16 September – Busch Gardens

Again, the alarm goes off at 6:30am and we are quickly awake as we need to be on our way early for the trip to Tampa the home of Busch Gardens. As we dress, we cover ourselves with sun crème and off we go on the 60 miles or so drive. The drive is very boring as not a lot to see – it’s almost all motorway (or rather Interstate) – so must be hard for Pat too! The Sat Nav has it quite easy – it’s all on the I-4 for most of the journey until we get to Tampa.

Then it kind of has a mishap – as it is not very clear and we manage to miss the turning for Busch parking – so have to a U turn or two (yes, it’s a bloody nightmare), but we manage to pull in the queues for parking. As is usual we choose the wrong lane we pull up behind a big RV that just sits there. Fortunately, there is an empty lane beside us, so back up and move over, arrive at the kiosk, pay and show the badge and get a real Disabled Parking Pass (well one that has Busch Gardens name on it rather the blue paper with the little disabled icon on it that we have got in most of the other parks!) It’s the little things that matter ha ha!

We follow the signs for the disabled parking – going into the underpass, which means we will not need to get the tram, as we are parking at the front of the park. To anyone reading this (ok I know it’s a long shot) and you go and don’t want to wait for tram etc. get preferred parking, as it’s the same place as disabled parking almost.

We arrive at the front gates with loads of time to spare in fact we have to wait 20 mins for the park to open. Just before the gates open the American National Anthem comes over the loudspeakers and everyone stands and is quiet! It is a quite touching moment. The doors open (OK chains up really), and we walk to the left (two choices – right and left) only to find that half of the park is not opened until 10:30pm and that is the part that we were walking towards (i.e. the left!).

We arrive at another set of chains, but a very nice lady attendant tells us that we can go back a little as there is an area with some animals (primarily kangaroos) and birds that is open, rather than just wait. So, we do as she suggested and look at a few of the animals, taking some pictures, have a ciggy and the second set of chains is opened.

We are walking with a goal in mind – a very large and fast roller coaster called Sheikra, which is not too far away. When we arrive, it looks enormous, and we go around to the front gate – to be directed to another way. We get into a lift to take us up to the beginning of the ride, and I can honestly say I am feeling a little worried. Out of the lift and we get closer – and my jittery tum is working overtime. The attendant speaks to us – asking the usual can you walk onto the ride etc. – and then when the very large car turns up asks where we want to sit. Now we are standing at the back of the car – so I direct her that right there "up-front" would be fine. I meant in the seats right in front of us – only she took us to the front of the ride, and we are on. Teach me to use the wrong words (or version of English) I guess.

So, as we sit there in anticipation, the collar comes down over my shoulders, and I think to myself is it too late to say this is a mistake…. and with that thought the floor disappears beneath us, and the ride moves forward. I can see in front of me the park in all its glory, the car smoothly trundles forward, and as we approach the lip of the very big drop, it stops. In fact I am hanging over the edge looking at the ground which is over 60 metres away – straight down! Yes, my buttocks are clenched tightly! We are held there for about 5 seconds (although to me it seems more like eternity!) and then woosh we are off travelling at over 70 mph (although it feels more like Mach 3….(like you have ever travelled that fast! - ED)). The ride is quick – but again so exhilarating – and I can honestly say I am loving it.

Too quickly it is over, and as we get off I thank everyone – as I did so enjoy it. We go to where you can view the picture, and although not brilliant we decide to get a copy, with a special frame. It is not too much of a rip off, so it goes into the back of the chair!

Right beside Sheikra is the Stanley Falls Log Flume, which is, as the name kind of implies (really? – ED) an old-style log flume. We do get quite wet, but we both are really laughing about it. The only thing I would say was that it was quite difficult to get Pat on and off the ride and we got no real help from attendant, who didn’t appear as if she gave a monkeys! 🙁

So, onto the next ride which is another water based ride called Congo River Rapids. It is a similar ride to Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges back in Islands of Adventure, if only in the fact you are in a big eight-person boat. Here unlike at Popeye, we ride with another couple. We are chatting with them – they are English too, and we get a little wet. We are probably more wet – probably due to the extra weight that is me! Pat jinxes them with well you should ride it again as you are not really wet to see a powerful jet that hits the boat just before the end of the ride. All four of us get absolutely soaked, the water hitting the inflated side of the boat and splashing upwards, all over us. As we wait to be pulled up to the start (or exit for us) we watch as other boats come in – some get soaked – but those fully laden seem to get away with it.

We move into Pantopia – it’s another of the areas within Busch - and go on the Sand Serpent which is a rickety quick old style roller coaster, and it reminds me of one I did back at the Ohio State Fair in 2003. Very quick jerky movements – but it looks like it could fall apart at any point. Both of us are laughing our heads off, although I am feeling somewhat battered!

Still reeling from the emotion of the motion (woo hoo maybe I should write their advertising blurb for them) – we move to the next roller coaster. It not too big but it’s called The Scorpion. Has it got a sting in its tail? Well actually yes as we are about to find out – but there is a funny story that goes with it. (About time we had something to smile about – ED). We get in the car and Pat says as it’s just a lap bar – there’s no worry over any loops – no roller coaster loops without a harness, right? Wrong! Big time wrong. It does loop, although to be fair there only 2 in the whole world that do (wished I read the blurb before I got on – lol). Again, its quick and truthfully, apart from the whole idea of dropping out of the laptop bar onto your head nothing to worry about!

As we get off – must admit I am now a little queasy – we look at the rest of the rides in this area and decide they are not really for us Falcon is one of the swinging boat type thingies and Falcon's Fury is a drop tower.

We keep walking at a gentle pace – into Edge of Africa (the next area of Busch) and right in front is the really fast roller coaster Cheetah Hunt. The wait time is 30 mins but they are announcing there is an issue with the ride and maybe longer. Think about it for all of 30 seconds – and decide to continue our journey and move into Egypt (yes you guessed it the next area in Busch!)

In Egypt is one of the parks newest rides – Cobra’s Curse, and I had seen some advertising for it around the park – and previously in SeaWorld!. I think the part of me that enjoys "riding the coasters" the part of me that I didn’t even know existed until a few days ago, is making the feel that I really want to go on this.

So, we get to the entrance, to be sent around to another area, and we are then at the front of the queue. Again, the usual "are you able to use the moving walkway to get on?" to be replied with the very usual no! So, they pull a car out so that it is stationary for Pat to get in. They then call over another group of people from the front of the queue to join us, and we are ready.

However, we wait for a minute or two, and a few cars come and go – and the people that were in the queue behind the other six in our car – are riding and we sit, and sit. We watch quite a few more cars come and go, and the others are getting a bit agitated, as the lady that has placed us here seems to be more concerned with everyone else.

Finally, after possibly 10 minutes, we are added to the track, and begin the journey. It starts with a speed up – straight at what appears to be a wall. Fortunately, the rides stops, just before the wall starts – so no one is hurt! Ha ha. Then we go upwards (there is a lift beneath) and we get to the top of the ride. Then boom - we are off.

The first part of the ride is quite like a normal ride – we are heading forward, with a series of banks and turns, then we stop, and the car spins 180 degrees and we are facing backwards. Another set of banks and turns follows, then as we see the end the car goes into a series of spins, and spins and spins. All the other cars have stopped moving, but we continue to spin, and spin.

I am now feeling very dizzy but laughing my head off hysterically! We then enter the final part of the ride, and enter the exit area. Again, we are pulled out (by we read car – they are not that nasty!), but once stopped everyone gets to jump out. I do quite gingerly as my legs and tummy are feeling a touch queasy.

Feeling that perhaps a change of tack is called for we go to look for the train station, to take a leisurely ride around the park, rather than a speedy trip on a coaster. I pull out the map, and try to work out the best route for us, but it’s a bit difficult for this old fogey to work out exactly where we are. We move one way – but it doesn’t match the map (well in my eyes anyway), so I stare at it again.

One of the cleaning ladies from the park (I can say that as she was carrying a broom but didn’t have on a black pointy hat she so was definitely not a witch), very politely and helpfully comes over and asks if we need help. I am sure that Pat bit back on the "yes he does - are you a physiatrist?" comment and asks for directions to the station. I would just like to say well done to Busch for employing a very caring and considerate person as this lovely lady was both!

It is literally 100 yards away – and we thank her and move off towards it, to find the next train (I think there is only the one that goes round and round, would say a bit like the circle line but I won’t - OK it just seems that way when you travel on the underground– ha ha ha) will not be arriving for about 20 minutes. Pat is feeling a bit hot and peckish, and I am feeling a bit hot and thirsty (hmmm I can see where this is going – ED) so I get her an ice cream and myself a bud light. Both are finished and the wrapper(s) (for a beer? – ED) placed in the bin, just as the train pulls in.

To get on and off the train – there is a specific carriage we have to go and just so happens to be at the back of the train. The operator must get out – and sort out a lift which Pat has to take the wheelchair on – then he presses his buttons and Pat rises onto the train. A ride before a ride – ha ha.

The train fills up – well apart from our area – there is just Pat, the Operator and I, and then he calls "last orders" or rather "All Aboard" and the engine starts – trouble is I think it is a diesel engine, and the fumes come backwards. So, we are sitting in quite a smelly place! In order to see Pat, I am sitting facing her – i.e. backwards. It is a 45-minute ride around the park – very enjoyable as we get to see everything, and do it a leisurely pace, with only a couple of stops. We take a few pictures of the animals as we go around.

As we get off the train, reversing the way we got on with the lift, we realise that we are beginning to flag a little and that we are hungry. So back to the car, to drive back to Orlando – and of course a stop at ….. you guessed it…… Ponderosa! We have missed two of the Coasters – but hey we have done more than we expected (well I did anyways).

As we begin the journey, it immediately isn’t as boring as they way down as the Sat Nav is telling us of issues on journey. It’s not like we can actually do anything about it – there is only the I-4 that goes from Tampa to Orlando – and we would not risk taking a series of smaller roads. The journey isn’t actually too bad – not a great deal longer and there are a couple of highlights. Seeing the outside temperature as over 100 degrees F (although by the time I got the camera out it was 99! Ha ha).

Also, there was a car beside us that had a great paint job – well the name GORDON was emblazoned all over it! Great name on a great car (OK perhaps a little biased!

When we get to the end of the I-4 (well the Orlando exits rather than the end as it does go quite a bit further….) there is lots of traffic. In fact, we have to slow to about 20 miles an hour – which seems so slow compared to the normal speeds that we travelled over the day.

Enter the Ponderosa (after a ciggy obviously) to see the server who we had had first time, only he is not allocated to us (shouldn’t that read you are not allocated to him? – ED). Unfortunately, we get a younger guy, very young in fact, who is just like "Mr Miserable" when we had met him the first time. For only the second time on this holiday when we have eaten at Ponderosa we are not offered the 10% off voucher! The meal though is as good as always – in fact writing this now – quite a time after, I am feeling hungry for a Ponderosa Steak! If only……..

So back out into the heat, and into the car, and we head back – personally I think we could say to the car take us back to the Fountains and it would know its way – only we don’t live in the days of cars that can drive themselves – from a vocal command – well not quite yet anyways!

As we arrive back – we are considering going down pool side – however the weather might have something to say about that. Into the room – and as we grab our swimming costumes it gets really dark outside, and then the heavens open and the thunder and lightning starts. Once again, we sit and watch the veritable fireworks, drinking a tea or two and enjoying a ciggy!

We head indoors, and watch another Penny Dreadful, and sleep calls again very quickly.