For their daily trip to Braintree School, Sam Paddock ferries his grandchildren, Shawn Paddock, and Hayley, Natalie, and Lauren Messier across Riford Brook by tractor and the rest of the way by car. While inconvenient, this mile-and-three-quarter, two vehicle solution, is preferable to 12 miles on rough via Thayer Brook Road. (Herald / Bob Eddy)