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last day of vacation (saturday, august 21)

in an attempt to recover from depression over our early morning goodbyes, we picked up jordan, and drove back into sacramento one last time, to do something I’ve been wanting to do for YEARS! in connection with the california state railroad museum, which we visited on tuesday, you can take a short, scenic train ride, pulled by a working steam locomotive!

supposedly…

CA trip 348so I tried not to make too big of a stink, and enjoyed the fact that it was still a train ride, even if it was pulled by a diesel. CA trip 412CA trip 352CA trip 353anyone want to see the governator? there’s the capitol!CA trip 356yes, that is a real conductor, punching my ticket!CA trip 358CA trip 359

the replacement locomotive:CA trip 364when you get to the ‘end of the line’ in baths, the engine unhooks, switches tracks, pulls past the waiting train, switches tracks again, and then couples to the other end of the train to pull it back to the station.

CA trip 381CA trip 376CA trip 385CA trip 389CA trip 380CA trip 407

and I had to take a picture of the really ugly gold bridge that is a landmark in sacramento. seriously. it’s metallic!

this was our train:CA trip 414after the train ride, we stopped through the old schoolhouse to explore.CA trip 425shane, jordan and layla, doing some writing on slates.CA trip 416CA trip 423dave, attempting to get suspended…CA trip 419shane, ringing the school bell: CA trip 415and then there’s the “rules for teachers”. this is a hoot! CA trip 424

after that, it was laundry, packing, one last swim, one last in-n-out burger,and then hitting the road. we drove all night again, and got home around 10:30 the next morning. it was a long trip, but totally worth it! we miss everyone so much.

thanks, gramma and papa, for putting up with all of us and helping us have such a great time! so many great memories! we love you and can’t wait to see you again!

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