SHAYNA: A SCENIC RIDE, OCEAN BREEZES, GENTLE EXERCISES -- DOES THAT SOUND APPEALING?
ANTHONY: AN INNOVATION FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD MADE ITS WAY TO RHODE ISLAND.
>> WITH OVER 30% OF ITS TOTAL AREA MADE UP OF WATER, THEY DON’T CALL RHODE ISLAND THE OCEAN STATE FOR NOTHING.
AS TO ISLANDS -- ALSO KNOWN AS RHODE ISLAND, IS THE LARGEST ISLAND MAKING UP THE OCEAN STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, WHICH COULD ALL SOUND KIND OF CONFUSING.
NO DENT IT MAY, AT LAND, AND THE REMAINING COUNTS MAKE UP THIS ISLAND.
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, THE THREE MAIN TOWNS OR PORTSMOUTH, MIDDLETOWN, AND NEWPORT, OUR FIRST STOP PORTSMOUTH, WHERE I WAS INTRIGUED TO TRY SOMETHING UNIQUE AND YOU, RIDING THE RAILS
UNDER MY OWN POWER.
>> THIS CRAZY VEHICLE THAT YOU PEDAL ALONG THE ROUTE TRACKS.
AS SOON AS PEOPLE SEE A PICTURE, THEY GET IT IN A SECOND.
>> NATIVE AUSTRALIAN AND TRANSPLANTED NEW YORKERS ALEX AND HIS WIFE ARE THE CREATORS OF RAIL EXPLORES.
THE VEHICLE ITSELF WAS FIRST INVENTED AND POPULARIZED IN SOUTH KOREA.
THE COUPLE SPENT THREE YEARS WORKING ON BRINGING IN HERE, WHICH THEY DID FIRST IN THE ADIRONDACKS, AND NOW IN RHODE ISLAND ON A SPUR OF THE NEWPORT AND NARRAGANSETT BAY RAILROAD.
NEXT THERE HAVE BEEN ALL MADE VERSIONS OF THESE TYPE OF VEHICLES AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME A BEAUTIFULLY ENGINEERED FUN TO RIDE GREAT TO LOOK AT,
VERY BICYCLE LIKE.
REALLY ANYONE CAN DO IT.
>> IT IS EFFORTLESS PEDDLING.
>> IT IS ALSO AN EXPERIENCE PEDDLING ALONG TRAIN TRACKS THAT IS ENTIRELY NEW FOR MOST OF US.
>> USUALLY ON A TRAIN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WINDOW.
ON ONE OF THESE, YOU ARE REALLY PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT IT’S A SIX MILE TOUR ALONG NOW AGAINST IT A.
WATER VIEWS AND A FEELING OF SEEING SOMETHING FAMILIAR, BUT IN A NEW WAY.
>> WE GO THROUGH SOME AREAS OF THE ISLAND THAT EVEN LONGTIME WORKERS HAVE NEVER SEEN ARE ACCESSED IN THIS WAY.
ANTHONY: THE VEHICLES CAN BE LINKED UP FOR FAMILIES AND CAN BE ACCESSED FOR ALL ABILITIES.
>> FAMILIES WHO HAVE MENTORS IN WHEELCHAIRS ARE ABLE TO COME HERE AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE OF EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.
>> THE RESPONSE SO FAR IN RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC, WHICH IS NO SURPRISE.
IF I COULD HAVE, I MIGHT HAVE KEPT GOING ALL DAY.
>> YOU CAN SMELL THE OCEAN, YOU CAN HEAR THE WAVES CRASHING.
IT’S REALLY SPECTACULAR.
>> FURTHER SOUTH IN NEWPORT, ON A COOL SPRING NIGHT, MOST OF THE BOATS WERE STILL WRAPPED UP, BUT MANY OF VISITORS, EAGER TO GET A JUMP ON SUMMER WERE OUT AND ABOUT.
>> PEOPLE AFTER THEY MEET IN NEWPORT WANT TO TAKE A SHORT WALK TO WALK OFF WHAT THEY’VE DONE.
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DO IT.
ANTHONY: THAT WOULD BE ME, AND THAT WOULD BE VERY TRUE OF THIS SPECIAL PLACE.
LOCATED JUST A FEW MILES FROM NEWPORT IN MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND, IT’S A NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SURELY ONE OF THE HIDDEN GEMS OF THE ISLAND.
>> WE PROTECT AND PRESERVE WILDLIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WE JUST TRY TO INTERPRET WHAT WERE DOING HERE, PRESERVING THE WHILE I.
ANTHONY: THE REFUGE COVERS 224 ACRES OF A MAJOR MIGRATORY ROUTE THAT INCLUDES IN WINTER, THE SNOWY ALL.
MOST POPULAR HERE YOUR ROUTE ARE THE THREE MILES OF WALKING TRAILS THAT WIND BY THE WATER, CRASHING THE SERVER, AND EXTENSIVE FIELDS.
WHAT IS MOST IMPRESSIVE HERE IS WHAT IS IN HERE ANYMORE, THE POINT HAD FORMER LIVES AS A FARM, SHOOTING RANGE, AND RACETRACK.
IT SHED ALL THAT AND BECAME A REFUGE LESS THAN 50 YEARS AGO.
>> TO GET TO COME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS AND SEE THIS.
SHAYNA: PRACTICE MORE -- BACK TO PORTSMOUTH AND RELICS ORDER, THEY HAVE EXPANDED OUT TO LAS VEGAS AND THEY WILL HIT THE CATSKILLS AFTER MEMORIAL DAY.
ANTHONY: THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MILES OF UNUSED AND UNDERUSED RAIL LINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO THEY THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR EXPANSION.
THE TO SEE MORE LOCATIONS DOWN THE ROAD AT SOME POINT.
SHAYNA: SIGN UP FOR A WEEK IN CLASS, IF YOU ARE OF AGE.
>> WE DO EVERYTHIN