Walking Holidays for wheelchair users – Yeh right!

Well read on…

I admit it – I WAS WRONG, yes MrCrip was wrong – but only on this one occasion! See my previous post on ‘Peru Holiday – Wheelchairs and Incas no not mix‘ to see what I said.

I challenged wheelchair users to come back to me if they had scaled Machu Picchu, because stupidly I said it was not possible for a wheelchair user to enjoy a walking holiday in Peru, or that you would have to be stupid to do it. It now turns out this is/was not the case.

MrCrip is stupid

Just because I would not choose to jump on a plane to Peru and start climbing mountains does not mean there are not others who would not, and this has recently been demonstrated to me.

Yes folks, I have been proved wrong by a very adventurous young lady by the name of Claire, and her partner Edward who very kindly sent me two great pictures of Claire (and wheelchair) up Machu Picchu in Peru.

How do you get a wheelchair up a mountain?

To be honest I have no bloody idea – I had troubles getting round Paignton Zoo in Devon which was a little bit hilly, so Christ knows what it would be like climbing a mountain in a different country where you don’t speak the lingo. Mind you on saying that the Devon accent can be a bit hard to understand as well!

Here’s an excerpt from the email Claire’s partner Edward sent to yours truly:

“We are seasoned travelers and take all this in our stride !!!!,  India,
lots of trips across Australia including the Outback , Swiss mountains,
African safaris, most of our trips are home brewed, that is all we
purchase is airline tickets and hotel rooms, the rest we decide as we go
along, but we do our research beforehand , as I have said we do not do
disabled holidays,  bear in mind  that I am fit and can lift and carry
my partner.  Only in the UK do people say ” you cannot do that” and we
have a good travel agent who knows what we have done, we are
knowledgeable enough to say when we have reached our /my limits,, as I
have the trust of my partner and often her life in my hands, Our
favorite words are “we go” and of course we have to trust the
guides/tracker/drivers we engage. Plus we have to think about her body,
what it can tolerate,bruising, pressure sores and all the other things
that come with a “Tetra” let alone the impact on the set of wheels, no
wheelchair repair facilities, often just bush mechanics .

Nothing impossible it just needs alternative thinking, some times we
have used a heli to get into places, such as Katherine Gorge in Northern
Australia, and that was scary , no doors,  real seat of the pants
stuff!!!!!!!!!. Unreal !!!!.  Claire  has done all the easy stuff like
cruises to the Caribbean , Hawaii and fly drive in the US.  So its
back to Australia in the new year and lots of thoughts for a return to
Peru and possible Chile, so much to see and not much time, this is what
we live for . Lifes for living and we live it.  Bugger all the Elf and
Safety along the PC crap and the disclaimers holiday companies put in
their  brochures, ( not suitable for any one with limited mobility)”

There are a number of things to consider with this great repsonse from Edward.

1. Suppression of disabled people
2. Human achievement
3. Anything is possible

You’re in a wheelchair, you can’t do that!

I know only too well what it is like for the able-bodied world to tell you what you can and cannot do. This realisation was evident as soon as the likes of Occupational Therapists at my spinal unit tried to tell me what I could and could not do. Yes folks, when you are in a wheelchair you are not allowed to do anything edgy. It’s a very odd situation, you can be walking one day and then paralysed the next, and then you have some spotty, jumped up OT telling you what you can and cannot do. Trust me that’s the way it is, and unfortunately, there are not enough people who rebel against this suppression.

No when you are wheelchair bound, you are meant to accept your lot, stay at home and do nothing.  Well thankfully, people like Claire put two fingers up to that kind of rubbish and enjoy active holidays.

Wheelchair User at Machu Picchu, Peru

I get giddy seeing how close young Claire was to the edge!

Machu Picchu, Peru – Welcomes wheelchair visitors too!

Claire’s a top woman

I don’t dish out praise that often, but on this occasion I have nothing but admiration for two people who really do put two fingers up to disability and the restrictions that it can create.

Seriously, if you are struggling to achieve your goals in life and need inspiration, then take a good long look at Claire and Edward at Machu Picchu, Peru.

Walking Holidays in Peru

Claire and Edward booked their travel to Peru with http://www.southamericantours.com.

As Edward said there are too many tour operators who will quote terms and conditions and not be in a position to offer a disabled person a holiday, and that is simply wrong in this day and age.

Many thanks to Claire and Edward, two top people!

We are seasoned travelers and take all this in our stride !!!!,  India,
lots of trips across Australia including the Outback , Swiss mountains,
African safaris, most of our trips are home brewed, that is all we
purchase is airline tickets and hotel rooms, the rest we decide as we go
along, but we do our research beforehand ,  as I have said we do not do
disabled holidays,  bear in mind  that I am fit and can lift and carry
my partner.  Only in the UK do people say " you cannot do that" and we
have a good travel agent who knows what we have done, we are
knowledgeable enough to say when we have reached our /my limits,, as I
have the trust of my partner and often her life in my hands, Our
favorite words are "we go" and of course we have to trust the
guides/tracker/drivers we engage. Plus we have to think about her body,
what it can tolerate,bruising, pressure sores and all the other things
that come with a "Tetra" let alone the impact on the set of wheels, no
wheelchair repair facilities, often just bush mechanics .

Nothing impossible it just needs alternative thinking, some times we
have used a heli to get into places, such as Katherine Gorge in Northern
Australia, and that was scary , no doors,  real seat of the pants
stuff!!!!!!!!!. Unreal !!!!.  Claire  has done all the easy stuff like
cruises to the Caribbean , Hawaii and fly drive in the US.   So its
back to Australia in the new year and lots of thoughts for a return to
Peru and possible Chile, so much to see and not much time, this is what
we live for . Lifes for living and we live it.  Bugger all the Elf and
Safety along the PC crap and the disclaimers holiday companies put in
their  brochures, ( not suitable for any one with limited mobility)