Sunday means Geauga Lake

It's 5.54pm. We're in Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Outside it is 95 degrees farenheit. In approximately 10 hours time, we will be at our desks. It is not a happy thought. However, we are comforted by happy memories of a long journey across the north-eastern corner of the US that finished today at Geauga Lake amusement park.

After the life-changing experiences of Cedar Point, we were expecting be disappointed by Geauga Lake. We felt much as Bill Clinton must do every day - that the pinnacle has been reached, that the summit has been climbed, that the celestial zenith has been touched but too early in life - all that remains for Bill Clinton is a life post-Presidency; all that remains for us is a life post-Cedar Point. But soon we were struck by a happy thought. Unlike Clinton, we can revisit the scene of our 'awakening' again and again. Today, we made plans to relocate to Sandusky, Ohio and let life begin once more.


Geauga Lake

Still, we must not forget Geauga Lake. It is a very commendable effort indeed. The opening ride of the day, 'X-Flight', showed us that we would not be too disappointed. A ride that takes place entirely lying down in a harness, X-Flight certainly made us regret that extra toast at breakfast following a series of dips and twists and loops. The rest of the park was equally satisfactory. Our last wooden ride of the tour, 'The Villain', was so quick that the train car came away from the tracks after one hair-raising plunge while simultaneously causing James to pull a rib muscle. For the true coaster pilgrim, these wounds are more badges of honour than inconveniences.


Our only "lay-down" experience: The X-Flight


An Urban Commando

Other rides were equally impressive. The negative G-force acheived at 'Dominator' have ensured that even at this late hour we are still to have our lunch while 'Double Loop' - a mid-1970s classic - caused most of our loose change to fall from our pockets giving us a second reason not to eat lunch. We are broke.


The entrance to the superb Dominator

We left the park at 3 satisfied with our final day and certain that we had done the gods of roller-coastering proud. A short drive in the truck that passed as our hire car and we found ourselves at the airport pondering what our inbox might bring us tomorrow morning....


The Tour of Duty comes to an end