Santa Train

Big excitement today, kids.

Sebastian and I went for a ride 

on the Santa train!!!!

along the "waterfront"

(read "through the pulp mill" and then the woods)

Here is the conductor counting people and trying to figure out

why too many people were aboard. 

So we had to hold our squirmy 

crowded fussy kids on our laps, after paying for two seats.

Those withOUT kids, who were sitting in the kids' seats,

were the only ones comfortable. Argh. No fair!

Santa made his way through the entire train though, talking to each child,

which was pretty thrilling for my young companion.

 Here they are negotiating a candy cane!

Sebastian said "Thank you, Santa" so sweetly. 

When we crossed the trestle high above the river

I so longed for the freedom of movement to take photos - 

I had to simply hold the camera up over my head 

and hope it captured something.

 It was beautiful, even so,

if only in small glimpses. 

Outside this house, a woman in a Mrs Santa suit 

was waving two Canadian flags 

back and forth, to our vocal appreciation.

She likely did this for every trip - three a day. Cool.

 After everyone got OFF,

I was finally able to take a couple of shots of one happy little guy.

It was totally worth being crowded in like sardines, in an open car, 

with raindrops falling on my head,

for a smile like this!

Bye, Train. Thanks!

See you next year!