Alton Towers

The highlight of our recent holiday was going to Alton Towers, and although it was half term it was just busy enough to add to the excitement and not make it a drag. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys funfairs!


We went with my friends Richard and Mark, and it was so much fun having a group to intensify the excitement.


I had the most fun on the Flume ride - sitting in a bath you are taken round a very wet ride.













It involves plummeting downwards into cold water on a number of occasions, as well as a giant rubber duck jumping out at you in the dark, and it finishes up with a shower! We were absolutely soaked at the end, but I laughed so much it was well worth it.

Our first ride of the day was the Runaway Mine Train, which is an exciting roller-coaster ride and quite exhilarating, although not in the same league as the big boys it was a good starting point to test the vocal cords and get the adrenalin flowing.
















Nemises was our first big ride. As we queued up we noticed lots of debris on the floor of the rocky canyon, including peoples shoes!!! The lads all took the precaution of removing their glasses before boarding!


You are strapped in with your feet hanging loose below you. The floor drops away and you are sent on a crazy ride though rocks and rivers of blood while being whirled around in all directions.


With barely a chance to catch our breath we headed for 'Air' - a ride which apparently defies gravity as you almost literally 'fly' around the route.










After this we took a trip on the Corkscrew, one of the oldest rides at Alton Towers, and although a bit rough and tumble, its great fun. Then we took a break for lunch a stroll around the grounds.













Just in case things were getting too pleasant our stroll found us at Oblivion. In all honesty I was in two minds about even going on this, but as Joe and Mark were both hyped, I thought I couldn't not.













I don't think I can find the words to do justice to the Oblivion ride, only to say my first thought on wobbling off this ride was 'Now I know what a Pangalactic Gargle Blaster is like'.

For those of you not familiar with this is drink here's what Wikipedia has to say about it....

The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is a fictional alcoholic drink which is mentioned in Douglas Adams's humorous science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Below is a brief excerpt from chapter two of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which describes the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster:

“

Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colourless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sugars and also notes its intoxicating effect on certain carbon-based life forms. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy also mentions alcohol. It says that the best drink in existence is the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. It says that the effect of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick. The Guide also tells you on which planets the best Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters are mixed, how much you can expect to pay for one and what voluntary organizations exist to help you rehabilitate afterwards. The Guide even tells you how you can mix one yourself. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy sells rather better than the Encyclopedia Galactica.

”

The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster has also been described in the novel as the alcoholic equivalent to a mugging: expensive and bad for the head.

We finished the day with the River Rapids trip, where we all got a bit damp and so thought we'd go the whole distance and try out the Flume (as above) and warmed ourselves with hot chocolate and cakes before getting the bus home.

It was a great day, with great friends, and I hope we can do it again soon.