Route 4 city ferry carrying cars and passengers on a river beside trees and a small town

Route 4 City Ferry Loading Cars at the Riverbank

A Route 4 city ferry lowers its ramp for waiting cars while passengers ride above the river toward a steepled town.

🎨 How to color it

Color the City Ferry hull bright navy, the Route 4 signs sunny yellow, the cars cherry red, teal, and silver, and the riverside trees in mixed spring greens. Use sharp colored pencils around the railings, ladders, windows, and tiny passengers, then switch to broader marker strokes for the hull, river, and sky. Try a warm sunset glow on the smoke puff and clouds so the ferry feels like it is racing home at golden hour.

The story behind this coloring page

Jory and the Laughing Ferry — Every evening, Jory snapped the chain across the Route 4 ramp, counted the cars, and tapped twice on the rail so Captain Bell could nose the ferry into the river. Read the full story →

Every evening, Jory snapped the chain across the Route 4 ramp, counted the cars, and tapped twice on the rail so Captain Bell could nose the ferry into the river. He loved the thunk of tires on metal and the peppery smell of engine smoke. One windy Friday, just as the last van rolled aboard, a tuba blared from the trees on the far bank—BAAARP! A marching band burst out, waving silver horns and shouting, “Wait! The festival starts in ten minutes!”

Because of that, Jory begged Captain Bell to swing back before the town clock chimed. Because of THAT, the ferry filled with drummers, trumpet cases, and laughing passengers who stomped out a rhythm between the parked cars. The little boat bounced through choppy water like it had joined the parade itself, smoke puffing in time above the stack.

At the dock, the band leapt off playing so loudly that people in the steepled town came running with flags and picnic baskets. Jory forgot to tap twice; everyone tapped with him. Next time you spot Route 4, see if the railings still remember the thunk of tires on metal.