GART Day 3 - Overcoming Obstacles

Today had a smoother start than the first two.  I slept better last night. Not good, but better than I have since arriving on the east coast.  This is probably due to a combination of two factors; one, finally adjusting to the time change and two, having a healthy vegan meal for dinner last night.  I should probably eat vegan food more often.  I also think my skin looks better.

We were out of the hotel and all packed up a little behind schedule, but we were all in good spirits heading to the starting point for the day.  Edwin was able to join us at the start for the first time this trip.  We knew we were going to have a good day when we arrived in Sharpsburg, MD on the correct side of the Potomac River.  Edwin is our good luck charm.

Thanks, Arc’teryx!

It was cold this morning, by far the coldest we’ve had since arriving.  Staying warm is important for any adventure, especially if you can’t regulate your body temperature.  Thankfully, Arc’teryx is a generous partner and our sponsor of the day. They’ve outfitted me and my team with the high-end gear we need.

Obstacle #1

We said goodbye to my Mom and Edwin and were on our way.  The surface of the trail was wonderful as we started to ride.  About two miles in we came across the first of what would be many obstacles today.  Covering the trail was a large sycamore branch that had recently fallen, which seems only fitting since today was the first full day of fall.  At first glance we were a bit intimidated, then Jimmy reminded us of Archimedes who said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”  Using Jimmy’s brain (#sciencematters) and Dr. B’s brawn we were able to move the branch out of the way within a few minutes and we were on our way.

 A few miles further the quality of the trail surface began to change for the worse.  There was more rough gravel and the trail started feeling like a washboard.  We had been warned somewhere around this point we would need to leave the trail and be on the road for a while.  We assumed (incorrectly) this was due to the deteriorating quality of the trail.  We left the trail, and once on the road we saw a bright sign clearly stating there was a trail DETOUR, with an arrow pointing left.  Well, thinking we knew better than the sign, we went right.  Oops…

Obstacle #2

We were on the road for a little over a mile before returning to the trail.  We were feeling pretty good about our navigating skills at this point.  Before long we came across the second obstacle of the day.  This time it wasn’t a fallen branch, but a fallen tree.  This was going to be a much bigger challenge.  Once again, we employed a large stick with lever/fulcrum action and brute force.  This time we were helped by two other trail goers, Dan and Bob.  Together we were able to move the tree out of the trail.  We were once again on our way, obstacle number two behind us.

Thanks, Dan and Bob!

We would have missed this if we didn’t take a wrong turn.

This turned us around.

After another mile and a half of absolutely beautiful trail we came across the big one, the obstacle that would send us back.  We were at mile marker 88 and the trail was closed between here and mile marker 89.  There was no way for us to get around this obstacle without a major retreat.  Jimmy made a couple of suggestions of how we could possibly get around the obstacle.  One of them was unconvincing and dangerous, the other was a felony.  This was the obstacle the big DETOUR sign was trying to help us avoid.  It turns out we should have gone left.  

We backtracked three miles to the detour sign, and this time we followed directions.  The detour was quite nice.  For the most part we rode on quiet farm roads.  At some point Dr. B yelled “car back.”  I realized that was the first “car back” of the entire trip.  Not bad for being nearly 100 miles into our ride.  We followed the detour signs diligently and eventually landed back on the trail about a mile as the American Dipper flies from where Jimmy almost became a felon. 

The trail here consisted of gravel and was rough.  It was broken into two single tracks separated by high vegetation. One track for trail goers heading northwest, the other for travelers heading southeast.  This is great for cyclists, but my chair is too wide to fit into either single track, so I am forced to have one side of my chair in the vegetation at all times.  The biggest problem with this is that roots and rocks are hidden from my view and can abruptly change my direction.  This is particularly unnerving when on one side of the trail is the Potomac River and the other is the C & O Canal.  I am no longer a good swimmer and avoid large bodies of water.  

Accessibility problem solving

At mile 40 we came across the most frustrating and difficult obstacle of the day.  We were feeling good, feeling accomplished, ready to enjoy the last few miles of the day.  We came to a Dam and stopped to enjoy the view.  While resting happily watched an Osprey and a Bald Eagle.  After a while we started moving again.  What we hadn’t noticed while we were in awe of the dam and the birds was that there was a bridge waiting for us twenty feet away.  The problem was there were two steps required to get on the bridge. 

Dr. B looked concerned, I called for Jimmy and said “we have a problem.”  I told Jimmy and Dr. B we can do this, we just have to figure out a way.  Jimmy went off looking for whatever he could find to build a “ramp.”  Jimmy managed to find a well covering, which was a large square piece of cement.  He signaled for Dr. B to come help him carry it and we had the beginnings of a ramp.  Jimmy found some bricks to help stabilize the cement slab, and Dr. B found some sticks and twigs that were useless.

Trail Angels!

If this was going to work, we would need more muscle than Jimmy and Dr. B could offer.  Luckily there were some other cyclists (Ricardo, Becca, Grant, and Miriam) there and they were willing to help.  I had been talking with them while Jimmy and Dr. B constructed the ramp.  I told them we were riding from Washington DC to Ohio and I wasn’t going to let these two steps derail our adventure.  Together they all either pushed or pulled to get me up the steps and onto the bridge.  It wasn’t pretty, but I made it.  

Something that really sticks out about this ordeal is that no one we spoke to during the preparation for this ride or since we began this ride mentioned these two steps.  We have had many people tell us to “watch out for this”, “avoid that”, or “you won’t be able to get through that section.”  No one mentioned the steps.  Most people do not recognize what an obstacle for wheelchairs this truly is.  I could not have gone past this point without help from others.  These two steps would prevent someone in a chair from being able to ride the trail by themselves.  These two steps prevent independence.  It’s just two steps, but to me it’s a barrier.

Every obstacle provides the possibility for accomplishment.  Thanks to my team and others within the trail community I was able to continue on with my journey.  Today presented us with many obstacles, but together with my team we solved each of them and continued with our ride.  I’m thankful and proud of what we accomplished today.

Proud Partner of

GART Day 2 - Autumnal Equinox

One of many trail signs

In 1831, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal became operational with the primary focus of shipping Allegheny Mountain coal to various destinations downstream along the Potomac River. This endeavor included the construction of 74 locks, 39 of which we’ve passed so far on this trip as of the end of day 2. The beauty alongside the banks of the Potomac has impressed all of us on the team, to say the least. We didn’t know anything of the complex history of the C&O Canal, and we had heard that it was pretty up this way, but to begin to see it all with our own eyes has been enlightening, and I can only say that our curiosity has been piqued. Let me back up a little bit to the beginning of the day and try to describe a little bit of what we’ve been seeing.

Attitude adjustment

Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep last night either. Uncomfortable nights are inevitably a part of traveling for me, but the last couple of nights have been particularly rough. The fact that my wheelchair charger tripped two hotel circuit breakers in the night only added to my anxieties for the day. We didn’t notice the first breaker trip until far too late, and the second attempt at charging led to a tripped breaker at 6 am. In short, by the time I decided to get up and into my wheelchair, it hadn’t been charging for long at all. Fortunately, we were able to outfit this chair with a LiFePO4 battery pack that provides me with 75+ miles of range (thank you, Zane). So in the end, my battery held up for the 42 mile day.

Some were more excited than others

This morning was rainy. A first round of rain came through around 8 am. We left the hotel at about 9:30 am. We’ve learned that when you are in close proximity to so many state borders, it’s important to specify the state when you pull up directions to a destination. Along the Potomac, there are often destinations on each side of the river with the same name. So White’s Ferry, Virginia is quite a different destination than White’s Ferry, Maryland. We first arrived at the former only to look at the latter (our desired location) from across the river. 40 minutes of driving later, we were at the right side of the river at our intended destination. For a good portion of that 40 minutes of additional driving, it rained hard. By the time we arrived to the trailhead, the rain had stopped, so it all worked out in that regard.

In the groove

We picked up where we left off yesterday, heading (dominantly) northwestward along the Maryland side of the Potomac. My haggard self started feeling better the instant we started moving on the trail. The rain had beat down the dust and it packed the path making for a faster ride. The smoothness of the trail led to our making good time. At some point, we had to tighten my front right caster mount with tools that my trusty caregiver Edwin had procured yesterday. It had been rattling at times, and the slight tightening completely addressed the issue. Onward we rolled. We noticed frogs hopping across the path or plopping into the canal water. The air felt clean. At times, we smelled the fermented scent of old pawpaw fruits crushed on the path. Occasionally we could smell a dead animal rotting away somewhere nearby. But largely the air smelled fresh behind the morning’s rain squalls. Between Dr. B and Jimmy’s company, the beauty of our surroundings and the passing of miles, I felt better and better.

Chris!

Martha!

I’d like to take a minute to mention a couple of particular people who we have crossed paths with on the trail, one yesterday and one today: Martha, who was on a mobility scooter yesterday, spoke of how much she enjoys getting out on the trail to see turtles, birds and everything there is to notice out on the trail; and Chris, who was in a manual wheelchair today exploring the trail with a good friend of hers. I chatted with each of them, and our common stories resonated between us. We all like getting outside to commune with the greater world around us, and we all are appreciative of each and every opportunity that we get to do so. It was a pleasure to chat with both of these women.

The muscle of our operation

Somewhere between Point of Rocks and the town of Brunswick, we encountered a detour. A bridge was out, so a makeshift trail veered to the left then steeply went down to a temporary bridge before going back up to rejoin the regular trail. I cautiously approached the rocky and pitted descent, unsure that I’d be able to retreat back up if I went down it. Jimmy went down first, scoping it all out. He crossed the bridge and assessed the climb back up on the other side, which was less steep and in better shape. He left his bike over there and came back, and with him countering gravity by pulling on the back of my chair, I started forward. Dr. B was the cinematographer in charge of catching the scene. Jimmy’s checkered Vans held traction on the gravelly and rocky slope, and we smoothly made our way down. I crossed the bridge over the creek, looking for fish while doing so. Then, to be on the safe side, Jimmy and Dr. B gave me pushing hands on the steepest part of the climb back up. Other than that and a couple of very short (several feet here and there) rough spots, the trail today was smooth as a baby’s bottom.

Throughout the day as we rolled away from the Atlantic coast, we noticed that the fall foliage was increasing in intensity, especially on the American Sycamores. But many species are showing more colors as we continue inland. Speaking of fall foliage, this evening just after 9 pm Eastern time marked the Autumnal Equinox. So as of writing this blog entry, it is now officially fall!

One of many canal houses

At each of the locks along the 184.5 mile long C&O Canal, there is a canal home, a lockhouse of sorts. While the canal was in operation, locktenders lived in these houses along with their families. They would tend to the mule-powered boats that carried coal, lumber and other goods along the canal, closing and opening the lock gates, raising and lowering the water levels so that the boats could pass. The path that we are riding now was used by the mules towing the boats and by the people tending to it all. That’s part of the story. The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Company, which was in conflict with the C&O Canal, built railroads along the canal between Point of Rocks and Harpers Ferry, among other places. The competition was fierce. The Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers both carve low spots in the Appalachian mountains, providing east-west access. Ultimately, the railroads prevailed, and the canal fell to oblivion. But fortunately, now we can use these paths, and we have this astoundingly beautiful trail system along a gorgeous river in what essentially is a 184.5 mile long park. We are blown away by this. Furthermore, backpackers and bike packers can sleep in some of the canal homes along the way, kind of like a rustic version of the hut systems of Europe.

Celebrating the Potomac

There are layers and layers of human history to add to the complex commerce transportation backgrounds that we’ve been learning about. From Indigenous cultures to the Civil War, there’s much to learn. I’m far too tired to delve into any of this right now, but Civil War battlegrounds and battle camps surround the areas that we have travelled through so far. All I can say is that as we travel through the landscape, we are trying to learn as much as possible about this part of the world.

We are staying the night in Harpers Ferry, WV, not far at all from the confluence of the Shenandoah and the Potomac. Earlier, we rode by this confluence, and it was one of the most beautiful spots we’ve seen in all of our Ian’s Ride travels. Like John Denver sang, it was

Stoked!

Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains

Shenandoah River,

Life is old there

Older than the trees

Younger than the mountains

Blowin’ like the breeze


We’d like to give a special thanks to our sponsor of the day, United Spinal Association. United Spinal is a national organization dedicated to empowering people with spinal cord injuries and disorders to live successful and fulfilling lives. They advocate for disability rights and provide resources and support across the US with over fifty chapters. Thank you for your support!

Proud partner of

GART Day 1 - The Kickoff!

Masterful packers!

I pretty much hadn’t slept at all as dawn began to spread its light across the sky. Through the night my mind kept spinning and I couldn’t find any quiet sleeping space. Day One of Ian’s Ride 2022 was here, and the lack of sleep made it hard for me to get going. But the visceral reality of the moment was such that I shook off the rough night and we all prepared for the day’s activities. Mom and Edwin were as helpful as ever, and Dr. B and Jimmy had all of their bases covered and showed up to load vehicles in a timely manner. Just as we were about to roll out to our rendezvous point at our nation’s Capitol, an unfortunate GI issue (perhaps spawned by last night’s fish and chips) significantly set me back. Suddenly our punctuality seemingly dissipated and we found ourselves scrambling. We fixed the problem, changed some plans on the fly, threw Jimmy and Dr. B and their bikes into the minivan with me and my mom (which required some spatial prowess) and finally took off.

My people!

Despite the unforeseen challenges, we amazingly arrived to the meeting site in front of the Capitol on time. The sunshine was abundant and it was pleasantly warm, but most importantly the group of people who had gathered to send us off warmed our hearts. To be received by such a lovely gathering of people 3,000 miles away from home was truly mind-blowing and immensely gratifying. Amidst mingling smiles and encouragement, Kevin Belanger began the rally. Kevin is the Great American Rail-Trail Project Manager and he came to Port Angeles a few months ago. It was great to meet him and spend time with him then, and it was great to see him again today here in his neck of the woods. He did a wonderful job kicking the event off and introducing me.

Preaching to the choir

I spoke briefly of my past, of how I became a quadriplegic man, of the dark times that immediately followed my injury and of how getting back outside and onto trails brought me out of my shell and ultimately precipitated in me traveling the country in advocacy of increased trail access for all.

After I spoke, Monica Riley graciously stepped up to the microphone and provided background information regarding her spinal injury and spoke of how she came to be the D.C. Chapter Advocacy Coordinator of United Spinal. She was only 8 years old when she was severely injured in a drunk driving accident that tragically killed the rest of her family members. She touched upon how she rose from this hardship to promote greater infrastructural accessibility, better equipment and more community support for people facing spinal injuries.

Jeremy and Juliette

After Monica’s inspirational talk, Jeremy Buzzell, the National Accessibility Program Team Coordinator for the National Park Service, took to speaking about the importance of greater accessibility in the National Parks and of making trail specifications more available to everybody so that more informed decisions can be made. Jeremy mentioned that the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation is bringing a renewed focus on access and equity in the outdoors.

Finally, the closing words came from Juliette Rizzo, Rails to Trails Conservancy board member and former Ms. Wheelchair America. She wonderfully weaved together all the threads that Ian’s Ride, Rails to Trails and United Spinal are all working toward. She spoke passionately about everything that we are working toward, and by the end of her rousing speech we were ready to hit the trail and get this particular adventure started!

Thank you to everybody who made the kick off to this ride what it was. There were signs that said, “Let’s Go Ian!” and everyone gathered with their signs and cheered us on. The speakers all were great, but it also took the hard work of many people behind the scenes to make this happen. Much appreciated!

Let’s Go!

About 15 people embarked with us from the National Mall lawn and we headed toward the National Monument. From there we headed past the Lincoln Memorial and over to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal). As we went along, folks turned around to head back to whatever duties beckoned, but not before making sure we were well on our way and armed with tons of information about the trail conditions to come.

Soon we left Washington D.C. and crossed into Maryland. Buildings slipped behind and the views of the Potomac grew rockier and wilder. We rolled along Wingstem, Blue Mistflower and Pale Jewelweed. We enjoyed the shade of American Sycamores, Box Elders, Silver Maples and Pawpaws, among other trees. Northern Cardinals provided flashes of red between the branches. Dozens of Eastern snapping turtles and Basking turtles sunned on logs above the canal water. Great Blue Herons lofted about.

The first 15 miles or so of the Canal trail were pretty rough. At one point a pronounced lip on the trail caught my wheels on one side of the chair and spun me 90 degrees in an instant. Fortunately, I quickly stopped and didn’t veer off trail. Another time, during a rocky stretch, my chair just suddenly turned off. Dr. B had to hit a reset button to start it up again. The final 20 miles of the day were very nice and smooth. The trails are heavily used by bikes, so the tire washes are set up on a north-to-south bike traffic basis, and are too far apart for my wheels so I’d find one set of wheels in a tire wash and the other side would be in vegetation and weeds in the middle of the trail. These are minor notes about what I experienced. All in all, the tranquility was amazing and the trail was an absolute joy.

The Great Falls!

The Great Falls were quite impressive, as were the many views of the rocky shores of the Potomac. The views of the rocky river beds along the way were mesmerizing.

It was a long and amazing day. I can’t think of a better start to this ride. We are inspired from what we saw today and are excited to see what tomorrow brings. Special, special thanks to our sponsor of the day, The Rails to Trails Conservancy. Their planning and organization to kick us off with such warm hearted fanfare was truly appreciated. This trail we’re riding is a result of their hard work, and rail trails truly are the perfect place for wheelchairs to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks, RTC!

What a day!

Proud Partner of Invacare

GART - Travel and Prep Day

We took off bright and early on Monday morning with my Mom and Edwin. It was my Mom’s birthday, and boy does she know how to live it up! As we set off on our two hour drive, we quizzed each other on the nervous mental list of what we may have forgotten. It seemed like we had it all. We arrived at SeaTac with plenty of time. Edwin took the van to park and left us with a giant mound of luggage at the curb. To continue in her birthday fun, my Mom began hauling luggage fifty feet or so at a time so I could guard or watch it as we got it all closer to baggage and ticketing. I’d called ahead for every aspect of the air travel, and that included TSA cares. A nice helpful guy, Kevin, with TSA joined us and began assisting in the luggage maneuvering. Edwin rejoined us just as we got to the ticket counter. Although we had made the call about our gigantic Pelican case, Thanks, Todd!, and we knew that we had no limitations on medical equipment, we were surprised to find out that we could not exceed 100 lbs for any one piece of luggage.

Squeaked by!

As it turns out the Pelican weighed in at a whopping 126 lbs. Alaska Airlines really tried to help and make exceptions, but we think for the safety of their employees, they just couldn’t break this rule. So right there on the scale, with a line growing behind, the birthday girl dove into the case and started pulling out the heavy stuff. The ventilator was the first to go, and that made a big difference. With just a few more deductions, we were pleased to see that we were down to 99.8lbs. I think the people behind us in line were glad as well.

Kevin rocked!

Kevin, our trusty TSA, continued us on through the airport. We got a nice shortcut at security, and Kevin himself did my security check. While he was doing that, Edwin and my Mom were pushing through the gobs of handcarrry luggage that we now had. To continue in the true birthday spirit fun, my Mom triggered an extra security check and received the most thorough pat down that she has ever received. Once we were all reorganized and Kevin had put my shoes back on, he led us to the tram where we had to shuttle to our gate. He bid us a fond farewell and we were left to take a deep breath. I started cruising the gift shops looking for a sports illustrated. Edwin grabbed a snack. My Mom just sat down and waited for the next bit of chaos.

Hannibal Lecter in Row 7

Our flight was delayed about 45 minutes which gave us a false sense of security. We’d talked over our plan, and we had a good one. We knew who would do what. We had walkie talkies to strap on the chair. We had colored tape and an informational sheet with our phone number. We had bungee cords. We even had a measuring tape. 33” is the max height of the opening under a 737, the aircraft we were flying in, and we were determined not to have the chair turned on it’s side. Suddenly, our gate was changed, to the other side of the N terminal. We headed over as quick as we could. Once we got there, things started happening quite quickly. We went from chillin’ to all hands on deck. The accessibility team for SeaTac arrived with the aisle chair just as folks were lining up to board. My Mom and Edwin went as quick as they could to get me strapped in to my flight sling, or as we like to call it, a strait jacket. I was spouting out multiple instructions, our hand carry stuff was spread everywhere, and next thing you know, I was being wheeled off into the plane. Just before I left, I looked the baggage handler in the eye and gave him my steeliest stare. “ You got this man”, I said. “I need this chair on the other end”. The walkie talkie didn’t make it on the chair. No bungee cords were used. No measurement occurred. We did get the informational sheet attached.

Alaska baggage handlers are the BEST!

Settled in the bulkhead seat on my Roho cushion, we rehashed what had just happened and how things did not go as planned. There was nothing left to do but enjoy the ride and hope for the best. The first 3 1/2 hours of the flight went pretty well. I had a couple beers. My mom, claiming birthday privilege, had a double gin. Edwin had sprite. Eventually, the heat got the better of me. The combination of the sling, the long hair, the do-rag, and an N-95 mask became almost unbearable. The mask was on and off the last hour with a spray bottle spraying my face and an extra fan for cooling. I had a lot of mixed emotions on landing. I was miserable from the flight, hot, stiff, desperate to tilt back and anxious to see if my chair was in one piece. It took 40 minutes to get my chair from under the plane but I was so thrilled to see it in good shape that I could’ve kissed the woman that delivered it. My hero!

Much needed tilt was appreciated. Thanks guys!

The frenzy of reassembly began. Everyone was hopping; the three folks from the DC airport as well as my Mom and Edwin with me shouting out direction. Finally I was rolling towards baggage claim back on six wheels.

Dr. B and Jimmy were waiting for us in baggage claim, and boy were they a sight for sore eyes. The gang was back together! By the time we got to the hotel, unpacked, the stories were told, and a couple beers were consumed, it was well after 2am.

Presidential dreads

Tuesday was planned for organizing ourselves. As it turns out, Jimmy needed Tuesday to organize Jimmy. The rest of us gathered the packages that we’d shipped to the hotel. We got the rental truck and the rental wheelchair van. We switched out my batteries to the lithium pack. We reorganized all the gear and we got the ice vest inserts in the freezer. It’s hot here in DC! I had just enough time to run out with Dr. B and Jimmy to see a few sights. We had a little fun. Really excited to start tomorrow and can’t wait to see what this new adventure has in store for us.






Proud Partner Of

Great American Rail Trail – The Eastern Leg

It’s hard to believe two years has passed since we bravely endured our Redwood Coast ride of 2020. That means it’s time for another big adventure. After spending 270 miles traversing the Pacific Coast Bike Route, we decided our days on the sides of highways are over and it’s time to start highlighting safer, more accessible routes that wheelchairs can manage. We decided rail trails were the perfect space for our team to have a beautiful experience highlighting what’s possible for people of all abilities in a safe way.

Excited for the journey

A really fun project!

We then had to narrow down what rail trail to highlight. So, we got involved with the Rails to Trails Conservancy back in early 2021 to promote the benefits of trails in their trail moments project. It was a lot of fun and was well received. Conversations continued, I mentioned my search for great rail trail(s) to highlight for a big ride and we learned the easternmost ~500 miles of the Great American Rail Trail was mostly complete and possible for a wheelchair. Excitement ensued!

Flying isn’t pretty

I then started wrapping my head around how this all would work. There were a lot of challenges. First off, the starting point is nearly 3000 miles away. Do I fly? Drive my tired minivan? Then there was the question of surface and isolation along the route. It’s almost entirely dirt and there are four different sections where there are 10-mile segments with no vehicle access. What happens if my chair fails in the middle of one of these? Heat could be a real challenge. What if medical issues arise…

It’s easy to spiral into all of what could go wrong. I had to remind myself that life often begins at the edge of your comfort zone. I have a solid team, a firm grasp of the mechanics of my chair and a lot of experience doing long rides. Sure, all sorts of problems could arise, but that’s where I thrive. Problem solving and enduring are things that really motivate me and this was an adventure I didn’t want to miss.

A ride to remember

The titillating aspects of the trail were just too great to ignore. Starting the whole thing off at our nation’s capital, a mecca of advocacy. There are many dark, old railroad tunnels to pass through. Traveling the Great Allegheny Passage that has historic points of interest galore. Rolling through Pittsburgh, The City of Bridges, and seeing the Americana associated with this area. Finally, the finish line was quite near Elyria Ohio, the headquarters of Invacare, the manufacturer of my power wheelchair.

After setting the Guinness World Record earlier this year for the furthest distance traveled in 24 hours in a mouth-controlled power wheelchair, I really wanted to sit down with the people who make my chair. I live an active lifestyle and don’t ever miss a day out on the trail. Their chairs have held up for me for the past 14 years and I love to give credit where credit is due. Praise isn’t the only thing involved in the chat. Wheelchairs need to be designed for the user’s lifestyle. There should be modular improvements such as improved batteries, robust suspension and motors that provide both torque and speed for people to purchase out-of-pocket to fit their lifestyle.

However, this is not just a wheelchair manufacturer issue. Wheelchair manufacturers are in business to make money. The vast majority of chairs they sell in the US are purchased through Medicare or private insurance. Most private insurances base their coverage on what Medicare allows. Medicare has this lousy, antiquated stipulation that they will only financially cover wheelchairs and wheelchair features for in-home access. This stipulation dates back to 1965 and is outdated and ableist. Access to the outdoors should be a human right. Medicare will often deny things like tiedown hooks on your chair, lighting, or batteries that allow you a full day of recreation. It’s frustrating and does not take into account any of the benefits of being outdoors.

We need change!!!

I’m a huge advocate for getting outside and that’s because my quality of life has been so improved by spending time in the outdoor space. My spasticity is severe, and I’m reluctant to keep taking more medication to manage it. The best thing I can do is go bounce around. The body wants to move and I can really manage my spasms by regular outings on a local trail. The needs of an individual are greater than just being able to move from your bedroom to your living room. This discourages physical activity and encourages a sedentary life which can often lead to poor health. Furthermore, access to the outdoors provides a high quality of life that prevents decline of mental health. Medicare needs to address this issue and acknowledge these features improve people’s independence and allow them to live fruitful, productive lives.

I’ll step down from my soapbox and get back to the big ride!

Dr B & Jimmy are the dream team!

Anyway, I knew I couldn’t do this on my own, so I projected the Ian’s Ride logo at the closest cloud, and soon Josh Blaustein (Dr. B) and Jimmy Quenelle had signed on to ride their bikes with me for the 12-day adventure. Dr. B is always proud to mention that he has rode every mile with me of every Ian’s Ride event that’s ever occurred. Jimmy’s not far behind. This kind of friendship and support is phenomenal. I could never do these kinds of adventures without a lot of help. These two continue to help me to push my limits and demonstrate what’s possible for people of all abilities. Thanks guys!

I also need support when I’m not on the trail. For the first week of the trek, I will have one of my all-star caregivers, Edwin, and the second week my dad will fly in to see me to the finish. I’ll also have my mom along for assistance. She helps with the caregiving, social media posts and driving the SAG wagon.

We love ride alongs!

We will be doing frequent social media posts on all platforms throughout each of the days and will be doing daily blogs describing our experience. We encourage folks to join along if they live nearby any of the sections we travel through. We welcome all modes of transport, but wheelchairs are particularly encouraged to join; we travel between 7 and 8 mph but are happy to slow down for a few miles if needed. We are also big fans of beer, so love any recommendations of breweries along the way. I’ve outlined our route for each day below. Please contact us if you have any interest in connecting.

We have decided to do a bit of a split route near the end of the ride. The easternmost ~80 miles of the GART still have a number of incomplete sections, so we decided to skip those and spend the last two days enjoying the completed trail into Columbus.

I’m now off to finalize some logistics, quadruple check the packing list, pray to the old gods and the new that everything works out and get ready to head off in just over a week. Super excited about this adventure! #GetOutside

Proud partner of: