Hersheypark

Hersheypark is yet another park I'd been to before and as with a few parks on this trip one we'd visit twice: evening and morning.

This is Mr Hershey and this statue is made of solid chocolate. I'm surprised it doesn't melt in the heat.

As we arrived for the evening session the heavens had opened and all the rides were closed. Having previously visited this park in 2006 I only had once new coaster to ride, Fahrenheit and it was there that we headed first. As we got there the queue was forming outside the official queue line, which was closed. Cars were running and occasionally stopping at the top. I'm guessing they were repeating their start of day test cycles. Soon after the ride did open up.

The ride wasn't really that good. It had a lovely layout with some unique elements however the ride vibrated in some place turning the ride from smooth to a little rough, like peanut butter in fact. It certainly wasn't one to re-ride. Following that we rushed down to Lightning Racer for a race on each side. These rides were better than I remember and I'll put that down to the rain. The ride ops were brilliant on this ride too, working the crowd up into a competitive frenzy. It didn't help that the US had successfully drawn against England in the world cup today, giving them a little reason to brag.

The following morning was taken at a very gentle pace due to their being no need to run about like a cre-ho trying to attain new rides. The park gave us the first hour on both Fahrenheit and Wildcat. I rode more on the latter. It was a bit jittery but re-rideable, much like Fahrenheit I guess.

Nina and Jeff are elated to be on Fahrenheit before the public are allowed in the park.

The Wildcat has some new lodgers living under the entrance ramp.

Following the ERS, which sort of lost it's ending due to the group being spread across both rides we went to get first rides on rollersoaker; actually more like those who hadn't ridden it before chose to ride it whilst the rest of us did out best to get them wet...and I think it's fair to say we succeeded.

Ready, take aim, FIRE!!

Next to the splash coaster is a new waverider attraction that allows wannabe surfers show their talent and in the case of some poor lass in a bikini show more than they would have liked (the ride ops run over with a large towel to hide their modesty). It's a unique attraction I've not seen in a theme park before. One funny warning sign indicates that if you're going to fall off your board don't dive into the water as it's only an inch deep.

After the waterrides we went to the Comet (did ride it later and it's still very good) but the queue was too long so instead we headed out of the park to visit the Chocolate factory.

This was nothing like Willy Wonka's but was just a dark ride through some machinery and animatronic cows, pretty dull to be honest. It did however us some respite from the heat and humidity that was sapping our energy levels at a fast rate. This was by far the toughest park of the trip to date.

Back in the park we revisited Comet and the queue was much shorter, we rode it a couple of times. It was a great ride in the front but rather oddly I found the second run a little bumpier, still nowhere near as bad as Wildcat though.

Storm Runner was still pretty good and fortunately the operation was better and the queue lines shorter than last time, when it had just opened.

For lunch we had cod sandwiches, which was a nice change from what we'd had previously. The park staff also hinted at a new ride that would be built in the Comet area, hopefully not in its place. The group buffet area allows great shots of Fahrenheit.

With the need for shade ever increasing we forwent the ride on Great Bear (really slow loading operations leaving the queue out in the sun to burn - no thanks).

I'm not saying a thing but if you're desperate for shade...

Instead we chose to sit (and in my case sleep for a little bit) in an amphitheatre to watch a short concert from a country rock group called Sawyer Brown. I had heard of them but didn't appreciate how popular they were.

The majority of the crowd appeared to be fans, they certainly knew the words. I spent much of the show watching a couple of clinically obese fans doing their best to dance and catch the attention of the lead singer, who by his own admission had been gigging for too long. The music was OK I guess, the act was definitely polished if a tad rehearsed.

We also took a ride on the observation tower to get shots of the park.

and into the zoo to check out how animals from around the world cope with excessive Pennsylvania heat.

Hersheypark was just too hot and humid for me today to make the most of it. Fortunately I had no need to run around and attempt to ride everything. I doubt I would have managed it anyway.

If it was hot for us, imagine what it would have been like for him!