Trip: 22-23AUG15

In summary: Food, food, more food, and a side of food.

We arrived in the local area about midnight. We would have arrived sooner but friend ended up getting a ticket on Route 6 right after Helena. Trooper tagged him 66 in a 55. He could have sworn he was doing 61-62, but no reason to argue with an officer. Took the ticket, and went on about it. Note, that area for some reason is an absolute speed trap. Helena drops from a 55 to a 25 almost instantaneously, Right after the city it bumps back up to the normal speed, and bam there's an officer just a few miles after. Even on the way back home Sunday there was a trooper there in that same spot and three other troopers within 10 miles of that car. Watch your speed through there, it seems like they're on the prowl there for sure.

Anyways, went to Battery Park for pictures and to enjoy the view. The park is always pleasant from across the lake. I could stay there for hours. After a tad we went down to our Motel 6 on Rye Beach and crashed for the night. Next morning we woke up and headed to the park a bit early. Our recently ticketed friend had never been to Cedar Point in his life, so we wanted to make sure he got a full days worth of the park. Which also, I WISH I had the GoPro charged and angled for that. Seeing someones face as you drive up and around the peninsula for the first time is just exciting. Way cool to just see him stare in awe as we went right next to Millie.

We rode the usual ERT rides, starting in the back with Maverick and headed to Millie. Afterwards it was just a spontaneous decision as we decided what to do next in terms of rides after 1000. The coolest part of the day (aside from the soon to be food coma) was getting off of Magnum and seeing Tony, Jason, & Jordan all walking around towards Gemini Midway. I just wanted to say "hi" and thank him for some great events this season as I hadn't had time to do it personally yet but didn't get a chance to catch up to him. Low and behold though, as we started walking up the midway, he dropped a Tweetup and we were literally just steps away from him. First there, scored this years coin, and Fast Lane Plus. What an awesome deal. I've never had Fast Lane Plus and only had Fast Lane once in 2013. To have it on a very busy day, especially with someone new was a HUGE reward. Couldn't thank you enough Tony, that made for an awesome afternoon!

With a shorter queue in tow we knocked out practically every coaster in the park in one day and several flat rides minus Cedar Creek Mine RIde (just skipped over it by accident). Getting every ride knocked out, some multiple times on one busy Saturday is literally a feat I've never achieved, just WOW. Our Cedar Point newbie enjoyed just about everything. Blue Streak was amazing, Maverick was like no other, and Magnum was the best thing since Phantom's Revenge. Totally exciting to share something new with em. Clearly a new fan of the park.

Aside from all the rides, Cedar Point is also a huge indulgement for food. With a meal plan and a nice payday, it was time to enjoy ALOT of food. I mean ALOT. Serious, here's the list just from day one:

• Parmesan Garlic Fries & Sprite
• Cheese on a Stick & Coke
• Tofts Rougarou Milkshake
• Pinks Long Island Dog & Onion Rings
• Probably 10-ish fills of Coke with our Souvenir Cup

Also in day one I tried to get as much live E in between rides as I could. We got to enjoy Ladysticks. Her show up by Gatekeeper is nothing short of exciting. I love every bit of the show, drums just fascinate me. Plus her style is just way too cool. Sucks this was the last weekend for most live E, I'd love to have brought my camera and tripod in for some pictures & video.

Lusty Lil was great this year, and really enjoyed it. The quartet is AMAZING, harmonizing is just fantastic. I did like the woman who played 'Lil last year more, her voice & presence was better, but still just as good as last year in many ways. I'd still love to see what the largest city is they've had to perform and how they practice for it.

Bluegrass Jamboree was pretty decent this year. Some familiar faces and a few new ones too I feel. The one girl singing was alright, nothing spectacular, but alright. A few of her high notes were nasal-ey and made me cringe, especially in Sweet Child O' Mine. The fiddle and Mandolin work though, just SUPERB.

All Wheels Extreme is just as good as it's always been. Some new stunts, acts, and excitement for sure. Some things are repeated but there's enough new to keep it fresh every year. The way they incorporate the Zebras every year just makes me chuckle every time. Not going to lie, I want one, and I want to bounce on the trampolines with one. Bucket list item for sure.

Luminosity. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW. It seriously gets better and better. Some new songs, new performances, and acts are AMAZING. Some of the returning cast are improving more too. The larger black male singing a few songs just..he needs an album NOW. Or hell his own show. His voice is magnificent. There was also a female who during a few songs gets WAYYYYY up there. Goosebumps and hair raising for sure, great stuff! The new bits including the dress with the projection on it were a really really cool touch. Every year I wonder how they're going to top the year before, and well damn, they do. This show finished with a pretty good bit of energy, but I will say last year with Light 'Em Up was more of a finale and ton of energy compared to Uptown Funk. I understand keeping it fresh and with this year's pop hits, but it just didn't have the huge roaring finale finish that it did last year. Still great, but fell short for me just a small tad. The last bit was the new DJ. This years DJ although good and did have good beats and picked good songs to play did have a very different style and genre than the gentlemen last year. I enjoyed last years DJ party more for sure. The new guy is good, but not as good. I'd love to see him come back honestly. I'll take Big Room House and Bass Jumper kind of music other than EDM and Acid House kinda hits. Just a personal preference for me.

After having a spectacular first day for our weekend it was time to head to the hotel and crash for the night. Oh, and stop at McDonalds for a sundae, apple pie, and nice tall Coke :). Food coma then ensued shortly after.

For the second day it was just really more food. We rode a few things we wanted to repeat, but it was generally a relax and enjoy the atmosphere kind of day. We ended up hitting up Thunder Canyon and Snake River Falls. We were going to do Shoot the Rapids but it was down mechanical for some reason. Guess I can still say as a guest I've never ridden Shoot the Rapids lol (Sorry Shawn :P). Bit more live e follow ups, and some more sight seeing later, it was time to head home. After passing through the speed trap on Route 6 and hitting 75, we faced a brutal storm system in Findlay that made me even pull over to avoid hail damage, but eventually made it home unscathed. Great weekend visit, and the only complaint being that there wasn't more time for more rides and food :). Returning to work and the gym tomorrow is going to just SUCK.

Oh, speaking of food here was the Sunday food menu :P

• Panda Express, steamed rice, 2 orange, cheese rangoons with a Coke
• Airheads Extremes
• Columbus Brewing Columbus IPA, and a few swigs of NYFRB and Woodchuck Peach
• Chickies & Petes: Crab Fries, Buffalo Wing Cutlets
• Two Thirsty Dog Hoppus Maximus'
• Cheese on a Stick with chips and a Sprite

So, I guess I consumed my week worth of calories, and I feel it, but hey, whats a vacation if you can't let go and relax for a few days. I will say though I'd LOVE to know how many calories that Cheese on a Stick is. I've seen a few various estimates but I'd love to see how bad for me that sucker is. Regardless I'm still going to keep eating them, they're delicious as hell.

I got some video of the Peninsula zoomed in from Battery Park before the camera died so I should have that uploaded later after I edit and clip away unnecessary fluff with the video. I'll share it once it's ready.

That guy's voice is amazing and he has great stage presence.

Video from Battery Park looking towards the Peninsula.

@ 1:47...God Bless you.

thedevariouseffect said:

The larger black male singing a few songs just..he needs an album NOW. Or hell his own show. His voice is magnificent.

Water ride crews are the ones that do the crowd control for Luminosity, and he was always my favorite person to watch. I describe him to people as appearing to be the happiest person in the park

^^Fun fact...that audio isn't from that haha. It's the same audio as my nightime shot at the peninsula...me and friends kept talking and wasn't even thinking while I let the camera roll. Some personal, nsfw, and other stuff came up...so kept it ambient :D

Great report. Awesome that you guys scored Fast Lane Plus passes. For a first-timer, you can't ask for much better!

Oh not at all man, and for someone who never gets Fast Lane, especially Plus, it's a very impressive upgrade. As a result I may potentially now come on more busy days with more activities like the 4th of July or something and drop money on Fast Lane to make the day manageable.

Fun trip though nonetheless.

Running this morning sucked...but that cheese on a stick is oh so worth it.