At this point we're fully starving, but figure since we're at the top of the hill, we may as well go check out Timberhawk.

All right, I've had several conversations about this coaster's name, Timberhawk: Ride of Prey. Obviously a Timberhawk is a bird of prey� so they�re saying the coaster flies through the treetops, swooping down now and then to capture its prey like a hawk. When you ride, you literally get a bird�s eye view of the area. Yeah, I get it. I still think it�s a dumb name. We loved riding this coaster, but couldn�t help making fun of the name all afternoon. Even Timberhawk is a good name! Its just that cheesy �Ride of Prey� that begs to be mocked. Face it Six Flags, your coaster has a goofy name! Its trying to be pretentious or intimidating or something, but just comes off as silly.

The Timberhawk station has Idiot Gates � to prevent us from falling on the track. So we are allowed to enter the station and pick a row while the train was out. There were already two kids waiting for Row 1, so we went for Row 1 of the second car (which was actually Row 4).

In spite of its goofy name, I loved this coaster! It starts off great with a head-chopping drop and the rest of the ride was fast and fun! Loved every second! At the end, they throw on the brakes. Hard. Ugh. We roll into the station.. sort of.. The train stops half way in and half way out. The four kids working the station look at us, look at the train, look at each other, look back at us... Finally, the button pushing kid decides to call a supervisor.

Button Pushing Kid (on the phone): Hi.. the train is stuck.. it's half way in the station and half way out.. yeah.. yeah.. yeah.. ok.. bye.
Button Pushing Kid (to Restraint Checking Kids): He says he'll be here in a few minutes.
Restraint Checking Kid: He's coming now?
Button Pushing Kid: Yeah. He said in a few minutes.
Restraint Checking Kid: So.. what do we do?
Button Pushing Kid: Well.. I think we should let them out.
Restraint Checking Kid: Did he tell you to do that?
Button Pushing Kid: No, I just think we should let them out.
Restraint Checking Kid: Ok.. but what about them? (Motioning to the people at the back end of the train, which was hanging out of the station.)
Button Pushing Kid: Ummm.. just let the ones in front out, we'll worry about them later.

I'm thinking Good Lord!! Thank goodness we didn't get stuck on a hill! They have no idea what the standard procedure for a breakdown even is! We'd either be stuck here all day, or led off some ledge by completely untrained children. Wow, I feel safe.

Luckily the part of the train we were in was in the station, so we hopped out of the coaster and headed back to the lower village area in search of some grub. Getting off the ride, I had to snap a pic of the coaster�s themed �advertisement�.

Something Erik and I both noticed was the variation in the attention to detail. Some parts of the ride were wonderful, with pretty little flowers planted here and there.. cute western style props.. but then when we were riding the actual coaster, we could see the construction marks in bright blue spray paint that they hadn't bothered to remove or cover up.

We walked the length of the long track and noticed the workmen's marks on the struts, and a little graffiti too. (How did kids get back there to write on the supports anyway?)