A Day out with Russell

Chris and I decided that Russell needed a day out. I can't remember the last time we just spent time with Russell. He is a teenager now and we wanted a chance to hang out with him and talk to him about things etc . . . So, Beth agreed to keep the other three and the puppy for the day. The plan was to go to Six Flags. Just think about it -- 2 adults and a teenager who all LOVE roller coaster + no diaper bags, no strollers, no children who we have to measure to see if they can ride, no whining, no napping. . . . It was too good to be true. Then the day started out dark and foreboding and the weather channel predicted bad weather all day. We tried no to let it discourage us, since in our experience rain means lighter crowds and we like that. Then we got a late start, because Ollie somehow lost an earring on the way to Beth's house. We had to go home get a new earring and go back to her house before we were finally on our way. Despite the clouds we weren't too discouraged because it wasn't raining -- just cloudy. Then, we got on the beltway, and it started to POUR. It poured in bumper to bumper traffic all the way around to the east side of DC. When we were 5 miles from the park and the weather did not appear to be getting better any time soon, we got a little discouraged. However, we decided maybe it wasn't so bad up north, you know, near Hershey (1 hour away). So we turned and headed North -- something we could never have done with babies and toddlers on board. Shortly after turning north the rain disappeared and although it was cloudy it did not rain anymore -- UNTIL we got to the park and paid. With in minutes of entering the park it was raining and the rides were shut down. How discouraging. We were able to have some good talk time with Russell and without the little ones the stress of all the plan changing wasn't really that bad. And then, the miracle happened. After two down pours and riding 3 rides in 2 hours -- the park was nearly empty -- the clouds broke and the sun came out. In the remaining 4 hours, we rode 10 of the 11 roller coasters plus a few other rides -- NO LINES. It turned out to be an awesome day. We did get lost a few times trying to take the back roads home, so we were a bit late picking up the little ones. We really owe Beth and Gary for watching them. In the end I was so glad for the rain that drove away the crowds.