Yet Another Leviathan Update.....

I had some free time yesterday, so I took a drive to Vaughan to see how construction on Leviathan is doing.

As I got off the highway, I was greeted with this view.  The drop is almost complete!

With the park being closed for the year, I decided to try taking photos from the hill that separates the park from Major Mackenzie Drive.  One thing I noted from the hill was that there was nothing stopping me from going  into the parking lot and into the area right under the drop.  Fencing was around the bottom of the drop, but everything else was wide open.  This all said, I decided to behave and stay on top of the hill, and kept back of the property line (marked with stakes in the ground).

Here is another view of the first drop (and, once again, click on the photo for a larger view):

And here you can see the rise out of the trench, with the track starting tobank towards the front gate:

I decided to play with my zoom lens and I got this shot of the top of the lift.  Looks like there is only one piece to go!

Here is a shot of the drop and rise out :

This shot shows how Leviathan towers over Dragon Fire.....

There is still a lot of coaster to be built.  Nothing is in place yet for the run to the front gate and back.  All that track lies in wait......

I made the mistake of heading towards Canada's Wonderland in the middle of the afternoon, totally forgetting that the sun starts to set at about 4 PM this time of year.  So, I had to be quick in taking my shots.  While many did not come out well due to the setting sun, I did manage a few good shots of Leviathan with the sun going down behind it.

Now you just know that ACErs from all over will be taking shots from the same angle when they come to town next year, be it in their own, or when ACE holds their annual event there next September!

Hersheypark 2012

I have been on vacation for the past week..... sadly, it ended tonight.  My travels took me to Montreal, New York, Maryland....and, for the purposes of this blog.... Hershey, PA.

Chocolate World, as always (this was my third trip there), was fun.  We did the free ten-minute Disney-esque ride through a simulated chocolate factory, and then loaded up on chocolate:

It might not be the best chocolate... but its good stuff and my nieces really appreciated the Cookies N Creme bars.

Well... what else could I do while I was there?  Time was limited, as I still had to make the trek back to Toronto that day.  Outlet shopping was essential (no sales tax on clothes in PA)..... and also a trip to visit the local amusement park.... Hersheypark!

But.. you say... is it not November?  Well... yes.  So, the park is closed.  That did not stop me from taking pictures around the outside of the park, which is what I wanted to do.  For, you see, I wanted to get a sneak peek of next year's new roller coaster...... SkyRush!


On to the photos... click for a larger view........

First, I took a look at the front entrance.   Everything is getting spruced up for their Christmas event:

The view in the last picture surprised me.... the front gates were completely open.  And, while it was tempting... I did not enter.  Trespassing is a no-no, no matter how inviting.

So, I walked around the exterior...... and saw the SkyRush construction:

This coaster is going to interact well with the others in the area, especially Comet.

After the walk, we went back to the car and drove out front to where the track is being stored across the street  in a field:

I am told that vertical construction will begin within the week.

I wanted to spend more time photographing the outside of the park, but the rain started kicking up, so I managed a couple of Lightning Racer shots before I took off.