A Day with just Daddy
Months ago, I bought tickets for A Day Out with Thomas. Having gone last year, the event is (I’m guessing) the prime fundraiser for the Northwest Train Museum in downtown Snoqualmie. Liam loves Thomas the Train, goes crazy over trains - there was no doubt we were going. However, it’s not something that’s fun for everyone. It’s also expensive, so it’s just Liam and I this year.
Coincedently, it’s also the day of the Microsoft company picnic, which is held only a few miles away from Snoqualmie in the shadow of Mt. Si. It’s a massive, simply huge event that must cost millions to put on. Free food, drink, lots of activities, hundreds of workers…just nuts.
And so are the crowds..nuts that is. There are so many people there, all of them rushing towards the free food lines. However, there is a cost to the free food - lines, lots of lines. Long lines. The longest food lines were for the beef ribs, smothered with bbq sauce. The line was 10-15 minutes long in the hot afternoon sun.
People everywhere. I can’t stand crowds. Why can’t they offer some way to circumvent the long lines? Microsoft is a business, but they run the picnic like a charity..or a communist country. Offer a second line that costs $1, and it would probably get me the food more quickly. Ugh.
However, there was something very cool to behold. A bunch of trick motorcycle type guys were there doing a jump exhibition exhibition. I’ve seen the commercials with these tricks, they seem to usually take place in the Tacoma Dome and are paired, like a fine wine - or maybe a Bud - with Monster Trucks.
After a couple of hours there, we had to rush off to make sure we didn’t miss our appointment with Thomas. We had some ice cream, bought a Thomas toy, then hopped on the 3pm train ride. A 30 minute trip to nowhere, it slowly creeps out of downtown towards Snoqualmie Falls, which of course are down to a trickle in the summer without the rains or a spring melt. Liam loved the trip, even though we were on the wrong side of the train to see anything.
We ended the day with Liam napping in the back seat for the drive home, then a final stop for a slurpee. A great, but exhausting day.
Ice Cream!
The crowds…endless lines and crowds
These guys were awesome
The setting against Mt. Si is gorgeous
Thomas makes bank for the museum
Clown wandering around
More clown
Of course, the model trains were there, Thomas style
All Aboard!!
We got the wrong side of the train…oops
Gorgeous Snoqualmie Valley and River
Of course, Thomas is the lead engine
Daddy and Liam
Add comment July 19, 2008












































