Weather permitted

From before the sun was up this morning, we were all grabbing our phones to check the weather apps.

I even bugged our morning weathermen:

Will we top Thunderbird this morning? Maybe @RonanRhodes or @Byron14News know. #INwx pic.twitter.com/lzuQeF8490

— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) October 7, 2014

But the #WeatherPermitting phrase continued to haunt us.

Reporters called one after another: Are you still planning to do this?

SureWhyNot?

Wicked hailstorm just moments away (THANKS, Thunderbird). Then we'll top the nation's first launched wing coaster. #WeatherPermitting

— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) October 7, 2014

I dashed between the raindrops to capture this photo. Then the sensible voice in my head out-shouted the excited voice and proclaimed: That 140-foot-tall track is one heck of a lightning rod!

A little bit of hail. A quick storm. Um, mud. We'll be back at it soon. http://t.co/reX9473YDK pic.twitter.com/56pZvDatJA

— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) October 7, 2014

The storm was intense, but didn’t last long.

Close enough to touch! #ThunderbirdTopping pic.twitter.com/TIgIY8fQHu

— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) October 7, 2014

And then it was time. Swing that beautiful track!

Thunderbird topping! https://t.co/rKHtq3uz2K

— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) October 7, 2014

… and the second half of the video:

Thunderbird's track piece #21 is in place! https://t.co/JO86l7VSFd

— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) October 7, 2014

And then …

And the clouds separate for the sun to shine on our Thunderbird. #OrangeIsTheNewTrack pic.twitter.com/463tLyRpL1

— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) October 7, 2014

We’ll have a new Hard Hat Chronicles to post later today, with lots of footage from the topping.

Thanks to our hard-working Thunderbird Construction teams for making it all look so easy.