Wife wanted to take the mother road, Route 66, all the way down, so we started out in Joliet.
Further down the road we ran into this guy, who use to sell mufflers.
We were getting hungry so we stopped by this place for a bite to eat.
We were starting to run late, so I had to convince the other that we needed to jump on 55 if we wanted to make better time. We finally made it into Eureka at around 8:00, so we hit the sack, and got ready for our first full day at the park.
First ride everybody wanted to go on.
Daughter wanted to stop by and take a picture with the big chicken, I say, I say Foghorn Leghorn.
We started to head towards Evel Knievel, but first we had to stop and shoot some ghosts.
Scooby Doo, where are you?
After racking up a pretty good score, my daughter and I ran over to....
My Daughter was eager to ride.
Front row all the way....
Needed to cool off so we jumped on the log ride....
The video game series were getting stale. Hopefully the coaster wouldn't be bad.
My son always has to ride one of these at every park.
Needed to chill off some more.
We rode Screamin Eagle to close the day out. I must say, it is a very hard entrance to find if you don't know where to look.
We went back the next night at around 6, rode Tony Hawk, Evel, and then we got in line for The Boss, and just as we were the next to ride, the damn thing broke down. With ten minutes before the park closes, they just shut it down. we were bummed, but knew we would be back the night night after a trip to The Arch, and the Zoo.
The third night turned out to be the most scariest. Arrived at around 7ish, and my daughter and I ran to The Boss, while my wife and son went on Scooby Doo. Once again, we made it up to the gate so we would be the next on, and then it started to rain, so they shut it down. My daughter just looked at me and said, "I will never get a chance to ride The Boss." She even had a little tear in her eye. Little did she know, the bizzare night was just starting. After waiting for about 15 minutes in hope that it would stop raining, we just gave up, and made a run in the rain, which was now stating to come down hard. Over the loud speaker we heard the the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning.
We made it to under the train bridge, and were standing there with 5 over people when a security guard ran out of the rain and told us that there was a tornado heading in this direction, and we need to go over to the auditorium now. With my daughter in complete panic, and not knowing where the hell my wife, and son were, we ran like hell over to the auditorium. By now it was 8 or so, but it looked like it was 10:00.
Once in the auditorium, we were treated to The Music Awards rewind show. Holding my daughter tight, and listening to her cry asking if mommy, and Ryan were ok, I watched as nervous looking park employees walked by us talking into their radios. Outside, even over the music, you could hear the wind banging across the building. After about 15 minutes, which seemed like an hour, they finally let us out. I asked a guard if there was a tornado, and she stated that she heard that one went over the parking lot, and that they were going out to inspect the damage.
After we left the auditorium we found the other half of my family huddled in the exit of Scooby Doo. We hugged, and told each other we were ok, then my wife informed me that somebody had ran into the exit and told them that there was a funnel cloud forming. She walked out and looked up, and confirmed that a funnel cloud was indeed forming near the parking lot. She told me that she could see the clouds swirling around.
As we walked out, so were a lot of employees, and security guards. Once in the parking lot, there was no damage, but all of those stand alone signs, along with some tree branches were scattered all over the place. It must never had touched down. Nobody told the photo employee, or my wife what was happening. She told me that some employees ran by her looking scared, and confused to lock up Scooby Doo, but never said anything to a word to her. Her, and my son's only shelter was under the exit of Scooby Doo.
I took this after we left the park, and the storm had moved off. The people in the backround were running like hell since lighting was streaking across the sky in all directions.
A view from our hotel.
Overall, interesting week. As far as the coasters go....
Evel gets a 5/5. This was a great coaster. Great speed, and great pacing.
Tony Hawks Big Spin gets a 4/5. Better than RC, and what I don't understand is that my son who is 42" can ride this but not RC. Top Spin is, by far, a lot more intense that RC.
The Boss, didn't get to ride.
