Last year for my birthday I only wanted one thing: to ride the fastest roller coaster in the whole world. It was on my bucket list one of the things that I really just had to do. So… one year ago today, my Dad, my Grand Dad and I took a trip to take the ride of our lives.
I had researched and found what most rollercoaster fans already know: that the big daddy fastest coaster is Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventures in New Jersey. Looking up the park in Google it seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere — upstate New Jersey. So, we flew up to Atlantic City and spent a great afternoon at the Boardwalk and one of the awesome hotel casinos. Had a great dinner and got ready for the big day.
The next morning we drove in our rental car to the Park. It was about an hour and a half drive away from Atlantic City. As we pulled into the parking lot we could see it — Kingda Ka. Wow. WOW!!!!!! It was surreal.
We went into the Park and walked directly to the Kingda Ka line. The wait was actually a trip in itself with pre-ride jitters listening to the screams of other riders. As we waited in the queue, we were in line immediately next to the track. After the riders boarded the ride, the were slowly driven out on the track where they came to a stop. There they waited for ten, fifteen seconds. And then suddenly and almost violently — woosh! They are ripped down the track at 128 miles per hour as if they were shot from a cannon. Every time you could hear the riders yelling in terror as they scorched straight down the quarter mile track until — straight up. Almost 500 feet straight up in the sky.
We watched the cars as they approached the pinnacle of the track, as high as a sky scraper in the crisp blue New Jersey sky, so suddenly far from us that the people who had just seconds before been right next to us were indistinguishable because they were so small. And then the car, which had been traveling so very fast just a moment before came almost to a complete stop on the top of the rail. Perched as if they were on a see-saw, the riders ever so slowly came over the peak. Before, once again, moving like a bullet straight down. At the ground. At a 90 degree angle.
And then up and over several more hills and then back around to us again where we waited our turn. We watched as the riders disembarked from the cars. Their faces and bodies were a mixed bag of emotions. Still shaking with excitement, talking rapidly with each other, eyes wide. Almost all with mega smiles which told the whole story, some with tears from just being simply overwhelmed by the experience. But all walking away with the memory of an adrenaline rush that is singularly unique and in a world class and stands all by itself above its peers.
After waiting in line for almost an hour and a half we finally got to ride. It was something that none of us will ever forget. To say that it was worth the time, effort and expense of the trip is an understatement. It is the kind of experience that, to me, is what life is all about. Something that no matter what else you might have going on in your world; job woes, wife troubles, financial worries — for a few hours they will all be forgotten. From the moment you see the giant ride as you get out of your vehicle in the parking lot until well after you have finished your first ride, all of your cares will be put on hold.
Do yourself a favor. Make the trip. Ride the ride. You can thank me later.