Cedar Point trip pt 2 -- (photo essay)

Okay...now what I didn't mention in part one....I drove over 12 hours the day before, just to get to Ohio. The kids and I didn't get much sleep either, and then my brother wanted us at his hotel by 8:30 a.m.  Cedar Point was so hot and crowded that by lunch I was definately ready for a break.

All of us got together for lunch at Famous Dave's BBQ...and that meant walking by the Pan statue. I have no idea why it is there.

Pher and Heidi caught the shuttle over also....they were chilly but having a good time at Soak City.

After lunch we all sat waiting for the shuttle before it was decided that some of us could walk. This is my sil Karen and her daughter Bailey.

My other sil Heidi wasn't too thrilled that I was taking photos. Oh well.

All the kids wanted to go over to Soak City for the afternoon, which with their passes they could do. That meant another adult had to go too, so my brother Mark used his pass to get in Soak City. I could NOT get in, because my ticket was only good for Cedar Point....as was my parent's, my brother Paul's, and sil Karen's.

As the kids were getting ready, I started watching a robin....and taking photos. He was getting lunch too...and maybe bringing it home for the wife and kids?

Once the Soak City group got going, the 5 of us left started back to the park. Well, I went ahead and over to the bathroom. When I came out, the family wasn't around. They didn't wait for me. I couldn't get either of my parents or my brother to answer their cell phones. Gee, I got left. I decided to walk around the park until someone called....and take more pictures.

The Magnum XL-200 was the world's tallest and fastest, at 205 feet, when it debut in 1989. The Magnum is a traditional "out and back" coaster that features 5,106 feet of track that winds its way over Soak City and along the Lake Erie shoreline, giving riders an unparalleled view of the lake and the Cedar Point skyline.  You get a lot of "air time" on the hills too....that's why it is a favorite of Angela's (and yes, I rode it).

Out in Frontier Land is the Maverick....the coaster I wanted desperately to ride, but the 2 hour wait (it had been 4) was still too long to stand out in the heat. The Maverick takes its passengers down to Earth at an astonishing 95-degree angle at speeds of up to 57 mph to within five feet above the ground. It's so much fun!

Doesn't it look like fun? I was NOT having fun!

Out by Frontier land is the petting zoo....

There were not all that many animals out and about, not that I blame them. It was just too hot.

A mama duck and her ducklings were cooling off in a pond under one of the rollercoasters.

Over in Camp Snoopy, I had to get one of Snoopy...LOL

I tried and tried to get a hold of my family members, but to no avail. I was tired and getting a major head ache. I sat in on the show Country, Unleashed for a little while, but the music was just too loud.

By this time, I was getting a little angry. I figured my parents went to see the Snoopy ice show, but where were my brother and SIL? I had just missed getting into the ice show....darn. It would have been cool and dark in there. And yes, that is where my parents went...and both of them missed most of the show. They fell asleep...LOL.

There is a lot to see and do besides the 17 roller coasters. There are all kinds of craftsmen, blacksmiths, candle makers, etc that you can watch.

 This is the Top Thrill Dragster coaster. Yes, that little section that looks like cars, really is the cars. Reaching a stratospheric 420 feet tall and topping out at an unheard of speed of 120 mph, this coaster helped Cedar Point reclaim the title of owning the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the universe. You literally have to pick the bugs off your teeth if you smile during the ride.

After several (yes, several) hours, I finally met up with my parents. That's when I found out Paul and Karen paid the extra money and went over to Soak City. Gee, thanks for mentioning it to me. Mom and I went and sat through one of the shows...it was okay...a good break...and air conditioned.

We then met back up with dad on the train. I love the train!!! Since it was so crowded, we rode around and around on the train. Part of the ride goes through Skeleton Town. It was difficult to get photos, since the train does move quickly and the light was odd.

I tried to get the shot of the skeleton in the outhouse, but missed it....going too fast. And my favorite shot of Skeleton Town....

We couldn't get on any of the other rides without a long, long wait. Even the paddle boats had over an hour wait. Mom, dad, and I gave up...we went out to the vehicles. That's when I realized my keys weren't clipped to either my backpack or my belt loop. And no, I didn't have spare keys....oh boy! After about 15 minutes of sheer panic, the guard at the little gatehouse came over with my keys. Apparently one of the kids (and I think I know which one) left my keys in the door when the person got their towel. Someone happened to see the keys dankling from the lock and turned them in to the park. That was the last bit for me....I was done, finished, wiped-out.

We didn't stay for the fireworks or for the night program. Usually we do stay, because it's easier to get on rides at night. I didn't even drive the 3 hrs. to my folks...my sil drove my van.