In conclusion

175 coasters later at an average rate of a park a day every day for a month and do I have any regrets about undertaking such a long trip? Not at all. Whilst it was tiring and I did have to take time out to catch up on sleep (including at Cedar Point) I am glad I did it. Was it the trip of a life time? no, Japan still has that crown. America may have the better rides but Japan offered so much more to me.

Had the weather not been as hot as it was I would have been fine, but that coupled with the pace of the trip really got to me. Fortunately the second leg was taken at a more gentle pace but by then the damage had been done and I was finding it very difficult to spend all day and night in the later parks. By the time we'd got back to Great Adventure I was only interested in doing the rides I'd missed. If things had been different I would have had stayed and enjoyed the likes of Nitro some more.

I passed 500 coasters on this trip which was a target I had set myself when my interest in theme parks started to take off. I don't have the same drive to reach 600 or more and so I've decided to take a break from the scene for a bit, the drive to ride coaster after coaster just isn't there anymore. I guess I'm just coastered out after this trip, after all I did ride nearly 200 of them in a month.

I will be hopefully be heading out to Scandinavia with the club next year but I want to use some of my holidays for non-coaster breaks. The breaks in Atlanta and New York offered me more opportunities to learn, which you don't get at parks. I am realising that the world really isn't a big place and there's plenty to see outside the themeparks; ironcially its the club I'm taking a break from that has shown me that.

Having said that I would like to thank the organisers of the trip for doing a sterling job once again, and for the people on the trip who made it fun. Also a big thanks to Keith for being a perfect guide through the second leg and for putting up with me, I mean putting me up in New York.

Music of the trip (not by choice, the radio stations played little else).

• "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira
• "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire
• "Where'd You Go" by Fort Minor
• "Snap Yo' Fingers" by Lil Jon
• "I Write Sins not Tragedies" by Panic! at the Disco
• "Unfaithful" by Rhianna

Food and the drink of the trip

• Smoothies
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• The amazing array of energy drinks

Rides of the Trip

• Top Thrill Dragster @ Cedar Point
• The Voyage @ Holiday World
• El Toro @ SFGA
• Talon @ Dorney
• Lightning Racer @ Hershey

Park of the Trip

• Lake Winne!

Surprise of the Trip

• Jack Rabbit's double drop

Disappointments of the Trip

• Coney Island Cyclone
• Beast @ PKI
• Having a sore neck for the best part of a week
• Not going out in the evenings as much as I'd have liked.
• American Red Bull
• Overuse of the word "awesome"