Tuesday 3rd October 2000
The Guest House
We awoke early the next day and ate cooked breakfast at the Guest House. We set off on the journey to Alton Towers and discussed the options to repair Chris' car. We expected to be amongst the first to arrive at Alton Towers, as it was only a few days before the end of the season. We actually ended up parking about 10 metres from the main entrance!
Once we were in, we headed straight to the Nemesis, an intense looping ride where the riders literally hang from the car, feet dangling below. We went round a couple more times until we felt ill and then headed to some other rides. We went on the Ripsaw, Haunted House, Cable Car and Runaway Mine Train where we made a lot of jungle wildlife noises (scaring most of the other visitors).
We took a SkyRide (cable car) to Ug Land where we heard a very interesting song sang only in grunts. Kevin kindly translated for us. We had a go on the Corkscrew, which has been redecorated to look like dinosaur bones. It smelt like them too.
The other scary ride at Alton Towers is the Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop roller coaster. We went on that a couple of times as well. Dave and Kevin went on a few more times as well.
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Whilst in the futuristic X-Sector we visited the Black Hole, an indoor rollercoaster. The attendants insisted we rode two to a car, instead of separately. We literally had to be shoehorned in and wondered how we would ever get back out. After that Dave, Kevin and I ate lunch at the KFC/Pizza Hut. Chris decided to wait until later. Dave announces he wants to go on the Rehydrator. We check on the map and discover it is X-Sector's Coca Cola vending machine.
From the future, we travel to the past of Merrie England where Chris wants to eat a jacket potato. After a cup of tea, we go to the 3D cinema, which is situated in a gift shop. There isn't a showing for a while, but we get talking to the attendant, a young girl of about 17. She asks all our names, which we tell her. Dave decides to look at her name badge, but she thinks he's staring at her chest. She could be right. Dave invites her to join us later that evening in Nottingham. She doesn't look interested. Having a few minutes to spare, we take a ride on the log flume. After making some more jungle noises, Chris gives the middle finger to the camera. Dave likes the resulting photo so much that he buys it.
Returning to the 3D cinema, we proudly show our photo to the attendant. She goes mad at me for swearing at the camera. I point out that it was actually Chris and she goes mad at him instead. We collect our 3D glasses and settle down to watch a 'hilarious' washed out 70s 3D film.
From there we moved on to the Congo River Rapids. I was apprehensive - the others all had waterproof coats, I had only my fleece. We settled into our seats and steeled ourselves to the onslaught of icy cold water. Towards the end, none of us had got particularly wet until a large wave came over the side of the boat and soaked..... Chris! We came back round to the beginning and saw that there was no queue, so we asked if we could stay in the boat for another lap. Chris got soaked again. We stay for another lap, changing seats. Again, Chris got soaked. He thinks he is jinxed, so we changed seats and stayed round another time. When the wave came up and soaked Chris again, Kevin was laughing so hard he nearly puked! The final time round I finally got soaked.
The next ride we went on was the Squirrel Nutty Ride, a childrens ride. The female attendants gave us some strange looks when we boarded the cars. The cars on the ride were old fashioned, with giant squirrels hanging on to the back. It looked as though we were being attacked by genetically modified mutant squirrels! No matter how fast we peddled, we couldn't go any faster to escape them...
New for 2000 at Alton Towers was the Hex ride. Described as the legend of the towers, it told the tale of a curse. It built up to a climax involving a large oak tree at the Towers. Then there was a slightly dull ride.
On the way home, we played an immature game with our mobile phones, calling each other and then hanging up before we could each answer our phones. Chris got a call from Sophie about his car. We arrived back in Nottingham quite late, so we ate at McDonalds. There was an Australian theme to the food, due to the Olympics. Dave got all hot and bothered over one of the staff - am attractive girl with four stars.
After a rapid turnaround in the Guest House, we head off to a riverside pub where we are due meet a friend of Kevin's who will be our guide for the evening. But first we have to get there. We call for a taxi, and are surprised to find that it is the same taxi driver as the previous night. We ask him to take us to a cash point, and he sets off at speed.
Cut to a taxi speeding around the streets of Nottingham at night
The taxi is following the car in front at speed. It goes round a corner and starts to break. "Whatcha breaking for man? Can't ya 'andle the power?" screams the taxi driver. As we go round the bend, we see that the traffic lights are red. We shoot off at speed at soon we're racing against a Cavalier. "Thats it mate, you burn out your engine!" As the lanes change from 2 to 1, the cavalier has to give up, but we're soon stuck behind a slow moving Mini. "Get out the way, you *£$%!" the taxi driver shouts. We undertake the mini on the approach to a roundabout. As both cars stop, the taxi driver recognises the driver of the mini. "Hey, its me cousin!" he shouts, "Alright mate, whatcha doin' driving a Mini?"
The taxi screeches into an area with some shops and banks, nearly running over a girl on a zebra crossing
"Sorry, didn't see ya there!" explains the taxi driver as the girl dives for cover. We pull in outside the bank, and a couple of us get out to withdraw cash. The others of us stay in the cab while he attempts to turn round in a car park. A girl is trying to get out of the car park in her car but the taxi driver is manoeuvring at speed and getting in her way. He's not happy because she's obstructing him. He swears at her - and we see that its the same girl he nearly ran over! She takes out her mobile phone and makes a call... is she reporting him? He swears some more as the others get back in the car.
The taxi pulls up at a pub by the riverside
We have a couple of drinks in the pub and meet up with Kevin's friend. The next pub we visit is in the town centre. After a long trek, we come to Lloyds No.1, a posh version of Wetherspoons. After a few drinks in there, we head off to the Revolution Vodka bar. They sell hundreds of different flavours of vodka and vodka cocktails. Dave decides to try Chilli Vodka. His head nearly explodes. The nice barmaid who served us found it very amusing.
Following that we queue up for a club. We have a flyer with the entrance price on, but they try to charge us more and when we question it they says that the student price and throw us out onto the street.