This journey began this morning almost an hour later than I had planned, although I had completed my packing before eight o’clock. I was quite clear about the fact that once I left, my house would stand empty for probably the first time since the day it was built. It was a strange feeling and perhaps explains why I was leaving so late, walking around the house many times over, checking one last time to see that all was in order.

It is hard to explain my feelings once I did finally set off. As I drove further and further from the house, I found the surroundings grow unrecognizable. I began to have a feeling of unease mixed with excitement. I took a turning and found myself on a road circling the edge of a hill. I could sense the steep (陡峭的) drop to my left. I felt a sense of alarm that I was perhaps not on the correct road at all, but speeding off in the wrong direction into a wilderness. It was only the feeling of a moment, but it caused me to slow down. And even when I was sure I was on the right road, I felt forced to stop the car a moment to think carefully.

I decided to step out and stretch (伸展) my legs a little. On the one side of the road, thickets and small trees rose sharply, while on the other I could now see the distant countryside and a town nearby.

I walked a little way along the roadside, when I heard a voice behind me. Until this point I had believed myself quite alone and I turned in some surprise. Sitting on the large stone was a thin, white­haired man. He called to me again and signaled me to join him. For a moment, I took him for a homeless man, but then I saw he was just some local man enjoying the fresh air and summer sunshine, and saw no reason not to do so.

It seems that we just can’t get enough of roller coasters. Today we look at some top amusement parks and the roller coasters which have helped make them famous.

It is a family park that resists the exciting atmosphere of its competitors and instead offers a more relaxing and friendly experience. Rare in that it is privately owned and it has many features other parks can’t match. There is lots of entertainment for youngsters, and the park’s family-friendly policy offers free entry to the water park, reasonable food prices and unlimited soft drinks free of charge.

Lake Compounce, one of America’s more traditional parks, is a rare find indeed. As the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the US, it has been a popular family spot since 1846. Like many old-time parks, it witnessed the danger of being closed. Luckily, in 1977, a well-known company gave its revival with new rides appealing to many new fans.

As one of America’s favourite theme parks, Knott’s has something for everyone. For those seeking a breathtaking rush, try the roller coaster, GhostRider or the Xcelerator. GhostRider is the single largest attraction in amusement park history and one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coasters in the world. If you are after something less exciting, go visit the heart of Knott’s, Ghost Town, for a glance of life in the Wild West of the 1880s. With its cowboys, steam trains and historic buildings-many transported from mining towns-Ghost Town will let you relive a piece of the past.

In the style of Walt Disney World, Islands of Adventure is divided into themed “lands”. Unlike the sugar-coated Magic Kingdom, however, IOA features attractions promising to set the heart racing. While the Spiderman is fantastic, you haven’t truly lived until you’ve experienced The Incredible Hulk’s wild and unique uphill launch. The effect is like being trapped inside an airplane that’s flying out of control.

Some people say，“Extreme sports are so dangerous.Why would anyone want to do them？” But the danger is what makes them so exciting.Keep reading to find out the most popular ones.

Bungee jumping: People on some South Pacific islands have been bungee jumping for hundreds of years.In 1979，some people bungee jumped off a bridge in England and made the sport popular around the world.Bungee jumping came to China in 1996.

Skateboarding: At first，this sport was called “sidewalk surfing”. Skateboarders often jump high into the air，go down steps or slide (滑行) down rails on their boards.They wear baggy trousers so they can move more freely.

Skydiving: This is probably the scariest (最惊险的) extreme sport.Skydivers jump out of airplanes about four kilometers up in the sky.They usually free fall for a while and then open a parachute to slow down for a safe landing.

Snowboarding: This became a Winter Olympic sport in 1998.People tied their feet to the board with special shoes.They don't use any ski sticks.Then they ride down hills，jump high and do tricks.