All Aboard

We headed south to Portland this weekend where I spent a day at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association meeting. I was on a panel there with some writer friends and attended a few of the programs, but mostly it was just a fun family getaway. And the best part of the getaway this time was definitely the getting there.

Evie June fulfilled a lifelong ambition to ride a train. And a bus. And both on the same weekend!

We took the Amtrak from the Mount Vernon Station all the way to Portland. Here's a shot of our train. Evie was just a little confused that it didn't have big round eyes and a painted on grin like her blue Thomas the Tank Engine she plays with.


Once we found our seats, the girl was happy to hold the tickets.


And even happier to hand them over to the conductor.


She spent the entire five and a half hour ride singing, saying things like "Evie June inside the train!" in disbelief and joy, and pointing out things through the big windows. And we were lucky enough to score seats around a table, which meant plenty of room for playing with the few small toys we brought to keep her occupied.

Sadly, all that excitement meant she skipped her usual 3-4 hour nap. Even sadder, she skipped the next two days as well. Unless you count moments like these*, where she crashed out in the backpack while we walked somewhere in the unseasonable Portland heat.


Once we arrived in Portland, we relied solely on public mass transit to get around. And EJ didn't seem to mind a bit.


The first night we stayed with my mom's dear friend Linda and even got to see one of her daughters and her family, who I'd not seen for 20 years at least. Here the third generations of our families learn to play nice together.


And the second night, we crashed with my friend Rosanne and her family at their amazing old house, complete with chickens, a treehouse and swings!


In between, Jimmy took Evie June to the zoo and for lots of bus and light rail rides all around Portland. Before we knew it, it was time to go. After snapping a quick family shot on the way to the train station, we loaded up and headed home.


And the return was just as fun as our departure. Largely because Evie and her dad invented a new game. Take a look.

train game from Jennifer Bradbury on Vimeo.