WHEN the alarm went off at 4am, I was wide awake. It was time to return to Holiday World, for only my second trip there ever. Out the door a bit after 5am, I enjoyed the scenery on the last two hours of the drive.

Upon arrival, I saw sign above the front gate saying that the Legend and Pilgrim's Plunge were not operating today. Uh oh. I was hopeful that would change. I had a free drink and felt better, having saved $3.59 (CF pricing). Did I mention that parking was free too?

After a quick ride on Liberty Launch I met up with Paul, Bond and Andy by the Voyage. As the lines were pretty much the same, Andy and I waited for the front seat and Paul and Bond waited for row two. This would be Bond's first Voyage ride, and he loved it. If memory serves, we rode again, this time with Paul and Bond in the front seat. (Paul, correct me if this is wrong.)

We sampled some other rides, including the Howler, which I had missed on my previous trip, Freedom Train, Carousel and Eagles Flight. We eventually headed to the Raven for a couple of rides.

Stories of the Legend possibly getting fixed began to circulate through the rumor mill. We chose our scapegoat to blame for breaking it. Turns out, as Will or Paula told us during the pre-ERT briefing, a gearbox that drove the lift chain had eaten itself, but the park was working hard to get a replacement in time, and they also hoped to have a replacement part for Pilgrim's plunge by the early morning.

Sure enough, as ERT began it began testing on the Legend. I rode the Voyage a number of times before getting pizza, and I believe we rode the Legend soon afterward. As darkness fell we headed to the Voyage, which was awesome in the dark. One "pothole" on the upslope of the third hill was the only issue with this incredible ride. The line for the other coasters was shorter, so we decided to head for the Raven and Legend for the rest of the evening and save the Voyage for Saturday night (turned out to be a great choice). We camped out on the Raven for the last half hour of ERT (without having to get off) and had a great time flying through the woods.

After getting a bit of sleep, waterpark ERT was next up. The wave pool was not nearly warm enough. I headed for a big slide with a 4-person inner tube and did that three times before I noticed Pilgrims Plunge testing! I joined Paul, Bond and Corey(?) as we headed for that side of the waterpark. As luck would have it, 5 minutes later they opened PP, and we got the first ride of the day!

In the front seat of PP, I couldn't see anything coming down the first drop - too much water was hitting my in my face! We got really wet, but luckily we were still wearing bathing suits. Second ride for me was in the back, and again, drenched. The lift didn't really intimidate me (the tilt is fun), but the ride down and the splashdown were really fun.

After three PP rides I changed clothes and headed for some early morning Voyage action. At some point during the afternoon it was raining lightly, and I enjoyed two refreshing (and fast) Voyage rides in the rain.

I took quite a few photos on Saturday. I took photos of the Voyage entering the last tunnel, and when I checked the photo I saw that purely by luck I had a great photo of Andy and Bond in the front seat! Later I got a great image of Paul and Bond just before the station tunnel, but I knew they'd be riding.

We didn't wait in the silent auction line due to its length and non-moving nature, and we had food instead. Then it rained as we checked out the stuff for sale. It began to hail, nearly 3/8" diameter. Lightning was all around, but eventually the storms passed, and ERT began about 10pm.

Of course, all of the rides were FLYING. We rode the Raven first, since they finished walking the track most quickly on it. It was intense, and fantastic. The Legend was the smoothest I have ever experienced it. The Voyage was.... well... it was a religious experience given the light show.

Lines for the Voyage were not long, and there was no line for some seats by the end of the evening. Let me try to decribe the experience - as we rolled out of the station and tilted up onto the lift, we were staring directly at a towering thunderstorm that I guessed was ~30 miles to the north. Lightning lit up the beautiful cloud internally every few seconds, and it appeared as though the train was going to head into the very heart of the storm! Then we dropped.

Leaving the lights of the station and those by PP, we flew (literally during the airtime) back into the pitch black woods. On the climbs up the first few hills it again felt like we were climbing into the distant storm. Every few seconds, lightning flashed, illuminating the shiny steel on the tracks and the track ahead.

It was nature's form of subtle strobe lighting, and it made the turnaround a quite unreal experience, as snapshots of the track, riders ahead, and the wooded surroundings it were highlighted by lightning flashes and then everything disappeared almost instantly.

The triple down was completely dark, and everyone was yelling with glee as we headed through that tunnel and into the finale. As we screamed back into the bright lights of Pilgrims Plunge, the intensity reached crazy levels. My shoulders could no longer hold my arms up. I just had to hang onto the side of the car and enjoy the ride. After 8-10 Voyage rides like that, I was a happy guy.

Kings Island - Sunday, Monday

At around 9am I headed for Cincinnati. The drive from HW to KI was one I had never made, and the scenery was interesting. A bit after noon I met Kevin, Beth, their kids, and Paul and Bond. Kevin & family were heading for a baseball game, and Paul and Bond and I had lunch. Then we found a short Flight Deck line, and Paul and Bond rode SOB while I rode Drop Zone.

At this point, I got my kiddie coaster credit (it might have been later, though, thanks Bond!) and it was time for some excellent Diamondback action. Bond and Paul got the front seat, and I got my favorite seat in row two. How perfect. Bond loved his first ride on DB (Paul had ridden earlier in the day). We rode again, and then headed off to other rides. I believe Paul and Bond had three DB rides that day, and I ended up with seven total.

We met up with Nick, and he also turned credit whore and got his kiddie coaster credit. As Paul and Bond had to leave for their long drive home, Nick and I stayed for a Beast night ride and then closed out the day with a few DB rides until 10pm.

I returned to KI by myself on Monday around 10:30am, and I found very light crowds. Staying only until about 6:15pm, I managed 19 DB rides, and I took a break to take photos! At times the line was at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the station, and the single rider line became deserted. I rode a few other rides, too.

When I finish my Waldameer/CP/IB TR I will post it separately and link it from here. -Mike

More photos from Holiwood Nights 2009 and a few from Kings Island.... enjoy. -Mike

Oh my god that lady in the last shot looks like her head is going to explode like that guy in Scanners.

Great TR and awesome shots of Bond and I, can you send me the originals?

Have Fun

Paul

Wondeful pics Mike. I don't know how you do it. I wish I had half your skill.

Brian

Paul you have to come back to Kings Island for 2010.

It's not in our plans right now but maybe we'd come if I can get one of those Strickers weekends off so we could do both.

Have Fun

Paul

So pkiboy = Adam?

I'll definitely be there a lot of times. My parents live 40 minutes west of KI.

Adam, if you get bored check out my TRs linked from my signature. -Mike

Wow Mike those Trs are aswome.

And yes my name is Adam.

Mike, I always enjoy your photos.

Thanks Greg, we'll have to drink beer and look at photos some time. -Mike