Friday means Cedar Point

It is said that the early Christians would crawl from their homes to Calvary, the site of Jesus's crucifixition - no matter what the distance - to show their belief in the Lord and their reverence for this most holy of places. As we crossed the causeway from Sandusky to Cedar Point, the greatest amusement park in the world, we began to understand how the Pilgrims felt.


Welcome to nirvana! 

The day had begun propitiously. The McDonalds breakfast of Thursday seemed many moons ago as we sat down at Dianne's Diner and tucked into a hearty (and lunch disavowing) breakfast. We wondered whether we were making the right decision especially as we feasted on a Tepanyaki dinner the night before in the only food outlet in Sandusky that didn't demand its guests consume fries. So we left Dianne's pondering whether the power of 'Millennium Force' 'Top-Thrill Dragster' and 'Magnum XL 200' might force us to see our breakfasts once again...


In front of the awesome Millennium Force 

In short, we survived...but only just. We began at 'Millennium Force', the second tallest roller coaster in the world from the top of which customers are supposed to be able to see Canada. We did not see Canada as we were intent on our own survival. A near vertical drop of nearly 300ft tends to focus the mind and we came off the Force impressed and shaken by the sheer speed we had experienced. We then crossed to a wooden 1980's creation - Gemini - which although child's play at Cedar Point would have stood out at any other of the parks we have visited. A quick scan of the map and we were ready for 'Magnum XL 200' where we met fellow coaster enthusiast, Randall. Not only does Radall have resplendent facial hair but he is also the proud holder of the Magnum record having riden it 106 times in one day. Why, I am not sure.


George with Randall. Note the counter hanging off Randall's fanny pack, recording the number of times he has been on the Magnum XL 200 that day. It read "106" 

Randall also told us that he visited Cedar Point at least twice a week and drives to the resort from his home in central Ohio, two and a half hours away. Furthermore, it was 'Coastermania' day and he had been at the park since 4am and intended to stay until 1am. We know that many of you regard us as distinctly peculiar for having undertaken this Augean task of ours but when we met Randall we realised that in the pecularity stakes we have a long, long, way to go.

Incidentally, Magnum did not disappoint. A double drop from roughly 250ft and two outward spirals created a smooth and very fast ride which again proved the quality of Cedar Point. However, the best was yet to come.

Top-thrill Dragster is the most expensive roller coaster in the world. It cost $25m to build and last approximately 5 seconds. Accelerating to 120mph in under 2 seconds, the drag car then rises vertically up to 320ft and then descends, also vertically, while twisting before declerating through the use of high-intensity magnets. It is a ride like no other and is truly exhilerating. Every rider came off 'Top-thrill Dragster' beaming because of adrenaline while also (not forgetting that this is America) cheering and whooping as though at a football game. We have little hesitation in nominating this ride as the best of the week.


The Top Thrill Dragster. Taller than the Statue of Liberty 

We spent the rest of the day in a daze. 'Mantis', a twisting coaster on which riders stand up and 'Raptor', another twister which would have been a leading ride at any other park, simply fade into oblivion alongside the Dragster. We left Cedar Point late in the afternoon humbled by our experience. Sir Ernest Shackleton wrote at the end of his epic journey in the Antartic Ocean and across South Georgia that 'we had heard the text that nature renders; we had reached the naked soul of man.' As we buckled up and headed towards Cleveland, we thought of Sir Ernest and reckoned too that like him we had had a spiritual experience. Nothing would ever be the same again.


George is put in the stocks after being caught oggling 14 year old girls