davidm
Strata Poster
There's an RMC in Poland.
An RMC.
In Poland.
Like Poland - where we visited just last year and there was just a big flat empty field.
A bloody huge new RMC.
Bugger.
--
I had some time booked off work this month, but had apathetically not booked up any big trip for that time, so as I was hitting the start
of that time with nothing planned, the lure of a quick trip over to see that RMC became too much (had only been over there just over a year
ago on that CF trip, but the city I had really liked then and not spent that much time in so that all worked) and booked up a few days for some
tourism, beer and the letters R, M and C.
Just a crappy quick TR though, mini photo dump (I took the good camera and have taken vast amounts of pics of the thing, but not sorted through
them or processed any, that time will come later...)
Thursday 17th October
6AM flight out of Manchester courtesy of Mr Easyjet - resisted the temptation to dash off to the RMC immediately after picking up the hire car
(had given myself far too much time in Poland so was not rushing at all) so headed to the local salt mine tourist sight instead.
Was ok - here the only picture I've processed so far;
Local Pope, made of salt;
This was near the salt mine too, some brine-hall place - weird.
Right that had occupied a few hours, found my hotel (pretty near the centre of Krakow), found some beer places to occupy myself with for a
while.
Friday 18th October
So last year, when heading to drop Serena off near the airport, my satnav app had taken us an interesting back-road route while involved a
tiny car ferry - oh how we laughed when that appeared in the middle of our trip. Must make sure I don't go that way again I thought.
But of course, since I was using the same satnav app as last year, stupid app took me that way again - I did stop to check it but by that
time I was only a few minutes away from the ferry, so there I was again - oh how I laughed at myself again. Muppet.
Also, worst colour ever hire-car.
Turned up at Energylandia just at opening though and seeing I'm parked 4 rows from the entrance at opening time, suspect that this is not going
to be a busy day at the park!
Dear me its a trek from the entrance to the new 'Dragon Zone' area of the park. Doesn't quite match Kolmarden's epic RMC trek because there
are no hills in the way of this one, but Energylandia's rather haphazard park layout (at least in the 'older' bits of the park - 'old' being
very relative here of course) still makes you take a good 15 minutes to get there - there's only one tunnel/entrance into the new area (as you
have to go underneath a road to get there) and the entrance is a little tucked away near Formula, but well signposted I guess.
The entrance to Zadra is at the far end of the Dragon Zone too, so that's a trek through the park, a trek through a tunnel and a trek through a
themed area to finally get to the ride entrance. Hah, if it were only that simple. There is an ornate entrance way, all very new and shiny
(some unfinished themeing pit notwithstanding) - you go up some stairs, around a corner back on yourself and down some stairs - so thats pretty
pointless. You then wander through some unthemed bit for a short while until you get to some more stirs that you go up, along a bit and back
down again. FFS. (there is actually something underneath this second pointless set of stairs, unlike the first set - but only a pathway). You
are still well outside the ride of course, but have by now walked back the whole length of the Dragon Zone (albeit a little 'backstage'). Right
into the queue proper you think as you head towards the structure - theres one big switchback that they have opened the short-cut gates for
but theres still another trek through the structure and another large switch back (with a closed shut gate that you could have used). At the end
of this second large switchback there is finally a sign that you might be reaching the end as '50 min' is painted on the floor. Wow, if they
think that that a 50 min line starts here then you must have walked through a 500 min queue from the ride entrance. Bizarre.
Obviously there is no queue today so finally get to some lockers and a staircase up into the station - they have the same '3-gate' batching
system to get people into the station (front row, singles and others) - I'm not convinced it works to be honest though - the front row Q is
OK, but the singles is pointless really as you've had to fight your way (as a single) through the entire Q to get there and then that gate
gets blocked up with others waiting for the others-gate. No such problems today on my first ride though as there is only a pair peeps
waiting for the front row and so I can walk straight on to a mostly empty train - back couple of rows were taken so I get into row 2.
This is still the first train of the day - I've not seen any other dispatches. We then have to wait until they get a full train, blimey
its taken 1/2 hour from park opening before we dispatch!
Right I've taken billions of pics of Zadra so you'll be sick of them soon, but what are you going to do...
That first ride was slow - but I had been expecting that and it was still very good, especially the (slow) stall - that was insanely good.
Head back around - its literally a 5 minute walk to get back around that stupidly long queue line, even at a fairly brisk goon-inspired pace.
Empty seat on the back-but-one row and I sit next to the chap I was sitting behind on the previous run, who I spot is wearing a RMC T-Shirt,
like a proper goon. Its better in the back even at this early point, the drop is better and the view on the stall is frankly ridiculous.
Start chatting to RMC-goon and he's only come over from Kansas City to ride this (and Untamed). Not only that, he's US-CoasterForce-known as
he's been to many of the US-Lives too - ha ha small world then (not on the forums but @LarsonLoopers on the twitter) - Hello James!
And I've just checked his YT out and there's a full queue-walk video there so you can see the madness for yourself. And amusingly he filmed
that just as I walked around between those 2 rides, since he's actually just following me around through that queue! Ha ha ha.
LINK HERE
So anyway, this seems to be a good way to spend the next few hours, so we and another random euro-goon who is doing the same thing (and whose
name I didn't get - sorry if you are reading this!) do that - a good dozen or so rides I think.
So its a very very good ride. Steel Vengeance is better, mostly because its a bit longer and that insane second half on Vengeance wins it for
me. The drop, mini speed hump on Zadra are better than the similar elements on Vengeance, but the two big hills that follow on Vengeance are
better than the odd turnaround thing on Zadra or either of its equivalent big hills. The stall on Zadra though is immense. Possibly my
favourite element ever (will need to go back and re-ride Wildfire's stall I think). The second inversion on Zadra is like that first one on
Vengeance but doesn't roll into Vengeance's second funny-inversion-dive-thing. There's a very good double-down in Zadra that hints at the
sustained ejector parts of Vengeance or (half of)the Lightning Rod quad-down - especially later in the day when its running fast. The last
inversion on Zadra was a bit weaker early on, but again by the end of the day that as well was very good.
Hard to fault the thing - the biggest problem is the stupid queue-line. Some bits of Zadra are better than equivalent bits on the other big
RMCs, some are better on the other big RMCs. Fantastic coaster then.
After a couple of hours riding it, need a break so I go off to "get my other creds" - the other two new coasters in the new area. Theres a
small mini-mine-train thing called Draken (as opposed to the other Dragon roller coaster in the park!) and a Vekoma junior coaster called
Frida (as opposed to the other Vekoma junior roller coaster in the park!). Neither are remarkable, although you do get a good view of Zadra
running from the Draken coaster.
Bumped into James again, so we rode Formula a few times (had only rode it the once last year) - decent little ride that, its going to feel
a bit odd when the bigger version of it gets built in the field next to Zadra next year.
I ride a few other things, gave Hyperion a few laps but was rather shocked by how rough it had become. It was OK in the middle seats, a bit
rough but still very good, but then I rode it on the outer back left seat and it was just horrible - first half was OK but after the floater
hill it was bouncing along something rotten - made me feel ill. Rode it front outer seat too and that was better but still not as good as
it should be (or had been last year). Shame that as it still looks amazing (despite its also ridiculous queue line).
Also rode the older Dragon roller coaster, might be the best Vekoma junior suspended coaster I've ridden.
Rode this, think the park could do with a good observation ride through?
Exclusive construction shots for next year's coaster now - its a pretty big site, couple of big holes in the ground have gone in but
nothing vertical yet;
And there a big hill that I guess has been built from the mud from those big holes - looked pretty solid rather than just a dump of mud as
there was a digger up on top of it doing stuff.
I also picked up the powered kiddy cred I avoided last year - there was no-one riding it when I wandered past so wasn't going to lower myself but
a small (German I think) group of euro-goons went in and so I followed them (share that shame?). Not too proud about that, but +1.
Late afternoon now, so headed back to Zadra (as did the other random goons for the day of course). Was running faster now, proper ejector on
the double-down and the last inversion giving some good fun too now. Some of the best rides ever then I think. Queued for the front at one point (goggles required!) but I think the back is where its at.
Approaching park close (6pm) it wasn't dark but sun was setting, couldn't get proper night rides, just dusk-rides - which were great anyway.
Last train of the day, back-but-one row. And done (for now).
Took ages to get back into Krakow though (traffic issues on a Friday night rather than silly ferry issues though) - was a bit knackered but
that didn't stop me wandering out for a big pizza and a few beers
An RMC.
In Poland.
Like Poland - where we visited just last year and there was just a big flat empty field.
A bloody huge new RMC.
Bugger.
--
I had some time booked off work this month, but had apathetically not booked up any big trip for that time, so as I was hitting the start
of that time with nothing planned, the lure of a quick trip over to see that RMC became too much (had only been over there just over a year
ago on that CF trip, but the city I had really liked then and not spent that much time in so that all worked) and booked up a few days for some
tourism, beer and the letters R, M and C.
Just a crappy quick TR though, mini photo dump (I took the good camera and have taken vast amounts of pics of the thing, but not sorted through
them or processed any, that time will come later...)
Thursday 17th October
6AM flight out of Manchester courtesy of Mr Easyjet - resisted the temptation to dash off to the RMC immediately after picking up the hire car
(had given myself far too much time in Poland so was not rushing at all) so headed to the local salt mine tourist sight instead.
Was ok - here the only picture I've processed so far;
Local Pope, made of salt;
This was near the salt mine too, some brine-hall place - weird.
Right that had occupied a few hours, found my hotel (pretty near the centre of Krakow), found some beer places to occupy myself with for a
while.
Friday 18th October
So last year, when heading to drop Serena off near the airport, my satnav app had taken us an interesting back-road route while involved a
tiny car ferry - oh how we laughed when that appeared in the middle of our trip. Must make sure I don't go that way again I thought.
But of course, since I was using the same satnav app as last year, stupid app took me that way again - I did stop to check it but by that
time I was only a few minutes away from the ferry, so there I was again - oh how I laughed at myself again. Muppet.
Also, worst colour ever hire-car.
Turned up at Energylandia just at opening though and seeing I'm parked 4 rows from the entrance at opening time, suspect that this is not going
to be a busy day at the park!
Dear me its a trek from the entrance to the new 'Dragon Zone' area of the park. Doesn't quite match Kolmarden's epic RMC trek because there
are no hills in the way of this one, but Energylandia's rather haphazard park layout (at least in the 'older' bits of the park - 'old' being
very relative here of course) still makes you take a good 15 minutes to get there - there's only one tunnel/entrance into the new area (as you
have to go underneath a road to get there) and the entrance is a little tucked away near Formula, but well signposted I guess.
The entrance to Zadra is at the far end of the Dragon Zone too, so that's a trek through the park, a trek through a tunnel and a trek through a
themed area to finally get to the ride entrance. Hah, if it were only that simple. There is an ornate entrance way, all very new and shiny
(some unfinished themeing pit notwithstanding) - you go up some stairs, around a corner back on yourself and down some stairs - so thats pretty
pointless. You then wander through some unthemed bit for a short while until you get to some more stirs that you go up, along a bit and back
down again. FFS. (there is actually something underneath this second pointless set of stairs, unlike the first set - but only a pathway). You
are still well outside the ride of course, but have by now walked back the whole length of the Dragon Zone (albeit a little 'backstage'). Right
into the queue proper you think as you head towards the structure - theres one big switchback that they have opened the short-cut gates for
but theres still another trek through the structure and another large switch back (with a closed shut gate that you could have used). At the end
of this second large switchback there is finally a sign that you might be reaching the end as '50 min' is painted on the floor. Wow, if they
think that that a 50 min line starts here then you must have walked through a 500 min queue from the ride entrance. Bizarre.
Obviously there is no queue today so finally get to some lockers and a staircase up into the station - they have the same '3-gate' batching
system to get people into the station (front row, singles and others) - I'm not convinced it works to be honest though - the front row Q is
OK, but the singles is pointless really as you've had to fight your way (as a single) through the entire Q to get there and then that gate
gets blocked up with others waiting for the others-gate. No such problems today on my first ride though as there is only a pair peeps
waiting for the front row and so I can walk straight on to a mostly empty train - back couple of rows were taken so I get into row 2.
This is still the first train of the day - I've not seen any other dispatches. We then have to wait until they get a full train, blimey
its taken 1/2 hour from park opening before we dispatch!
Right I've taken billions of pics of Zadra so you'll be sick of them soon, but what are you going to do...
That first ride was slow - but I had been expecting that and it was still very good, especially the (slow) stall - that was insanely good.
Head back around - its literally a 5 minute walk to get back around that stupidly long queue line, even at a fairly brisk goon-inspired pace.
Empty seat on the back-but-one row and I sit next to the chap I was sitting behind on the previous run, who I spot is wearing a RMC T-Shirt,
like a proper goon. Its better in the back even at this early point, the drop is better and the view on the stall is frankly ridiculous.
Start chatting to RMC-goon and he's only come over from Kansas City to ride this (and Untamed). Not only that, he's US-CoasterForce-known as
he's been to many of the US-Lives too - ha ha small world then (not on the forums but @LarsonLoopers on the twitter) - Hello James!
And I've just checked his YT out and there's a full queue-walk video there so you can see the madness for yourself. And amusingly he filmed
that just as I walked around between those 2 rides, since he's actually just following me around through that queue! Ha ha ha.
LINK HERE
So anyway, this seems to be a good way to spend the next few hours, so we and another random euro-goon who is doing the same thing (and whose
name I didn't get - sorry if you are reading this!) do that - a good dozen or so rides I think.
So its a very very good ride. Steel Vengeance is better, mostly because its a bit longer and that insane second half on Vengeance wins it for
me. The drop, mini speed hump on Zadra are better than the similar elements on Vengeance, but the two big hills that follow on Vengeance are
better than the odd turnaround thing on Zadra or either of its equivalent big hills. The stall on Zadra though is immense. Possibly my
favourite element ever (will need to go back and re-ride Wildfire's stall I think). The second inversion on Zadra is like that first one on
Vengeance but doesn't roll into Vengeance's second funny-inversion-dive-thing. There's a very good double-down in Zadra that hints at the
sustained ejector parts of Vengeance or (half of)the Lightning Rod quad-down - especially later in the day when its running fast. The last
inversion on Zadra was a bit weaker early on, but again by the end of the day that as well was very good.
Hard to fault the thing - the biggest problem is the stupid queue-line. Some bits of Zadra are better than equivalent bits on the other big
RMCs, some are better on the other big RMCs. Fantastic coaster then.
After a couple of hours riding it, need a break so I go off to "get my other creds" - the other two new coasters in the new area. Theres a
small mini-mine-train thing called Draken (as opposed to the other Dragon roller coaster in the park!) and a Vekoma junior coaster called
Frida (as opposed to the other Vekoma junior roller coaster in the park!). Neither are remarkable, although you do get a good view of Zadra
running from the Draken coaster.
Bumped into James again, so we rode Formula a few times (had only rode it the once last year) - decent little ride that, its going to feel
a bit odd when the bigger version of it gets built in the field next to Zadra next year.
I ride a few other things, gave Hyperion a few laps but was rather shocked by how rough it had become. It was OK in the middle seats, a bit
rough but still very good, but then I rode it on the outer back left seat and it was just horrible - first half was OK but after the floater
hill it was bouncing along something rotten - made me feel ill. Rode it front outer seat too and that was better but still not as good as
it should be (or had been last year). Shame that as it still looks amazing (despite its also ridiculous queue line).
Also rode the older Dragon roller coaster, might be the best Vekoma junior suspended coaster I've ridden.
Rode this, think the park could do with a good observation ride through?
Exclusive construction shots for next year's coaster now - its a pretty big site, couple of big holes in the ground have gone in but
nothing vertical yet;
And there a big hill that I guess has been built from the mud from those big holes - looked pretty solid rather than just a dump of mud as
there was a digger up on top of it doing stuff.
I also picked up the powered kiddy cred I avoided last year - there was no-one riding it when I wandered past so wasn't going to lower myself but
a small (German I think) group of euro-goons went in and so I followed them (share that shame?). Not too proud about that, but +1.
Late afternoon now, so headed back to Zadra (as did the other random goons for the day of course). Was running faster now, proper ejector on
the double-down and the last inversion giving some good fun too now. Some of the best rides ever then I think. Queued for the front at one point (goggles required!) but I think the back is where its at.
Approaching park close (6pm) it wasn't dark but sun was setting, couldn't get proper night rides, just dusk-rides - which were great anyway.
Last train of the day, back-but-one row. And done (for now).
Took ages to get back into Krakow though (traffic issues on a Friday night rather than silly ferry issues though) - was a bit knackered but
that didn't stop me wandering out for a big pizza and a few beers
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