Reisinger Road Trip Day 7: "All Aboard!"

This morning we drove to the Tennessee Valley Railroad. This place takes tourists on a one hour train ride, and restores old rail cars to their former glory, so the rail yard in itself is a museum. We got tickets for the 10:40 ride, and all the kids enjoyed it except Gabriel. The train made loud, abrupt noises, (the air brakes, whistle, etc.) and they would startle him. So he did cry and goldfish crackers were only a temporary reprieve. Halfway through the ride, everyone gets off and watches the entire train get turned around on the turntable (no, Gabriel wasn't in awe like the older kids were). We also took a quick tour of the repair yard where they do restoration work. I was surprised when the conductor told us it only takes about 4-6 weeks to restore a rail car, with the exception of one car they'd been working on for about 8 years (the parts were very hard to come by). Here are some pictures from our ride.

The passenger car we rode in was in use during the 1930's, when the most efficient means of travel was the railroad. Our car was still labeled "white," above the door, and the car behind us "colored." A plaque on the wall explained how Tennessee was the first state to implement the "Jim Crow" laws--meaning whites and blacks could be segregated as long as the facilities were equal. These laws were in effect in Tennessee until 1960.

We'd promised the kids one meal at McDonald's during our trip, so we went to one just down the street from the hotel for lunch. Then David dropped us me off along with the girls and Gabriel at the hotel, and the boys took the van to Midas to get the brake pads replaced. (By now, they were squealing and grinding so badly, other drivers around us must have thought all Texans drive with worn brake pads). So I hung out in the hotel lobby until Joshua and David walked back from Midas. Then I stayed with Gabriel while everyone else hit the pool. It's not as humid here at it is in Houston, but it's still in the upper 90's during the day, and the kids were glad to cool off. The pool itself is neat-- there's a bridge covered area, and waterfall, but David told me the water was pretty cold-- probably too cold for Gabriel.

Not much else planned for today. I saw a couple of cute boutiques one block from the hotel, so I hope to sneak in a little window shopping (okay, maybe some real shopping). I only buy one souvenir when I travel, and it has to be something unique to the area. I've been to so many places as an Army Brat, you'd think I'd be really sentimental in nature, but I'm not (except for Georgia :-). Just one thing is enough for me.

After Gabriel woke up, we started to make plans for dinner. David wanted to get some sandwiches and eat at Coolidge Park, which runs right next to the Tennessee River. I tried not to get upset, even when we couldn't find a sandwich shop that was open (most places in downtown areas close after the lunch crowd), and when we finally did, David drove around for 10 minutes trying to find a free place to park (at least the calipers weren't scrapping on the brakes anymore). The only place we found was a parking lot that was free if you were only there for 15 minutes. We ended up at Cheeburger Cheeburger, and it took another 25 minutes to get the food to go. David saw a free parking spot on the street, and moved the van there so he wouldn't be charged $5. Then we drove to the park, found a picnic bench and sweated away and brushed off numerous flies while we ate. It was not ideal, but the kids were hungry and didn't seem to care. Gabriel must have remembered the yellow jacket incident last Friday, because every time a fly landed on him, he'd whimper and fuss.

The good thing about going to Coolidge Park was seeing a water fountain where the kids could play and get wet, and a carousel that cost only $1 per person (kids 2 and under were 50 cents). So we're thinking about going back tomorrow afternoon so the kids will have a place to really burn off some steam, and Gabriel could play in the water (I put my hand in one of the fountains, and it was warmer than the pool at the hotel). I feel like he's been missing out, because he's only hit the pool once, since everyone else has been swimming during his nap time. Here's a pic I got off the web, since I plan to take more tomorrow.

We've also decided to visit the Tennessee Aquarium tomorrow morning. It's supposed to be awesome for kids, and when we asked them for their vote, it won out over going on a min-cruise on the Tennessee River. So check back with us tomorrow!