Quick Little Status Update
Just wanted to check in and let you all know that I haven’t forgotten about you, the site or how roller coasters still rule. I’ve had a crazy April and finally things are getting back to a little bit of normality, I’ve also been completely obsessed with Mario Kart Wii - so excuse my general laziness.
I did return to doing the CoasterBuzz Podcast last week after a six week hiatus (due to aforementioned craziness), so be sure to head over there and give it a listen.
I also scored a new camera and a couple a nice lenses since I last updated the site and I’ve been playing with that too. Can’t wait to finally get to a park this year and try the new equipment out.
Speaking of which, it should only be another week or two before we start heading out on 2008 park visits. I know plenty of you have already started your 2008 season and I’m pretty jealous - we’ve just been hung up on those pesky ‘real life’ issues. This is the latest we’ve gotten the season off to a start…well…ever!
I do have just one last batch of 2007 photos to get online - Lake Winnie, a couple of features and a handful of 3D pics. Those will be up sooner than later. I appreciate everyone being so patient with me this offseason, I’ve never been forced to spend so little time with the site as I was these past few months.
But things look to be right back on track. We’re considering a stop off for the opening weekend at Waldameer to check out the new Ravine Flyer coaster, but I’ll be honest in saying that a lot of that depends on weather. I was blue skies and sunshine and anything less might set us back. We’ll probably fight the crowds on Memorial Day weekend to see Robbie Knievel jump 24 Coke trucks at Kings Island. We’re also keeping an eye on Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach - that’s another trip we’re ready to take on a moment’s notice.
June sees us heading east. We’ll be stopping by Hersheypark to see if Fahrenheit can live up to the hype. We’ll be dropping in on Dorney Park to do a little Voodoo as well. Then it’s off to Jersey and Six Flags Great Adventure where we’re hoping to check out the new Batman coaster and finally get some decent pictures of Kingda Ka and El Toro. We’ll end the trip with a tour of as many of the piers and parks along the shore as we can possibly fit in. A nice mix of updates and new material for the site.
In July we’ll be on the road again as we head south…to Myrtle Beach to be exact. I’m old-skool metal and there’s no way I’m missing the Hard Rock Park this year. Of course a drive that far leaves lots of opportunity to makes stops along the way and we’ll be making those stops. Carowinds, Ghost Town In The Sky, Camden Park and others are on the agenda.
Late Summer/Early Fall should find us making the usual stops at Holiday World and Cedar Point for the CoasterBuzz events.
Then in October we finally make the long awaited return to Disney World. We’ll be spending 8 days there finally updating our woefully outdated Walt Disney World photo galleries.
I’m sure there’ll be other stops to make inbetween, we’ll take them as they come. I’m hoping to be able to keep the updates much more timely this year because once winter hits the plan is a complete overhaul of the site - new design, new look, new site. I’m hoping to make it better for everyone visiting and easier for me to maintain behind the scenes. Coasterimage.com is way bigger than I ever imagined and I’m still a one-man operation. No staff, no contributors, no nothing except a guy with a love for the parks and a need to share it all visually with like-minded individuals.
I think that about covers it. I just wanted to let everyone know where things stand and where we’re headed in 2008. I do thank each and every one of you for supporting the site. It’s because you guys stop by and tell others about what I do here that I’m able to keep delivering the goods like nobody else - thousands of photos, the videos, the free DVDs…it’s all possible because you guys allow it to be.
As corny as it sounds, thank you all for letting me do this.
I’ll have the rest of those 2007 pics up soon and then we’ll get started on what looks to be a totally badass 2008. Have fun everyone and get out there and ride.
