Riding the Rails: Montreal to Quebec City

August 12, 2013 -- I took an early morning VIA Rail Canada train from Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) to Quebec City Palace Station (Gare du Palais) for a short two-day excursion to the most European city in North America.

The trip between French Canada's two largest cities takes a little over three hours with stops at Charny, Drummondville, Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Lambert and Sainte-Foy. While the WiFi service can be a bit spotty (just like Amtrak!), the train cars are clean and the chairs are comfortable with lots of leg room and big windows to watch the Quebec scenery go by . The service is typically Canadian friendly as instead of a cafe car as on Amtrak, the food and beverage is delivered airline-style directly to your seat.

The châteauesque design of Quebec City's historic train station is similar to the Château Frontenac. The station was built in 1915 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is well worth a look around at the intricate details at this magnificent rail destination.

Here are photos of the Montreal-Quebec City rail ride:



And here is video of the VIA Rail journey:

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Canada Summer 2013: Riding Amtrak Adirondack Train from New York City to Montreal

August 8, 2013 -- The trip began in Washington, D.C. where I boarded the BoltBus intercity bus service for the four hour plus ride to midtown Manhattan. I stayed with family in Battery Park City for the night and early the next morning took the subway to Penn Station to get ready for the 11-hour, 381 mile (613 km) train ride through New York State and Quebec Province to Montreal.

Penn Station is always a chaotic scene with lines criss-crossing each other, confused passengers navigating the dank, dark corridors and riders scrambling to rush to their gate minutes before their train arrives once the gate is announced on the big board before they have to cram single file into one small escalator. The scene was no different as we waited in line to show our passports for the Canadian check-in to board Amtrak Adirondack train number 69.

The other observation I noticed was how militarized Penn Station still is a full 12 years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. National Guard troops with weapons and K-9 dogs patrolled the station looking for suspicious packages or behavior. There had been a recent terrorist threat abroad that forced the closure of many U.S. embassies so it could have been related to that.

Thankfully a new 21st century high-speed rail hub is being planned to replace the old Penn Station.

Once on the train I sat next to a gentleman from Perth, Australia who was traveling around the States and Canada. We chatted for much of the trip which made the 11 hours go by faster. We also took lots of pictures on one of the most scenic train rides in the entire world. The route travels through the Hudson Valley and Adirondack Mountains and provides spectacular views of the mighty Hudson River and Lake Champlain where the train winds its way high above the massive body of water separating New York from Vermont.

I walked to the dining car where I talked to a professional photographer returning to Montreal from a photo shoot assignment in New York. She took a ton of pictures of the passing scenery.

In the state capital of Albany the train switches engines, which offers a chance for passengers to walk around the platform to stretch the legs and watch the engine change up close.



Amtrak does not own the right of way on most of the track along its Adirondack route so the service suffers from a high rate of delays and poor on time arrival. I experienced this first hand after a 20-minute delay just south of Plattsburgh, New York to allow a southbound Canadian Pacific Railway freight train to pass because CPR operates that section of track. The conductor explained the predicament in a resigned voice to the passengers. He must be used to these daily inconveniences.

We were also held up at the U.S.-Canadian border by a surprise security check at Rouses Point, New York. In addition to the routine check of our passports, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations Officers conducted a full baggage search with bomb-sniffing K-9 dogs as all passengers from each car were made to move back to the dining car while the extensive search was going on. After the long delay, the conductor apologized for the unusual outgoing U.S. inspection.

It was a relief when we finally crossed over into Canadian territory. We were welcomed by the much friendlier and less armed Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers. The border agent asked me a bunch of questions including where I was from, my profession and my reason for visiting the Great White North. He obviously liked my answers because he didn't even bother to stamp my passport.

The first thing I noticed as we rolled ahead into the Quebec countryside was how neat and orderly everything was compared to the New York State side of the border. The farmland was spectacular with picture postcard silos, barns and country houses framed against the setting summer sun. The scenery reminded me a lot of my train travels through the French countryside, except in France the scenery passed much faster since I was on a TGV high-speed train traveling at speeds up to 200 mph (322 km/h), whereas in Quebec I was riding the slow train at speeds of 60 to 70 mph (97 to 113 km/h).

After passing the Montreal Canadiens practice facility in Brossard and making a stop in St. Lambert, we crossed the mighty St. Lawrence River at dusk with the shimmering Montreal skyline guiding us to our final destination -- La Belle Ville, The Beautiful City.

Photos of train ride from New York to Montreal:



Video of train ride from New York to Montreal:

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Walking With a Twist to Train Your Abs

Walking with a twist is one way to combat weak abs. In addition it can help you walk with confidence. It can help you become fully present in your body while walking (because you are focusing on the act of walking) and it'll help your heart pump blood. It will also massage your organs at the same time. It can also be used to strengthen your legs and give your walk more power. It may also help you deal with low back pain, the type that feels like your lower back is being pulled forwards from inside of your body and makes your lower back feel like it is being compressed.

Twisting Happens in the Lower Ribcage

The key to walking with a twist is understanding that when you twist your spine, most of the twist happens in the lower half of your ribcage. It does not happen in your lower back.

If you sit down in a chair or on the floor and then twist to one side, the lower part of your thoracic spine and ribcage will turn relative to your pelvis. Your thoracic vertebrae (these are the vertebrae to which your ribs attach) are designed to turn relative to each other. And your ribs are levers that you can use to help them twist.

The lumbar spine connects your ribcage to your pelvis. This part of your spine is designed not to twist. The vertebrae here can twist from front to back and from side to side, however because they don't turn relative to each other they transmit the force of your abs to the ribs of your ribcage so that you can use your abs to turn your ribs relative to your pelvis... or your pelvis relative to your ribs.

The Muscles that Twist Your Spine

Your abdominals, particularly your obliques, are what you use to turn your ribcage relative to your pelvis. The obliques angle forwards and up from your pelvis to your ribcage and they also angle forwards and down. It's because of the way that they are angled that they can be used to turn your ribs relative to your pelvis.

Another set of angled muscles is located between each set of ribs. These are called the intercostals and they can be used to turn your ribs relative to each other.

If you twist while holding your pelvis still (say for example while sitting on the floor) your lower ribs will turn relative to your pelvis thanks to the action of your obliques. Meanwhile your upper ribs will turn with respect to your lower ribs because of your intercostals.

Your Ribcage Is a Flexible Structure (Or Should Be!)

If you are used to thinking of your ribcage as a rigid and inflexible structure it's time to change that way of thinking. Your ribcage is actually quite mobile. And moving it helps to mobilize the thoracic spine. Also, making your ribcage more flexible, or keeping it flexible can help your breathing since the intercostals (and abs) can be used in the breathing process if you learn to breathe into your ribcage.

Massaging Your Organs and Assisting Your Heart

If you've ever twisted a wet wash cloth you know that when you twist you ring out the water. Twisting your ribcage relative to your pelvis you can do something similar, you can squeeze your internal organs. If you twist and then release and then twist again (to the opposite side) you can squeeze and then release your internal organs, giving them a massage, or more appropriately helping to pump fluids within them.

This pumping action not only happens within the organs of your abdomen, it also affects the main blood vessels that run down (and up) through the abdominal cavity. By twisting and releasing you help to squeeze blood through these organs assisting your heart in the pumping of blood.

Twisting Your Lower Ribcage

Before I get on to walking with a twist I should explain a bit more about the ribcage and it's ability to twist. Most of the twist happens in the lower half of the ribcage. This is the part of the ribcage that has the arch in front. Your upper ribcage twists a little but the ability is hindered by the attachment of your ribs to your sternum. So what's really happening when you twist is that your upper ribcage turns relative to your pelvis. However, if you are walking and you keep your upper ribcage facing your direction of travel, your lower ribcage can twist as you walk.

It's a lot like the action used in Latin dances like the rhumba and cha cha cha but instead of dancing you are walking and in the process you make your walk look graceful. And it feels good at the same time.

Walking with a Twist?

So how do you walk with a twist? Start by standing tall. Pull your head back and up so that your neck feels long. Actually, by making your neck long your straighten your cervical spine (the part of the spine that joins your head to your ribcage.) The more you straighten this part of your spine the more you straighten the your upper thoracic spine which is directly below it. This causes your upper chest to lift and open. (You might find this easier to notice if you repeatedly, and slowly, pull your head back and then move it forwards.)

With your upper ribs lifted your abdominal (and intercostals) have a foundation from which to act. They can then be used to help turn your lower ribcage and pelvis relative to your upper ribcage.

As you walk focus on keeping your upper chest facing your direction of travel. As your right leg moves forwards allow the right side of your pelvis to swing forwards. As your left leg swings forwards do the same with the left side of your pelvis.

Adding Power To Your Twist

This is a "passive" method of walking with a twist. To make your walk more authoritative, powerful or confident, focus on using your abs to turn your pelvis relative to your ribcage. Use the turning of your pelvis to swing your legs.

If your weight is on your left leg, use your inner left thigh muscles to twist your pelvis relative to your left leg. At the same time use your abs to turn your pelvis to the left so that your right leg swings forwards.
When your right heal touches the floor, shift your weight forwards and as you do so activate your right inner thigh to turn your pelvis relative to your right leg. Use your abdominals to turn your pelvis relative to your ribcage and swing your left leg forwards.

Using Your Inner Thighs

For more power, and a more connected walk, you can use the inner thigh of your hindmost leg. If you were standing on one leg the equivalent action would be to internally rotate your free leg so that it rotates inwards relative to your pelvis. The front of your free leg then moves inwards, towards the opposite side of the pelvis. If you do the same action while moving the pelvis instead of the leg, then the opposite side of the pelvis moves forwards and inwards causing the front of the hip joint to close.

Say you are swinging your left leg forwards while walking. As the left side of your pelvis swings forwards the front of your right hip closes laterally. Then it opens again when the right leg swings forwards.

You can add extra drive to each step by making this action more deliberate. Use the internal rotators of your back leg to help swing the opposite side of your pelvis forwards. At the same time use your abs to twist your lower ribcage so that your upper ribcage continues to face your direction of travel.

Letting Your Arms Swing

The final aspect of walking with a twist is allowing your arms to swing freely. Actually, you will probably find that walking with a twist causes your arms to swing of their own accords. Because in this method you upper ribcage acts as a foundation for the movement of your lower ribcage, it also acts as a foundation for the muscles that attach your shoulder blades to your ribcage. Because the ribcage is stable these muscles may tend to relax and so that your body as a whole stays balanced while you walk, your shoulder blades and arms will naturally swing as you walk.

For exercises to help you twist better so that it is easier to walk with a twist check out sensational-yoga-poses.com.

Neil Keleher is a yoga teacher and he lives in Taiwan. His interests range between yoga, tai ji, chinese calligraphy and understanding consciousness. For more on ab exercises read ab exercises

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Train Like You Mean It! Making The Most Of Your Workouts

I've got a confession to make. In the past I often didn't work as hard as I could when I trained. I backed off momentarily during a run, slowed down for a light that was still green, or tucked in behind another cyclist for a couple of kilometres to enjoy the free ride that drafting provides. Now these are not sins that will condemn me to eternal damnation, but as someone with limited time to train, I can't afford to be wasting time by not giving 100%. So I made a promise to myself that I will always make the most out of every minute of every workout.

Realistically, most people aren't worried about preparing for races, or running personal bests every week. Most of us just want to be a bit fitter and more in shape. The one unifying factor is that none of us have a lot of time to fit in exercise around our increasingly hectic work, social and family commitments. That's why it makes sense to treat every workout as if it is an Olympic final.

Here are some of the ways I try to boost the value of my workouts:

Keep track of your progress:
I run at least three times a week, and use Nike

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How Much Running Is Required to Train for a First Half Marathon?

Running a first half marathon is a great way of getting fit, losing weight and maybe even earning some money for a good cause. But how much training is required?

The answer depends on two things - how fit you are at the beginning of your training, and how fast you want to compete the 13.1 mile course. Both need to be considered together. Starting from a low level of fitness but trying to run the course in less than 90 minutes is going to take a LOT of training.

It's generally reckoned that to achieve that sort of time, you will need to be running in the region of 50 miles per week. And starting from a low fitness base it will take quite a long time to get up to that level. A useful rule of thumb is the 10% rule - increase your total running distance by no more than 10% from one week to the next if you want to minimise your risk of getting injured. Most injuries are caused by increasing the intensity or distance run each week too quickly. The 10% rule helps prevent runners from getting carried away. So if you can run 10 miles per week now (spread over 3 or more runs, obviously) the most you should try next week is 11 miles. Keep to this simple rule and you should be able to avoid over-training, and keep uninjured for your first half marathon.

So, if you haven't run for years, you are looking at 6 or more months hard training before you are able to do the kind of weekly distance that will be required to run 13.1 miles in under 90 minutes. On the plus side, that would probably be fast enough to get you in the to 2% of finishers - and that includes the elite runners! Most of us would rather set a less demanding target - maybe just completing the distance, or aiming for less than 2 hours, which would still get you in the top third of finishers for the Great North Run in the UK.

Either way you should be looking to build up to running at least 3 times a week, spread out over the whole week, steadily increasing the weekly distance as you go. It's very tempting to try and get all of your training done in one or two sessions a week. However, that is not only a good way of getting injured, but it's also bad for your body. You don't tend to build up the muscles you need so much and you don't lose so much weight. Consistent, regular exercise is the key to good results. Missing a day is OK. Missing 5 days in a row is going to make it so much harder to achieve you goals.

Find out more about training for a half marathon at www.erunningweightloss.com/halfmarathontraining

Rob Knowles used to be a sedentary, overweight office dweller. He still wastes his days trying to earn an honest living in an office, but he did take up running, he lost some weight and now he just won't stop going on about it!

© 2012 Rob Knowles

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How to Train for a Half Marathon - Intermediate Runners

ByRebecca E Lynch

Initially, a half marathon can seem a bit daunting. However, if you're an intermediate runner, meaning that you've been running five or six times a week and are averaging between 15-25 miles per week, you're ready to attempt your first half marathon. With a bit of planning and a lot of training, you'll be crossing the finish line in no time.

Equipment
The great thing about running is that it's essentially free. It doesn't require an expensive gym membership or fancy clothes. All you'll need is a good pair of running shoes, a couple of good pairs of socks, and an inexpensive watch. Purchasing quality shoes is particularly important, especially as you begin to run longer distances, and it's very crucial to invest in a good pair. Many running apparel and sporting good stores offer a complimentary shoe fitting; they'll observe your step and examine your feet to match the precise shoe exactly to your needs. Socks may seem insignificant, but don't underestimate the power of a good pair of socks. Nothing hinders training like an agonizing blister.

Training
There are many free half marathon training programs available for download on the Internet. Most are centered around the same concepts: gradually increasing mileage to build endurance while incorporating aerobic intervals to improve stamina. Make sure to verify that the selected program comes from a reliable source, and try to follow the training schedule as closely as possible. If you have a busy schedule, it helps to plan a week in advance exactly when you'll take on your daily runs. In addition to the training program, strength training and stretching are extremely beneficial to avoid injury while distance running. High repetition, light weightlifting is arguably the most useful and important cross-training exercise for runners. However, nothing is more important to a proper training regimen than a thorough stretch before and after each run. Incorporating yoga into your fitness routine a couple of times a week is also a great way to minimize injuries and aid in muscle restoration after a long run.

Nutrition
As an intermediate runner, you've probably already mastered the art of fueling your body for long distance runs. However, when training for a half marathon, it's very important to monitor your daily calorie intake to make sure that you're getting an adequate amount of calories. Listen to your body, and nourish it appropriately with a sufficient amount of protein and carbohydrates. If in doubt, there are a plethora of books and online forums available where you can find an abundance of meal plans specifically designed for runners and athletes. During long distance runs, many runners ingest energy gels or protein bars to increase endurance and maximize energy. If you plan on consuming these, make sure to conduct a trial run with the product, as you never want to experiment with a new product on Race Day.

Prepping for Race Day- What to Expect

As Race Day approaches, it's normal to experience a bit of anxiety. Many runners make the mistake of overexerting themselves in a last-minute attempt to prepare. Instead, trust your training and don't try to overcompensate, as this has been found to be counter-productive. Adhere to the training schedule and make sure to taper the training a week prior to the race. Your two meals prior to the starting gun are highly important. On the evening before, eat a meal of protein and complex carbohydrates, and again, you don't want to experiment with any unfamiliar foods. Awake early and allow plenty of time for a relaxed preparation and transport to the starting line. At least an hour before the race, consume a small meal composed mostly of carbohydrates, and drink plenty of water. Upon arrival at the race site, find your proper place at the starting line, and soak in your surroundings. You've worked hard, trained hard, and now it's time to enjoy the run!

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How Long Does It Take to Train for Your First Half Marathon?

The length of time required to train for a first half marathon depends upon a number of factors. But one of the reasons for the popularity of half marathons is that most people are able to compete in their first event within a relatively short period of time - often as little as 3 months.

The idea of running a full, 26.2 mile marathon is something which is extremely daunting for most of us. However, the proliferation of half marathons, and huge numbers of people of all ages who have participated in them, shows how achievable they are for ordinary people.

The basic idea of training for any event is what's called progressive overload. Start with what you can do. Some people may already be able to run, but many beginners probably haven't run in years. In which case they should start with walking. You may think that walking won't do you much good, but if you haven't participated in any form of exercise for some time you, walking for 30 minutes a day every day of the week will start to make noticeable differences to your body in just a couple of weeks. You'll be able to go faster, and still not get so out of breath. And you'll probably start to lose a few pounds, as long as you haven't started treating yourself to a pizza every day as a reward for all that exercise!

One of the great things about mass participation half marathons is that everybody is in the same boat. Sure there are the elite runners at the front who want to set a world record. But you probably won't see them except for on the TV highlights. The large majority will be people just like you - who want to get fit and have a bit of fun, possibly raising some money for their favourite charity on the way. They are not so fiercely competitive that it becomes a drain. And the shared endurance, not to mention cheering crowd of spectators, gives a genuinely life enhancing boost. There is no pressure to achieve a particular time, other than that which you put upon yourself.

So, if your target just to get round the circuit before the organisers put away the cones (typically 4 hours) most people can complete enough training in a few months. If you are a bit more competitive and are aiming for 2 or 2.5 hours, 6 months should give you all the time you need to build up your endurance and speed, steadily each week. If you want to break the world record, it will almost certainly take a little longer!

Find out more about training for a half marathon at www.erunningweightloss.com/halfmarathontraining

Rob Knowles used to be a sedentary, overweight office dweller. He still wastes his days trying to earn an honest living in an office, but he did take up running, he lost some weight and now he just won't stop going on about it!

© 2012 Rob Knowles

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How Do You Train for Baseball-Softball on a 3G Cardio Vibration Machine?

This workout will help you increase upper body and leg strength, improving your power as a hitter, strength for throwing and overall speed and agility.

It's recommended you also perform additional strength training exercises on free weights or functional trainer and make sure to run, throw and stretch as well.

Once you have the basic knowledge of the vibration machine workout do's and don't, here's a plan to get you to the next level in baseball and softball.

Do all of these exercises three times a week:

LEGS

1. Regular squat - Stand on the Vibration plate with feet shoulder width apart. Keeping the back straight and knees slightly bent gently squeeze the leg muscles. You should feel tension in your quadriceps, buttocks and back.

Tip: Keep good posture with back straight. If you lean slightly forward quadriceps will be emphasized more, if you lean back hamstrings will be used more. Keep body weight on heels.

2. Lunge - Place one foot in the middle of the Vibration plate and step back with the other planting it firmly on the ground behind. Keeping the back straight and the knees directly above the toes, squeeze the leg muscles. You should feel tension in the hamstrings, quadriceps and buttocks.

Tip: Put your hands on your hips to help with balance if needed. Adjust heel tension as needed.

3. Calves - Standing in the center of the Vibration plate, rise up on to the balls of the feet. Keeping your back straight and abdomen tight, you should begin to feel tension in your calf muscles. To add variation to the exercise, try bending your knees to 90 degrees.

Tip: Squeeze your calf muscles to make it more difficult.

UPPER BODY

1. Push Up - Kneel in front of the Vibration plate, placing hands on the plate shoulder width apart with fingers facing inward. With a straight back and strong abdomen, push off the Vibration plate platform. This exercise will strengthen chest, shoulder muscles and triceps.

Tip: For variation, try straightening your legs and lifting your knees. Vary width of hand placement by going wide (more back and chest used) or narrow (more triceps used).

2. Triceps Dip - Facing away from the Vibration plate, firmly grip the edge and push upwards. Now bend the arms slightly and lower the hips toward the plate, squeezing the shoulder blades together. You should feel the tension mainly in your upper arms. For variation, repeat the exercise with your legs straight.

Tip: Vary hand position in and out to train the triceps in different ways.

3. Biceps Curl - Position your toes slightly under the edge of the unit for support and hold the straps tightly at waist height. Knees should be slightly bent, back and wrists kept straight. Pull your arms upward. You should feel tension in the shoulders and biceps.

Tip: Adjust the length of the straps to train the biceps in different ways. Focus on using just biceps to isolate them more.

4. Bent Over Row - Stand in front of the Vibration plate. Pull the belts upward on the side of your body. Push your chest out and shoulder-blades together. Pull your arms backwards in a smooth motion and you should feel tension in your upper back and shoulder area. Vary hand position in and out to train the triceps in different ways.

Tip: Adjust the length of the straps and angle your pulling to train the back in different ways.

5. Front Raise - Stand in front of the Vibration plate, legs shoulder width apart and raise both arms horizontally in front of your torso.

Keeping your back straight and abdomen strong, pull the straps upward. For variation, perform the same exercise from a standing position on the Vibration plate.

Tip: This is a great way to strengthen the rotator cuffs, but don't go past parallel. Keep back straight and eyes straight ahead.

CORE

1. Abdominal Crunch

Place a pillow under the small of your back, raise your legs and place your hands under your head for support making sure to keep your elbows parallel with the floor. Crunch your upper body toward your legs and feel the tension in the abdominals. Ensure your buttocks and lower back do not lose contact with the mat. Tip: To vary the routine, place your feet on the step.

These tips should give you a good base workout to start with.Add or delete exercises as you go, but always remember to use good form on the vibration machine, just as you do on the baseball or softball field.

Aaron Dorksen, sports editor of The Daily Record in Wooster, Ohio, has won numerous Associated Press state and national awards. He was voted Ohio AP sports writer of the year in 2006. Dorksen was a scholastic multi-sport athlete and is still a competitive slowpitch softball player, while also remaining an avid weightlifter, cyclist and runner.

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Riding the Rails: Brussels to Berlin

July 17, 2011 -- I took a Deutsche Bahn InterCity-Express train from Brussels to Berlin with a transfer in Cologne. The train makes intermediate stops at Liege and Aachen before reaching Cologne. From Cologne the train makes intermediate stops at Dusseldorf, Duisburg, Essen, Bochum, Dortmund, Hamm, Gutersloh, Bielefeld, Herford, Hannover, Wolfsburg, Stendal and Berlin-Spandau. DB ICE trains travel at speeds up to 200 mph (322 kph).

The train station at Liege, Belgium is spectacular. It was designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who also designed the new transit hub at Ground Zero in New York City and the Chords Bridge in Jerusalem.

In typical German fashion, Deutsche Bahn wants you to know exactly how fast and efficient their high-speed trains are. The ICE trains top out at around 200 mph (322 kph) so my train was gaining speed at the time I took this picture. For Americans reading this blog post, that is 155 miles per hour.

As we sped through the German countryside I was expecting to see alpine houses and gothic cathedrals, which I did. However, I also saw gigantic wind farms with enormous wind turbines dotting the landscape. And it seemed as if every other house I saw had solar panels installed on the rooftop. Germany is obviously not the windiest or sunniest country in the world, but the Federal Republic has had a Renewable Energy Act in place since the year 2000, so this is the result of over eleven years of generous incentives for wind and solar power. It is impressive to see so many wind farms and so many citizens powering their homes with the sun.

That evening we arrived at the multi-level, futuristic looking Berlin Central Train Station. Trains are coming and going all the time on different levels, making it look like something out of the Fox animated science fiction show "Futurama." So cool.

Here are photos and video of my high speed train trip from Brussels to Berlin. Click here to see the photo set on Flickr.

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Riding the Rails: London to Brussels

July 16, 2011 -- After a night out at a local Swiss Cottage pub with some hostelers, I woke up early the next morning and took a taxi to St. Pancras Railway Station where I took a Eurostar high speed train to my next stop -- Brussels, Belgium.

The train zips you to Brussels in a little under two hours and travels at speeds up to 186 miles per hour (300 kilometers per hour). It was my first time riding a high speed train and it was an amazing experience. You literally feel as if you are flying on the ground. But while the speed is incredibly fast, the ride is also surprisingly smooth. The highlight for me was traveling through the English Channel Tunnel, otherwise called the Chunnel. It takes about 20 minutes to travel the 31.4 miles (50.5 kilometers) from Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France. It is thrilling being 250 feet (75 meters) under sea level on a high-speed train roaring ahead at nearly 200 mph.

Eurostar makes stops at Ebbsfleet and Ashford in southern England; and Calais and Lille in northern France, before arriving at Brussels South Railway Station.

Here is video riding the rails from London to Brussels:

Here are photos of the rail trip from London to Brussels. Click here to see the Flickr set.

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Riding the Rails: Solana Beach to Anaheim

Solana Beach is home to one of the finest little train stations in all of America. The station was designed by architect Rob Wellington Quigley, and was built in 1994 to replace the depot in Del Mar, California. The main terminal is a real gem with a sleek, modern design and the platform is sunken into the earth, creating a surreal environment in which you feel as if you are underground but you are outside, just lower than street level.

The station is served by Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner trains between San Diego and Santa Barbara via Los Angeles and Orange County; and Coaster commuter trains between North San Diego County and downtown San Diego.

Here are photos of the station:



And here is video of a Coaster commuter train departing the station, heading south towards downtown San Diego:



The ride north from Solana Beach to Anaheim on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner provides passengers with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. In North San Diego County and South Orange County the train tracks are placed within yards of the Pacific Ocean. The ocean and beach views are breathtaking. At times you feel as though you are riding on the water you are so close to the Pacific. In my view there is perhaps no better way to experience the beauty of Southern California then taking the train through North San Diego County and South Orange County before the tracks veer inwards towards Anaheim and eventually Union Station in downtown L.A.

Here is a video montage of the part of my train trip with the best views of the beaches and Pacific Ocean. The video starts just around Oceanside and ends at San Clemente.

 

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