THE BLUE TRAIN

When I was a child growing up on the coast we sometimes rode the little train along the shore line. It was called the Banana Express. Recenlty, while awaiting my daughter's birth in our seaside rental home, we could hear the distant tooting of a train. My son loves machinery and things that move.

Construction vehicles, tractors, planes, boats, trucks, earth moving equipment....and trains. He wanted to "see the train!!!!"

We quickly found out about the little Blue Train and booked tickets. It is not, according to my definition, a proper train. It consists of three box type carriages with one engine and the ability to drive forwards or "backwards". But it runs on a track and comes with all the right sounds.

Wearing his Thomas the Train shirt, my two year old was beside himself with excitement as we boarded.

The Blue Train meanders along the coastline. The ocean views are spectacular. We passed over lagoons and harbours. We passed through quaint holiday villages. Many with spectacular murals painted on their walls.

We stopped to watch a whale calving in the shallows. Apart from the one minute through a dark tunnel which was a bit frightening for a two year old it was a special afternoon.

Most of our pleasure as parents was sharing the delight of our little boy. The cherry on the top was spotting a couple helicopters overhead and ships out at sea. He spoke about the blue train for days. And back at our farm he's happily playing with his wooden train set