Be Your Own Train

Vélo-Rail
Originally uploaded by The Stitchin Sheep.

This weekend trip to see some friends was so much fun. I expected a little hike somewhere pretty, but they surprised us with something even better: Vélo Rail. This roughly translates to Track Cycling, and it's the oddest/coolest invention I've come across in quite a while.

Someone has purchased property in the hills of Larzac (beautiful Southern French sheep grazing country) that had an old, unused bit of railway on it. They set up buggies like the one in the picture, powered by the strength of your own legs, that zoom along the old tracks. Very cool. The sounds are all those of a train, and the pedaling needed to propel the buggy isn't really all that hard. As you can see, there is a bench behind the two pedalers seats for the lazy ones to sit on. And, between the bicycle seats up front, there is a place to attach a baby seat, so it's an ideal family outing.

Here's a link for anyone who is interested.