Finding a PLAN B for Activities

Lots of changes.  New acceptance. New ways.

Of course there are mobility adaptations for most activities, but some will just be off the table.  However, there are ways to overcome and create a PLAN B.

Some big lessons learned through painful experiences, both physical and mental:

1.     Develop a positive attitude and look at life from the perspective of a “new normal”.  What CAN I do instead of what I CAN’T.  Easy? not one bit.  But eventually leaning on faith (there is a plan and I’m not alone in this), and incredible family and friends led me to a pretty grateful place.  Don’t ask my husband, however, if I have BAD days (sorry).

2.     Create a PLAN B.  The world is getting better at ADA accommodations, but it takes lots of research, patience, and just plain stubbornness to not give up. My legs are my issue; they just don’t move well enough.

3.     Don’t be embarrassed.  That is probably the toughest one to overcome. I don’t want to burden family and friends.  I had to get used to overcoming “stairs” as well as “stares.”  A huge debt of gratitude to the people who make things possible…my husband who hauls my equipment (and me) around without complaint, my son and daughter-in-law for treating me royally and anticipating my needs when I visit or travel (Africa! More on that later), my brother, sister-in-law, and niece for adapting for me, and other family members and friends who travel with me even though I’m a load of exceptions.

(However, I am an asset traveling…everyone goes to the front of the line with me!)

4.     Make certain it’s what I want to do…and not what others think I should…sometimes even though physically my chair or bike CAN get me there doesn’t mean it’s fun.  Think biking through a mountain meadow when you’re at ground level and the sign says, “watch out for snakes”.  Or, a more beautiful activity, taking my motorized chair over the cobblestones in Florence, Italy…yes, I could do it, but it was so rough it wasn’t worth it. (I found a golf cart with my cousin to take me around the Piazza at the Duomo!). Some people suggested “sit skiing” on the slopes, but I hated skiiing (one and done) when I was able, so why would I want to do it now??

Keeping an eye out for all things creepy

Riding in style in Florence, Italy

Adapting physical activities

Living in Colorado, losing the ability to hike was one of the hardest adjustments. Some of my best memories are those with my son in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Every fitness advisor tells you to get up and move—"just go for a walk around the block”—but that feels painfully out of touch when every step comes with chronic back pain and legs that don’t cooperate. But instead of dwelling on what was lost, I search for new ways to explore. 

PLAN B.

Finding New Ways to "Hike"

Determined to get back on the trails, I invested in a powerful all-terrain motorized wheelchair. It opened up some easy trails in places like Sedona, giving me a piece of the old “hiking” experiences.  Everywhere we went via road trip, however, we had to make a choice between the chair and my adaptive bike due to limited space in my van (more on that later).  With just a bit of online research, you can investigate particular locations and parks for accessibility options. But accessibility came at a cost—a very expensive motorized, off-road chair, a lift, and a new van to transport it all.  Still, it turned another "can't" into a "can."  Today many Colorado State Parks also have a “motorized tract chair” (think of a snowcat!) that may be borrowed to go on pretty rugged terrain.

Sedona, AZ trails

A more practical solution was buying a foldable motorized chair (Fold and Go) that can go over normal cobblestones, paved or packed dirt/gravel paths, and even bumpy boardwalks. People stop me in airports, museums, and on the street around the world asking about it…the best investment I’ve made in mobility aids.

Colorado Rockies baseball game

Of course, my walker and sticks have also traveled the world for short distances to keep my legs moving!

 Camping: The FOMO syndrome (fear of being left out)

Camping in Colorado is one of the great joys of living near the mountains…sleeping by a rushing river in the pine trees, blankets of stars, cool nights all summer and no bugs.  Dorothy, we’re not camping at Turkey Run State Park (Indiana) any more.  John Denver had the right idea about a Rocky Mountain high. 

Ditching the tent, sleeping outside became more accessible with a camper—comfortable beds, an indoor bathroom, and better functionality. But when fellow campers headed out for a hike or to the river to fish, I often was left behind. Painting, reading, and enjoying the fresh air were fine for a while, but eventually, it was isolating.  A solo trip to the river with my chair, plein air paints, and a dog started was peaceful—but when night fell and I was alone in the woods, unable to carry everything back to the car, not so much…(but the fish were biting on the Frying Pan River, and my fisherman needed extended time before rescuing me). The solution? Camping with others who could keep me company and make s’mores and camp pies (Steve C).  There really is nothing better than sitting by a campfire under the Milky Way with family and friends, wrapped in a cozy down comforter with a dog on your lap.

Happy Campers

Biking: A Lesson in Adaptation

Years ahead of the e-bike trend, I got a CAT TRIKE recumbent bike with a motor. It seemed like the perfect solution—until my foot slipped off the pedal, nearly snapping my shin. Lesson learned: foot straps were essential. Once that issue was fixed, biking became and is one of my favorite activities, allowing me to ride alongside friends and family. From along the Colorado River to Glenwood Springs, beach boardwalks, and a multitude of bike paths in Denver (Platte River) with my dog in a basket, biking brought back the freedom of movement. In every corner of the state, there are bike paths completely accessible for wheelchairs, bikes, or trikes. (Just research your area on line for paved bike paths.)

Mission Beach boardwalk, San Diego

Water Adventures: Sailing & Kayaking

Sailing remains an option—but only on larger, more stable boats. My son and daughter-in-law’s 30 ft. sailboat, Sea More, in San Diego is perfect. Getting to the dock in my chair, transferring to the boat, and enjoying the water on calm days is effortless. But small-boat sailing (Flying Scot)? That is a no-go. Between balance issues, limited leg mobility, and back pain, it simply wasn’t practical. And I’m a big chicken when it heels until the water lips the side. (Emily and I survived together at Pueblo Res)

Kayaking also became another water activity “can do.” A trip to New Zealand and a catamaran excursion in the BVI inspired me to finally buy personal kayaks in 2022. Palmer Lake near our mountain home, though a bit shallow and marshy, provided a good place to get out on the water. There are endless shallow lakes and ponds (Chatfield Reservoir in Littleton) around the area; just find the ones near you.  The biggest challenge? Getting in and out (husband gives me a big “hoosh” and beating the heat (the enemy of MS) with early morning paddles.

Swimming

The Tri-Lakes YMCA in Monument, CO offers an easy-access pool with a lift, shallow water, railings, and single-person changing rooms with showers. It’s one of the most accessible ways to exercise and keeps me balanced.  There are myriads of outdoor (Cabo with my friends!) and indoor pools that have similar facilities, and using a pool noodle for support allows for great leg and arm exercise while taking pressure off my back.  Go online and find a recreation center near you…ask about their accessibility.

Mountain Coaster…Estes Park, Colorado

A great and unexpected treat was discovering the Mountain Coaster in Estes Park, just before the Rocky Mountain National Park. My New Zealand family (Bianca and Tom) found this opportunity, and it is basically a non-motorized “amusement park” car with hand brakes. Yes, the track hauls you up the mountain, and gravity brings you down…twisting and turning like a roller coaster. The young ones (Dylan, Natalie, Bianca and Tom) could let the car fly without braking…again, I’m a chicken but I had a blast.

Do It !!! The ride is accessible…you just need help getting in and out of the car.

 Upcoming Blogs: TRAVEL adventures. Stay tuned!

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