High Rolling Rest Day

Wednesday, July 5. Rest Day in Milan, OH.

We took the first shuttle from the hotel out to the Cedar Point amusement park near Sandusky, OH. Cedar Point is the second-most popular park in the country, just behind Disney World. It's known for roller coasters mostly, though it does also have the world's tallest ferris wheel. The park's tagline is "America's Roller Coast"--it sits on a spit of land on Lake Erie between Huron an Sandusky. There are 16 roller coasters in the park--and other rides that are classified as "tranquil". I love roller coasters, and was looking forward to riding them all.

The day was perfect in every respect: light winds and sunny with a few high clouds. No rain in sight for the first time in several weeks. Matthew had gone online before we left the hotel to get tips on how to ride all of the coasters, but there were so few people at the park that we really didn't need a ride strategy.

Unfortunately, the Millenium Force ride was not running (some mechanical difficulty), but all of the other coasters were waiting. We rode the Raptor first--a big, green, 2 1/2 minute, hang from the top ride. We waited for a front-row seat--well worth the wait. From there we proceeded directly to the Mantis, known as the "big, bad bug". This ride throws you in four different directions as you stand up for the minute-and-a-half ride. There was no line for this one. And then, the Iron Dragon. The cars are attached at the top, like vertabrae on the twisted spine of the beast. Right before the end of this ride, the cars blast through a mist of cold fog.

Although we weren't timing it, we probably made it through all three of these rides in less than an hour. That's when I started feeling dizzy and nauseous. I couldn't believe it--I'm the queen of roller coasters! Even though standing in line makes me nervouse, and I scream through most of the ride, I can't get enough of them.

Until now. I couldn't shake the queasiness, and finally gave in and sought out the quiet coolness of the First Aid shelter. Matthew claimed to be feeling a little dizzy himself, and the staff gave us Drammamine and a comfy spot to lie down. They were very helpful, but I heard the whispers: "What's with them?" "Back to back to back". "Oh, well. Of course". To us they were very nice, but advised us that "we're not teenagers anymore--take breaks in-between the big rides".

My day was over. I finally was able to stomach a chocolate shake (is there nothing that ice cream can't do?) around 2pm, and did actually ride the world's largest ferris wheel. And only felt a little queasy.

Matthew recovered faster, and was able to ride the Top Thrill Dragster. I'm so jealous. It accelerates you to 120 miles per hour, and rockets you 420 feet straight up, and then 420 feet straight down, twisting on the way up and the way down. It's a 20-second ride, that even on this slow day at the park required a 90-minute wait in line.

After that ride, we took the tranquil shuttle bus ride back to the hotel, and I stayed awake long enough for dinner. Hopefully there won't be any "rollers" on the road tomorrow.