Outlaw Run

Earlier in the week, we decided to drive to Silver Dollar City for a one day jaunt. At first, we talked about going on Saturday, but with further investigation we decided against it. The biggest reason was to stay away was the Saturday crowds, but these reasons also factored into it.

1)  The temperatures were going to be a little colder--ten degrees is a big difference when you're on a roller coaster!
2)  It was a day where they honored police officers and their families--I just have a problem with the crowd issue, not the fact they honor police officers..
3)  There was a special celebration for the official opening of Outlaw Run--again, serious crowds.
4)  If the kidlet was bringing a friend--which she did--we wanted her to enjoy as many rides as possible!

The kidlet had a friend spend the night on Saturday and, with her parent's permission, the four of us headed to SDC early Sunday morning. (it's a 3.5 hour drive, out-of-state, so we would understand if they would be hesitant). . . after a short jaunt to Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

We arrive just 10 minutes after the park opened.

And we hit it HARD! We played on the big stuff, but there were a ton more rides we never bothered with. Here's the list.
These first four are rollercoasters!

Thunderation 1X-- fairly mild coaster
Wildfire 3X-- loop-de-loop with five inversions--loop, corkscrew, cobra roll and spiral
Powderkeg 1X-- shoots you up and over the first hill before you realize what happens--terrifying!
Outlaw Run 2X-- The newest coaster--AWESOME!!! This was the most fun I've had on a coaster in a long, long time!
Outlaw Run features the world’s first and only double barrel roll on a wood coaster, with a 720-degree (double) barrel roll. In addition:

• Outlaw Run is the only wood coaster to twist upside down three times.
• Outlaw Run is the world’s steepest wood coaster with a first drop of 162 feet (more than 16 stories) at 81 degrees.
• Outlaw Run is the second fastest wood coaster in the world, reaching a top speed of 68 miles per hour.

Giant Barn Swing 1X
Mighty Galleon 1X
Flying Swings 1X
Electrospin 1X
Teacups 1X

Yep, the Outlaw Run is my new favorite coaster. I especially liked the 720 degree barrel roll!
Of course, like any new ride, it was down off and on throughout the day. But we gave it one last shot before we left the park around 4 PM. In less than 20 minutes we were walking out of the ride with very happy grins on our faces.

A trip to the local TRACK, we rode go-carts (Heavy Metal High Rise--scared the bejesus out of me going down the HUGE hill!) and then indulged in a 'dinner' of Andy's Custard before driving home.

This was the first time, the kidlet's friend had ever been to SDC or ridden this many coasters, but I think she had fun . . . they both fell asleep on the drive home. We made it home just 15 minutes past my projected time of 9 PM.

I know we all fell into a deep sleep after such a sugar- and fun-filled long day!

If you're in this part of the country, then the new must-stop is Outlaw Run!

Later, Peeps!  I gotta go walk to work off all those sugary calories I ate!

Last Hurrah of Summer

We took a mini-vaca this last week, thus no post of Friday. Oh, I could have pre-written something, but I never got around to it. Oh, well. We left on Thursday, but Wednesday was spent getting the house, the pets, the swimming pool, and yard ready for our departure, plus our packing. Over the years we've programmed the kiddo to learn to pack her own stuff. Just tell her how many days we'll be gone and she gets her shorts, shirts, undies, and socks in neat daily piles, plus one extra, laid out on the bed. Once we verify everything she packs her own suitcase. Her toiletry bag is prepacked, it's just a matter of verifying that we have everything.

WARNING: Loaded with links--please take a look--it took forever to put them in, the least you can do is check them out!

We drove to the Ozarks: Branson (Vegas of the Ozarks), Silver Dollar City (1890's craft village with lots of rollercoasters!), and Eureka Springs, Arkansas (artsy-fartsy town). The benefit of these places is they are within a short driving distance, 3-4 hours. The weather was awesome! It rained on the way, but that dissipated by the time we arrived at the park to ride some coasters.

Silver Dollar City has tons of craftman demonstrating their skills: candy makers, candle makers, bakers, glass blowers, potterers, wood carvers. They also have numerous shows, but we've never gone to any. Usually you have to wait in a 30 minute line before going to the show and we don't have enough patience for that.

But we do have enough patience to wait in a ride line. :-) SDC does have three water rides, but I don't do wet, unless it's at a water park. Besides, the weather was on the comfortable and cool side--70's to low 80's.
--Wildfire is our fave. It's a loop-de-loop, four seats across with a shoulder harness. Last summer, the kiddo was finally tall enough to ride.
--Powderkeg will scare the bejeezus out of you. On all these rides, the ride attendants are strict about putting anything that might fall out of your pockets in a cubby hole before you ride. We found out why this weekend. :-) The takeoff of this ride is 0 to 60+ in less than a few seconds. Yeah, you are up and over the first hill before you realize it. Anyway, a young guy in the front of the coaster must have had a wallet in a front pocket, 'cause it went up in the air a hovered while we hit the first hill. Hubster tried to catch it, but his arms weren't long enough.
--Thunderation is fun, but it is the easiest of the rides, unless you have toilet bowl (circular) issues.
--The Giant Swing scares the crud out of hubster. The kiddo thinks it's lame. And I like it. It satisfies that flying thing. Not as good a riding and jumping a horse, but as close to flying a dragon that I'll ever get!
--and another fave, Electro Spin. I used to look at this one for a couple of seasons before I worked up the nerve to try it. It took hubster and kiddo a couple more visits before they would ride. You sit facing outward as if you are on a motorcycle and the support bar squeezes you in the back. It totally looks worse than it really is. The 'sombrero' spins around as the disk slides back and forth. The best part is when you are on the top of the slide and it feels like your are going to fly off! Way fun!!

We also played mini-golf, drove go carts (the kiddo is tall enough on some courses to drive her own cart!), rode the Ducks (goofy, but fun--we still quack our quackers!), and ate dinner on the Branson Scenic Railway (DON'T do DINNER!) I'm not a prime rib fan, but what they did to that meat is criminal . . . 'nuff said. But I wasn't expecting much considering it's mass produced. And we had a celeb in our train car, Yakov Smirnoff.

On Sunday, we drove along the windy roads of the Ozarks from Branson to Eureka Springs. I'm currently writing a story set in this area so it was nice to reinforce my memory of it. I shopped on upper Spring Street and picked out two new pairs of earrings at Quicksilver for my birthday at the end of this month--yes, I have to wait to get them, but they are purty. I LOVE EARRINGS!

We ate in a hole in the wall restaurant that serves 'Arkie-Mex' food called The Oasis. This link only takes you to the location and reviews. BEST FOOD EVER! BUT you have to factor in the wait time. If you happen to arrive at the last table and there are still unfed patrons, plan to wait an hour for your nummies, but the wait is worth it. Oh, and definitely go to the bathroom, it's an experience! Sorry, no pictures. I didn't think about it, since we eat there every time we are in Eureka!

This week I'm hoping to get back on track with my writing, but it's the week before school starts so we will be doing lots and lots of errands.

Write on!