#elevated bridge

We were away for most of this weekend (traveling to see the Okee Dokee Brothers!) and as we scrambled out the door at 8am, the almost five-year old threw together a quick, but daring track that was practically all elevated. Practically unheard of too. But it was just a rough sketch, it was incomplete.

We returned home a couple of days later and work resumed on "the Skyline" almost immediately. I must say that the elevation is insanely ridiculous! It wasn't enough to have a two-foot section of raised track on Lego supports, but it had to branch and then raise up on two side-by-side bridges while doing the high wire act. That's one daring and innovative track designer we have here. 

Here, let's bask in some of my son's fine work.

I asked Oliver what the reason was for all of it being so high. He pointed at one end and said "Mud." He pointed in the middle and said "Water." Finally he pointed at the other end, and said "Tracks." Okay, well that makes sense when you look at it.

If you look closer though you'll notice that there is more happening elsewhere on the track. There is a separate smaller track section that is also elevated. There is a dinosaur (of course!) and there is a long looping siding that curls around itself. What's that all about?

With a little questioning of the boy, it becomes clear that the loop siding goes around the docks that are encircling the harbor. This is adjacent to the bay where the side-by-side bridges go over, under, and around. 

We exchanged a quick grin and thought about how to use water in our track layout. Hmm... what about boats... Aha! We needed paper boats!

Yes! Check out this trio of painted paper boats! The one in the front is a ferry boat. In the middle there is a classic "Curious George" paper boat. The sailboat in back is based on an origami design and has great decorated sails. All painting is courtesy of the almost-five year old, and is, in a word, awesome! 

And here are the boats in action at the docks. It looks like the ferry is loading up for a trip across the bay. I love it when the track takes on a life that exists not just within it, but also all around it as well. So much inhabits the space, far more than what can be depicted in these pictures. I love it even more when I realize that this came from a child's mind and imagination. And just like these pictures, there is far more inside that boy's head than that to which is only hinted at by today's play session. 

To top it all off, when going to bed, Oliver made a point of telling me, "I had a good time." I said, "Oh yeah? How?" I half expected him to say how much he enjoyed the concert and the trip we took by train and subway. Nope. He said, "I had a good time making those boats."

I had the glorious honor of being a solo parent for the weekend while my wife was at a conference. Through the weekend there were many things that happened (which confirmed that she performs incredible work every day, something akin to making rainbows arise out of teardrops), however, you better believe that there was time for a train track - and it was a great one!

We have enjoyed various incarnations of elevated bridges - some long, some curving, some branching - but on this occasion, we took it to a new level: up, up, up! Check this out!

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you... This bridge rises to a second level, the first time we have done this. Of course, multiple Lego supports are needed, but by now, we've got that down to a science. It feels like the evolution of track building this year is all about pushing the boundaries.

Let's look closer at what's happening here. 

Pretty sweet, right?!? We really enjoyed making it happen, and we had a feeling of pride in it that lasted the rest of the day. Look around a bit in the gallery below...

I must also point out that the other sections are just as awesome too. I especially like the siding that extends out from the Signal House, and the over-and-under crossing is the most aesthetically pleasing part of the whole layout.