Picking up from where I left off...
The park wasn't busy, we were there midweek and the weather was poor so, although we didn't exactly have the place to ourselves, the park was quiet and the queues were short. We could walk straight on to most rides, but there was a queue for Air, and once it started raining most of the indoor rides developed long queues too.
There's a big pond there with huge fibreglass boats in the shape of swans. They seat several people and go around on rails under the water. They're easily six feet long. Also on the pond there was a real swan, which I imagine had massive psychological problems from living on a pond surrounded by these massive things that looked like swans. Maybe it thought it was a freakishly tiny swan, a two inch swan or something, I don't know.
I missed out on the Log Flume this trip because I was already pretty drenched and had no wish to soak my shoes and socks too. But some people seem to think that it's being replaced next year. Despite the fact that it's old and naff, I'd miss it if they got rid of it. I think the Log Flume is part of the character of the park.
There are six coasters on the park and having now ridden them all, I'll give my impressions of three of them...
The Mine Train is pretty cool... not scary, but mildly thrilling, and you usually go around twice making this the longest rollercoaster ride on the park. The carriages aren't that comfortable, but they're the height of luxury compared to...
The Black Hole which is a rollercoaster entirely under a large tent... the ambience is nice, with cool lighting effects, and there's a cool drop, but it's got to be the least comfortable ride on the park. The carriages seat two people in 'sardine' mode, and the high G-forces produced by the ride combined with the lack of restraints means that your head is entirely likely to connect with the other person at considerable speed at some point... probably on the brake run, when the train comes to a halt in approximately 2 microseconds, sending spectacles, wigs, and small unanchored children hurtling forwards out of the carriages with tremendous momentum. When I go back, I'll give this one a miss!
The Corkscrew is one of the park's original rides (along with the Log Flume). It's 22 years old! I remember watching people ride it when I went to the park as a kid... of course I was too young to ride. Back then it was a prime attraction. Now it's something of a curiosity, its thunder stolen by the new trio of world-first rollercoasters elsewhere in the park. Nevertheless it's still a good ride, smoother than I thought it would be, with a good view at the top of the hill. The biggest complaint is that it peaks too early and that the second half is boring in comparison. Still, it's fun, and I finally got to ride the first rollercoaster I ever saw - the one which, as a little kid, I looked up at in fright.
I'll write about the remaining three coasters - the B&M trio - at a later date.