BLOG: Storm brought new (temporary) water ride to Cedar Point

Boat ride Ocean Motion was on the verge of becoming the most popular attraction at Cedar Point on Monday. At least for a few minutes.An afternoon thunderstorm deluged the region with rain that flooded the center of the park's main midway, from Midway Carrousel to near the back Sky Ride building.I happened to be at Cedar Point to follow one of the park's sweeps — interviewing, not stalking — for an upcoming entry for this blog.As we wandered the front of the park, starting at about 2:15 p.m., we noticed the ominous clouds slowly moving into the area. At about 3:10 p.m. we took cover in the Park Operations Office for about 30 minutes while rain and wind whipped through the area.The photos and video seen here were taken at about 4 p.m. By the time I returned to the park at about 6:30 p.m. only a few very small puddles remained on the main midway.The park's ability to drain water is simply amazing. It literally looked as though someone just pulled the plug on the bottom of the midway's tub while I was gone. The park's emergency announcement system also did its job, letting guests know when severe weather was coming, when it was here and when it was gone.Noah and his ark would have been right at home after the rain, as were most of the guests.The younger crowd ran, waded and floated in Cedar Point's new temporary water ride. I, on the other hand, got only my feet wet while taking photos and videos of something you don't see every day at the park.While youthful exuberance is fun to watch, I wondered if those who were frolicking in the water gave any thought to what could have been floating in it. Considering I had just spent 90 minutes with a sweep, talking about the dirty things one might come across in the park, it was front and center in my mind: Anything you might find on the midway was floating in that water.At least the Lake Erie water used on the water rides is treated.But, hey, whatever floats your boat. Or body.Tom Sherer is an award-winning graphic designer with the Sandusky Register and a Cedar Point enthusiast who visited the park 53 times in 2011. He chronicles his adventures in coasterland here at "Belaboring the Point."