Hurts so good, 5/2/10 at Holiday World

Saturday afternoon I started to feel a little depressed. Many of my friends were were filling up facebook with reports from Holiday World and how empty the park was. I was stuck at work and longing for a ride on Voyage.

During the evening I kept checking the forecast for Sunday. It did not look good with weather.com predicting 80-100% chance of rain for most of the day. Looking at the radar though showed that the storms were going to pass just to the east of the park.

So we got up at 4:30am and hit the road by 5:30am. After a short 5 hour drive though the heart of the storm we pulled into the empty Raven lot 10 minutes before the park opened. We checked our dogs in to the Holidog Inn and headed in to the park.

First up was Raven in the back rows. Since the rain had stopped shortly before we got there the wood was still wet and we flew around the course. We followed up with our first re-ride of the day before heading for Legend.

We climbed the stairs to the Legend station to completely empty of guests. Elizabeth grabbed the back row while Katy & I took the front. The train pulled into the station and those few that were on the train shuffled to other seats while we took our first legendary lap of the day. We followed this up with another re-ride.

It was now time to take a Voyage for our first incredible trip in the woods. By the time we went down the exit ramp for the first time we had logged 9 laps.

The park had only been open 2 hours and it was time for lunch at Plymouth Rock Cafe for a hearty meal. After lunch we did a few walk on trips to rescue some Turkeys and let our lunch digest before doing some more power riding.

In the afternoon we did see an hour or so of light rain that stung on your face but made our earlier rides on Voyage pail. While I missed HWN last year, I now have a bit of a feeling what you all have been talking about for the last year.

Total ride count for the day
Raven 7
Legend 6
Voyage 37
Gobblers Getaway 3
Raging Rapids 1 (we were already wet so why not)
Eagles 1
Antique Cars 1
Trips to the Oasis ???
Trips to the mens room :)

The girls also did a few other spiny rides that I passed on.

This was an incredible day at the park but now as I right this I am feeling a little bit of a Coaster Hangover.

I think I will go take a nap.

37 laps Voyage sounds like an awesome day. I would be feeling ruff the next day too if I took 37 laps on the Voyage, the most I have done is 22 and I couldn't take any more I had my fill.
Sounds like you all had a great time.

I'm glad to see you all had a good time! It'll be interesting to see what your comparison between the PTCs and Timberliners will be. Are you heading back to the park for HWN?

Yes we will be doing HWN. With the reports of an EMPTY park and the fact that this would be one of the last chances to ride the PTCs was enough to make the trip worth it.

Before yesterday, my total count on the Voyage was 5 in one trip to the park.

I found the bottoms of the hills (positive G) a bit painfull but they air made it worth the few seconds of pain. We could see 3 rows of a timberliner train as we came back into the station.

Was the Mellencamp song reference in your title for an Indiana park TR intended?

I've been to HW on two occasions previous to Voyage opening and have been just aching to make that 10+ hour trip (sarcasm about the trip time) back since Voyage opened. I could make that trip this weekend and ride the PTC's but there will be no Splashin' Safari. I don't want this to be similar to missing out on Hard Rock Park and wishing I had at least experienced it in it's original form.

What to do, what to do?

I wouldn't think twice about driving only ten hours to get one last ride on the PTC train and then do it again a week later to try the Timberliners.

Of the 200+ coasters I have ridden the Voyage stands way above all others. It truly is that amazing of a ride.

MrZero said:
I've been to HW on two occasions previous to Voyage opening and have been just aching to make that 10+ hour trip (sarcasm about the trip time) back since Voyage opened. I could make that trip this weekend and ride the PTC's but there will be no Splashin' Safari. I don't want this to be similar to missing out on Hard Rock Park and wishing I had at least experienced it in it's original form.

What to do, what to do?

This was actually a possible Plan B for this weekend. My mother-in-law wanted to go to Erie, Pa. to visit an neighbor and I volunteered to take her but she had been waffling. Shortly after I posted this she called and told me to plan to take her so now I'll be visiting Waldameer for the first time, in the rain and temps in the mid 50's.

This was actually a possible Plan B for this weekend. My mother-in-law wanted to go to Erie, Pa. to visit an neighbor and I volunteered to take her but she had been waffling. Shortly after I posted this she called and told me to plan to take her so now I'll be visiting Waldameer for the first time, in the rain and temps in the mid 50's.

RF II in the rain...a beautiful thing. Had that experience for the first time last summer, and it became my #2 coaster...incredible rides and out-of-control vibe.

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RF II in the rain...a beautiful thing. Had that experience for the first time last summer, and it became my #2 coaster...incredible rides and out-of-control vibe.

Yeah, looking forward to it actually. It was just that if that fell through I was strongly considering HW.

Wow, I'm not even sure if I was able to do more than 10-15 laps spread out over 2 days in 2008 at HWN on Voyage. It's the most intense thing I've ever ridden.

Trust me I will never do that kind of power riding on Voyage again. Um that is on Voyage with PTCs. Now if the Timberliners tame the ride a bit but keep the crazy air I don't know if I will get off of it.

Wussies. ;)

Clint, I rode Voyage 49 times in 1.5 days. I could have ridden it a 100 more if I had the chance! That ride makes me feel alive instead of draining me of energy. I can't explain it.