You Shook Me

Mick asked me to give him a description of the BIG ONE - that's the Roller Coaster at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
I visited the BIG ONE when I went up to Blackpool to pick up my new car (now given the name of The Beast).
It's about 250ft high and is the highest and fastest coaster in Europe. It's also ridden in open cars, so you're just strapped in with a normal seat belt, unlike other extreme coasters that have full restraints. The initial crank up the steep slope seem to take forever, and it gives an opportunity to see the fantastic view across Blackpool. Then it reaches the top - and then it SLOWLY goes over the edge, straight into an almost vertical drop that just takes your breath away. This is where your knuckles try and poke through your skin because you're holding on so tight - a true white knuckle ride.
There follows plenty of twists and turns, all at high speed. Some of the bends pull at over 3G and everyone is shouting and screaming. Awesome. And when it's over, yes you guessed it, straight back on for another go . . . it's certainly better than Nemesis at Alton Towers.
But the Pleasure Beach isn't just about The Big One. There are other high adrenalin rides such as, Avalanche, the Big Dipper, Bling (absolutely amazing), Revolution (you do a full 360 inversion on a coaster and then it does it again, only backwards), Valhalla and Spin Doctor. There are lots of other things for the whole family and they also have live shows (really top quality) during the day. All in all, it's a great day out.
Blackpool itself was awful, full of hen and stag parties, and loads of clubs open all day - horrendous. And the only things to eat along the seafront were fish & chips or burgers. I certainly wouldn't want to go there for a holiday. But a day at the Pleasure Beach was great.

By the way - my favourite ride is Oblivion at Alton Towers. It's absolutely terrifying.