036 - Roller Coaster Haven

It seems an odd spot for so much investment, but at the western end of Lake Erie is the ultimate amusement park for those who love roller coasters, “Cedar Point Amusement Park.” Its investors can only get a return during the summer months. But somehow it works and it is world renowned as the place to go for roller coasters. It’s that old school Americana thing you don’t find a lot of anymore and fits hand-in-glove with Sara’s just up the road. This place will stretch your comfort zone.

This monster, “Top Thrill Dragster” accelerates to 120mph in 3.8 seconds and shoots straight up 400ft before spiraling you back down to earth all in under 13 seconds. It is literally over the top and Brian loved it. Brian said it all happened so fast you didn’t have time to be scared. I was too much a chicken to find out.

On a tamer note, was this massive wood structure for a more traditional ride. I think it was 400 ft vertical drop with a top speed of only 70mph. At least this lasted about 120 seconds. The line was almost two hours long. We watched the structure sway back and forth as the coaster moved along the track. It was noticeable to untrained eyes and made you a bit nervous that it would stay together for your journey. It didn’t for us and closed just a few minutes before our turn – oh well, a good reason to return.

Cedar Point is not Disney and they don’t want to be. It has an “on the edge” feel and I don’t think I saw a princess theme anywhere. Its clientele are looking for thrills so the crowd was a bit more tough than you’d find at Disney. I don’t get the love affair with tattoo’s but they were on full display this warm summer day.

Do you think our bathing suites are dated? Brian’s looking pretty sharp, must be the workout he’s getting hauling sails.

Comments

051 - Med Style Anchoring – It’s so European

It’s complicated but it really lets you pack them in. Having done it now 3 times now, I hope I’m done with it. For us it’s complicated by the tender hanging off the stern and our stern anchor rode being 300 ft long in the bottom of a lazarette under a pile of other items. All the rode has to come out into the cockpit for attaching to a tree on the shore. It makes for a messy operation. Let’s see if I can explain. To anchor med style, you have to be able to backup well, which being a sailboat puts us at a distinct disadvantage (can you hear me saying powerboat would be better here too, but I won’t say it). You also ignore the winds as you will back into a parking spot between other boats anchoring the same way. You “simply” pick a spot, throw out the bow anchor in front of it, back into the slot and tie a rope to something substantial on the shore, and put out bumpers for your neighbors. That’s all you have to do. So we pick...

034 - USS Niagara

What a beautiful working replica of this historic ship. It is used today as a training ship and offers 10day expeditions for youth to learn the ways of sailing a Brigg. It is about as exact as you can expect. I loved their use manila rope, linseed oil, and other items that gives it the smell of an old ship – I don’t know what it is but it’s very familiar. Below decks were tight, it only had a 5ft ceiling in the galley area – how anyone could operate in that space long term was beyond me but the professional crew does. Galley stove and 5ft ceiling - how do they do it? Watching it sail was like stepping back it time. It passed us on the breakwater silently, tall, and majestic. It was easy to imagine the awe seeing this come into an isolated harbor like Presque Island 200 years ago. Something so big and complicated carrying so many men and cannon would change the balance of power with its arrival. It would intimidate the st...

047 - This Isn’t The Chesapeake Bay

We’re in a different place! The waters of Lake Huron are a Caribbean turquoise, so much so that had you told me I was there I would have believed you.

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