Toot, toot - Train and Riverboat

August 1 – No lollygagging today!  We had a good breakfast and had to be showered and ready with a picnic lunch to leave by 10:30 – 10:45 at the latest!  Bill said we left at 10:41!

Our train arriving

We drove to Essex, CT where we picked up our tickets there were pre-paid to go on the Essex  Steam Train  Riverboat for our 2.5 hours tour!  We arrived in time to pick up our tickets, use the restroom, visit the gift shop and it was time to board the train.

They did an excellent job on the train to make you feel comfortable under Covid circumstances.  Each car only used one side of the seats and had Plexiglas partitions allowing only 5 “groups” on each car.  We had 2 seats facing each other and

Safety precaution in place

windows open on both sides allowing air circulation.  You could sit maskless in your section.

We were allowed to bring snacks/food on and since we were leaving at 12:30 there was no option but to bring lunch along.  I make chicken salad and brought a bun for Bill and crackers for me.  We had 2 bottles of water, veggies, rice pudding and fruit, so we were good to go!

Gillette Castle from the train

The train goes slower on the way out and they give you lots of info about what you’re seeing or not seeing.  We passed Deep River Landing where we were to catch the boat on the way back.  The engineer blew the train whistle a lot as there were a number of railroad crossings and there were beautiful homes along the way.

They use 2 engines as there is no turn around once you reach the end.  We didn’t get off until we were back to Deep River Landing.  It’s a pretty large marina along there and the steamboat was docked with a horde of people already off and in their designated corral waiting to board the train.  The train personnel cannot let them on until they have sanitized each cubby and the same for the boat.  Once they were cleared their corral was emptied and we went into it and once the boat was cleaned we got on.  They put

Train bridge we went over

everyone on the boarding deck first and you must mask until they get so far out and open the top deck and the

Our riverboat

bottom deck.  Bill and I managed to snag seats along the rail so one others relocated we stayed and moved to allow space between us and others but we still masked for the entire trip.

I took a lot of photos going up and coming back rather than keep moving, as I don’t do well on boats or water and walking on a moving boat hitting waves created by BIG boats is not a fun thing for me!  I barely move my head

Opera house that's never had an opera

also.  The guide was very good and provided a lot of information about the river and areas we passed going and coming back.  It was such a beautiful day the river, which is very wide, had many, many boats of all sizes and ski doos going back and forth.  People were have a great day during a difficult time!!

We got to see Gillette Castle from the train and then twice on the boat.  I managed to get some good shots and hope it opens to take Bill to see the inside before we leave.  I went there years ago with my buds: Kerry, Karen, Donna and Debbie and it’s an awesome and very unusual place to

Gillette Castle from the boat, does it look the same?

see.  Gillette had no heirs so the estate was left to the state of CT and is now a state park with huge acreage. 

We took our turn in the corral and once the train arrived and the cleaning was done they instructed us to return to our same car and seat.  The trip back to Essex was much faster than the outgoing trip.  Everything was closed up just as we were told but I took a couple of photos in the station area before we headed on our way.

We stopped at Crystal Mall on the way back and I did a quick stop at Bed, Bath and Beyond and a longer one at Christmas Tree Shoppes!  Then it was hit the road towards home.  There was nothing planned for

The engineer remembered where he left us!

dinner so we stopped in Dayville, CT at Railside Tavern, as Bill has been wanting to go there.  We sat outside and had an awesome dinner!  I had baked scallops with sides of slaw and squash while Bill had Chicken Parm over pasta.  My veggies were slightly crisp, my slaw was seasoned perfectly and my scallops were moist and tender in s succulent sauce!  We’re going back there!!!

I will saw we were wiped when we got home.  So glad we don’t have to walk a dog sometimes!  We emptied the truck and watched some TV and read!  It was a great day in CT.