July 4th Weekend - Cars and Trains and Boats...Oh My!

To the Train
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

The Engine Going By our Picnic
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

The Caboose Going By our Picnic
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

Going 'Round the Corner
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.


Mommy and Leland
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

Heath and Gramps
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

Life's a Picnic
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

Gramps and the Boys
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

The Sloop I Would Like to Have Gone On
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

The Sloop Kerry Thought We Were About to Sink
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

It was a Long Day
Originally uploaded by Limey Bastow.

On Monday we packed up the minivan...again...and headed off on an adventure to Portland, Maine. The boys were very excited in the morning and couldn't wait to get going. After a two and a half hour drive, including a little unplanned exploration of Portland, we arrived in time to catch the 11am train at the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum.

The museum is in the back of an industrial lot on the waterfront that seems to mostly cater to boat building/repair/and/or storage.

We got lucky as they were running one of the real steam engines and not a diesel. Dad, Kerry and the boys watched them couple up the engine to the train while I ran in and purchased tickets.

The train took us a mile or so down an abandoned Canadian National Railroad right of way that they closed after the swing bridge (now permanently open) was set on fire. Everyone had a great time on the train, although the conductor had to tell dad to sit down when he was trying to get a good picture whe the train was moving. Apparently my head was in the way.

Alongside the railway is a foot and bike path where we decided to enjoy a picnic. During the course of the picnic we were able to watch the 12pm train steam by.

After our picnic we drove back downtown and took a ferry around the harbor. It turns out Portland is quite the island city and much of it is only accessible by boat. The ferry not only took passengers but had quite a bit of cargo that was delivered to the various outposts.

During our cruise the sloop pictured here crossed our bow...Kerry thought a little too closely for comfort. As such I doubt we shall take one of the quite reasonably priced twice daily three hour cruises.

After the ferry we stopped by an ice cream shop on the way back to the car. Once on our way back to Framingham the boys (including Gramps) fell asleep in record time (I believe Leland was out before we were out of the garage).