asked her to meet us at the front gate. She told me that she was in Action Zone and was on her way.

We met with Angie and returned the stroller to the rental area (Rachel was disappointed that there was no security deposit to be "returned" to us) and headed off toward Diamondback. The wait was about the same as it had been earlier in the day, but we rode in rows 1-3 this time.

It was now time for BLSC. I hadn't been on it since the ERT during Ride Warriors Weekend. The line was about mid length, with two switchbacks open I believe. All in all it took about a half hour. There was no ride op assigning seats. We were going to go with 4-6, but Rachel and I noticed that the line for row 1 was just as short as the line for row 4, so we went ahead and hopped in line for that. I insisted that Rachel get in first, because after the events I neglected to elaborate on earlier in the TR, I was slightly antsy about getting in any kind of vehicle with her in the driver's seat. That one got me punched a few times, teehee.

Exiting BLSC, we stopped for more water. I forget where we were heading after that, but we passed the Eiffel Tower and Rachel wanted to go up since she hadn't been up there yet this season. While waiting we ran into PKIPoodle who was working at the tower. While up there Rachel took some pictures of various rides, and took note of how small Nick Universe looks from up there. And she decided that she wanted to ride the Sportacopters (Spelling? Don't know the real name for those). Andrew had to leave at this point, so we said our goodbyes and got into line.

That is an extremely low capacity ride, but we were on in roughly 30 minutes. Rachel and I let Gary and Angie line jump us so they could get the blue copter and we could get the pink one! All parties involved were happy! We got off at about 8:45. The group split up at this point, I forget where Gary and Angie ran off to (Could one of you possibly fill me in?) but Rachel and I went to ride SDATHC.

The sign outside SDATHC said the wait was roughly an hour. I was apprehensive about getting on and missing our ride on The Beast/Diamondback, but Rachel insisted. (Darn it...). While in line I am ashamed to admit that I became a dirty, rotten, good-for-nothing, line jumper by ducking under the bars and walking through an empty queue to throw away my ice water cup. I apologize. But we got on the ride, did a nice little pose for the camera, and Rachel proceeded to give me the most savage beating i've recieved since I rode that ride with Danielle (Keiko_Coaster). I think the final score was somewhere around 990 to 360. I'm NEVER going to hear the end of that one...

After getting out of the exit at about 9:30 I called Angie to see what her and Gary were up to, and arranged for them to meet us outside The Beast for a night time ride. As we were passing the train station we literally ran into Jesse (Avatar), Mark (Markr), and someone else (I'm terribly terribly sorry, I never caught your screenname and/or real name). They had just came from The Beast and informed us that our chances of getting on before the fireworks were slim to none. So I called Angie back and told her that we were going to go for a night ride on Diamondback rather than Beast. It turned out that they were already out in front of Diamondback. Coincidence? I think not! Just kidding... <3 you guys!

The seven of us rode in rows 1-4 I believe, as soon as the ride op said "Row 1..." before he had finished the rest of the sentence, Jesse and Gary were bolting for row 1, with Rachel dragging me behind them. They beat us there so we settled for row 2 again. We tried to look angry during our on-ride photo, and we succeeded for the most part, except I came off as looking more like i'm about to burst into tears.

That was our last ride of the night. But Rachel was craving a milkshake. So Her, Jesse, Mark, Mark's friend (Again, terribly sorry), and myself went to Steak & Shake to get some! They were somewhat short-staffed, so we had a bit of a wait to be waited on, and to recieve our shakes/burgers. But our waitress was extremely polite, which earned her an $8 tip, completely disproportionate to the bill. Since I wasn't eating, Jesse tried to buy me a shake, and then tried to split his food with me, but my stubbornness prevailed in the end! Sorry, Jesse!

We left Steak & Shake at around midnight. Rachel drove into Middletown to drop me off, but by the time we got to my place I could see that she was completely exhausted and in no fit condition for the two hour drive back to her place. I told her that I wasn't letting her back on the road tonight, and that I would confiscate her keys if necessary. Unsurprisingly I heard no complaint. I gave her my bed and made a small place for myself in the floor, and we were both asleep within minutes.

She finally managed to get out of bed this afternoon at around 2PM. After browsing KIC for a bit we decided that we were both craving Wendy's Frostys, so we drove out to get some. After dropping me back off at home she had to leave (FINALLY!!...Just kidding, Rach! <3).

All together it was a very fun day and a half. I look forward to the next time we can all get together for something like this

Mine and Rachel's ride count:

Diamondback - 3

WWC - 1

The Racer - 1

Adventure Express - 1

Vortex - 1

Action Theater - 1

Drop Tower - 1

Flight Deck - 1

SDATHC - 1

Sportacopters - 1

Eiffel Tower - 1 (Maybe 2...up and down?)

BLSC - 1

[markr]

That was Windishawne ( Kelli ) who was with Jesse and me. Thank you Jesse for the yummy milkshake.

[StalkerChick]

LOL your such a butthead Angie and Gary went to Drop Tower while i kicked your butt thoroughly on SC neener neener neeeeener

[windshawne]

That was Windishawne ( Kelli ) who was with Jesse and me. Thank you Jesse for the yummy milkshake.

I second that!! Hot fudge at midnight absolutely rulez.......

And Justin, dont feel bad...I am painfully shy.

[Justin_M17]

That was Windishawne ( Kelli ) who was with Jesse and me. Thank you Jesse for the yummy milkshake.

I second that!! Hot fudge at midnight absolutely rulez.......

And Justin, dont feel bad...I am painfully shy.

Hot Fudge at any time absolutely rules

[markhudson17]

Sounds like you guys had a great time. Maybe next time I'll be able to make it.

[Hoeter]

Don't forget what the ride operator said on the first Diamondback ride!

"You will be passing near The Crypt- the world's largest indoor ferris wheel!" or something along those lines.

[Justin_M17]

Don't forget what the ride operator said on the first Diamondback ride!

"You will be passing near The Crypt- the world's largest indoor ferris wheel!" or something along those lines.

Haha, I had completely forgotten about that. I love that ride op almost as much as the one that soaked Rachel for us