As predicted yesterday….

Thanks to Lisa for her explanation:

I used to work for the Ohio Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and briefly, it is inevitable that concrete will crack. You have to go back and saw a slab to put grooves in it so when it does crack, they will be hidden in the grooves. (Similar to perforations in a roll of stamps or indentations in a candy bar.) This is especially true in climates like Ohio and Indiana where the ground freezes and thaws (and so moves slightly as the frozen water expands) which forces the concrete to move along with it.

Now that's out of the way….I can't wait till summer! My daughter and I are looking forward to our annual girls' trip to Holiday World. Look for us on the carousel, Gobbler's Getaway, and seat 1-1 of The Voyage. (The trains look really spiffy, btw.)

Lisa F.

And here's another explanation; this one is from Daniel in Cincinnati, who's exchanged occasional emails with us since he was a mere pup in engineering school:

Paula, why do you tempt me like this? You make it too easy.

Most structures made of concrete, especially thin ones such as a slab, will inevitably crack. There's no way to avoid it over large areas of slab. This can be due to a variety of causes, such as heavy loading, but the most common cause in a slab is fluctuation in temperature. The size of the cracks can be reduced by using appropriate amounts of steel reinforcing, but the cracks will still occur.

The workers in your photo are saw-cutting joints into the slab about an inch deep at regular intervals in order to cause the slab to crack at specific locations. This allows the slab to retain a more aesthetic appearance, as well as preventing random cracks at inappropriate locations.

Back home again

The Voyage trains have completed their return trip.

This car was sort of a diva and demanded a Bobcat ride.


It's sort of commendable that they still want to hang out together after that long drive back from Pennsylvania.


They're looking around to check out what changes were made during their absence.

Meanwhile, more work on the carousel's new pad.

Apparently, after you pour a perfectly lovely block of concrete, you have to go back and make a crack in it to keep it from … cracking.

I'm sure within hours we'll hear from an engineer who will present a far more intelligent (if confusing) explanation.

Ah, Mrs. Koch has taught us all well:

A driving desire to ride

Jerry in Ohio already has his car facing southwest in anticipation of his first six-hour trip to Holiday World this season.

Voyage-bound

Any guesses as to which ride he'll head to first?

Flash forward to May 23, and Jerry showed why his next ride on The Voyage would mean so much to him:

Any volunteers?

…to walk Legend's track today?

Now before all our coaster-enthusiast friends start jamming my Inbox with "Me! Me! Pick me!" … let me make it clear: it's a joke.

Really. Just kidding.

No, Santa. Not even you.


Really.

Put your arm down.

Really.

This finally makes sense

You’ve all seen this sign over the years in Holiday World’s Christmas section.

Little Guys on Skeeball

But have you ever wondered what the “little guys” were up to?

Me neither.

Here’s a thought: the elf in the mustard-colored snowsuit is mocking the fellow in red for not dressing for the weather.

The SLG (shirtless little guy) is not pleased. In fact, he’s getting ready to throw something at TWG (toasty-warm guy).

Hard to tell what SLG is clutching.

A dripping snowball? An undershirt?

Skeeball sign

No wait. It’s a dust cloth. And he’s sharing, not throwing.

This is Holiday World, after all…

Paging Lewis … or Clark …

…hope you remembered to pack your ice scraper.

Lewis & Clark cars following winter storm

New this season: Free, unlimited icicles.

 

The dog days of winter

Woof!

Poor pup is encased in ice.

Ice pup

Bless Rick (our graphic artist), he sent me this photo from this morning. I’d just cranked up my space heater, trying to talk myself into heading out into the park to find just such a photo.

Rudolph’s nose would come in handy

Little Girl with Hands Up on Reindeer Games

My, my, how it does snow, sleet and rain here in Santa Claus.

What a mess.

Before chipping the ice off my car and heading for home, here — as promised — are photos of the newly arrived Reindeer Games:

new Reindeer Games, on its side

Closer to opening, this will go vertical, of course, in Rudolph’s Reindeer Ranch.

And here are the seats

new Reindeer Games ride, seats

That’s five seats on the front and five on the back. In just 80 days, the seats will be filled with children shouting out with glee.

Meanwhile, it’s an important fellow’s birthday today. Mr. Lincoln turns 199 and our county is unveiling all sort of celebratory plans. Will is deeply involved with one project in particular; click here to read all about his magnificent obsession.