A local amusement park was getting ready to close its doors for the last time. So I took my kids and there friends, for one final fling. You half to take a ferry boat there, so its kind of a fun adventure.
It was a really hot, partly cloudy day, and everyone was having a great time.
I don't like most rides, so I was content to walk around remembering things like, my first date there, my parents bringing me there as a kid..ect.
Then the kids start badgering me to ride the roller coaster{ rickety 1940's}, they kept nagging me all afternoon.
Finally the annoucment was made the park will close for good, in one hour. The nagging turned to begging, and finally I gave in. We rushed to get in the giant line, only to be told the line was closed. Now everyone is upset with me.
I scope out the line, and see a group of young kids. So I send my kids over to talk to them..and we sort of just cut/jumped into the line.
As it gets closer to our turn, I notice the sky is getting very dark, and I think if its really a bad storm, they will close the ride.
WRONG!
On the ride.
Our turn, my sons, push people out of the way to get us into the front car.
We get in, fasten up, and off we go up the hill. At the top of the hill, all hell breaks loose..lightening crashes all around us, mega bursts of wind rocket us , swaying the car much further than I could of imagined to be safe.
I think, they half to stop this ride! We crest the hill, and I notice the screaming, not from kids on the ride, but the employees..who look like there scrambling to and fro..pointing up.
I endure the ride, and am relived the end is in sight...oops was in sight..we zoomed right by it! And up the hill we go again!
4 times this happened, the car we were in was filling up with water, and the riders were now wailing in fear.
The 5th time up the hill, someone turned to power to the ride off, and a loud speaker told us to remain still and we would be rescued.
I looked at the walk way down, and in my bravest voice I commanded my kids to follow me. I wasn't waiting to be rescued by a group of people who couldn't figure out how to turn a power switch off!
We got down saftly and they explained the old style coaster breaks{friction} just wouldn't work, and that we should head to the ferry, or we'll be stuck on the island.
On the ferry.
We are sunburned, in light weight summer cloths, temps had dropped, wind had picked up, and we were soaked to the bone...and I notice one of the boys lips had gone blue. The ride back takes well over one hour.
I ask the ferry people to close the windows, and they don't..that did it I cracked.
I and 5 boys stormed the captians deck. I am now crying and ranting incoherently, flashing my Bic lighter, that unless he finds a way to keep the kids warm I will burn the deck chairs!
The first mate calmly turns on a heater and walks out closing the door. lol I think he feared for his life. Anyways, we rode with the captain all the way back.
The parking lot.
Is flooded, my car is floating, trees and power lines down everywhere. NO help in sight. This is several years before everyone had cell phones. It is now dark, 10 PM., and still raining.
I recall a truck stop just down the road,we make it there, phones are out, powers out
Well a really nice trucker{whom I'm still friends with} gave us a ride right to my front door.
I hate roller coasters!
I want to go!
