Sunday, October 23, 2011

October 23, 2011

Entering through the front door at Intrepid Equipment, Carl and I found ourselves in a jungle of chromoly steel, aluminum, and rubber. We visited this local builder of hand cycles a few days ago and met with the founder Graham Butler. Numerous bicycles, recumbent tricycles,and wheelchairs of various shapes, sizes, and configurations were shoe-horned into the office-cum-workshop. The sounds and smells of a metal fabrication shop filled the air and as we made our way further into the facility, I couldn't help but recall the droid recycling plant in "The Empire Strikes Back". After touring the shop and meeting the crew, I knew I had come to the right place to find a hand cycle. We spent the next hour pouring over catalogs, selecting the components, gearing, tires, and other equipment that would make this machine work for me and my capability/disability. Committed to fitting his clients with the right equipment, Graham even offered to set up a similar demo bike and invited me back for a test ride later this week. Thoroughly geeked out on bike stuff, I left excited and anxious to ride the rig we had just brainstormed into existence.

The portent of returning to cycling lifts my spirit and I thank those responsible: the family and friends who supported my cousin Lori Ervin's running of the Chicago Marathon for my benefit. You are providing me with a piece of equipment that will greatly improve my physical fitness, mental health, and overall quality of life.

Thank you!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

October 9, 2011

Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to my cousin Lori Ervin! Running the Chicago Marathon for my benefit, Lori CHARGED it and finished in 3:59:36. NICE! To the generous donors who supported Lori's monumental effort: thank you! Your kindness motivates me to work hard toward recovery so that I can once again be active and enjoy athletic pursuits.

I rode a hand cycle for the first time yesterday. San Diego Parks and Recreation hosts regular rides at numerous city parks and I'm glad to see our tax dollars at work in this program. The friendly and helpful staff shows up with a truckload of bikes and disabled riders are given an opportunity to try the totally awesome sport of cycling. I pedal a hand cycle frequently in the gym but, as is frequently the case, the real thing is a different animal. Despite my miserable performance, I was elated to once again pedal along the shoreline of Mission Bay. I look forward to getting onto a cycle set up for my specific condition, dimension, strengths, and weaknesses. Before long I'll be listening again to the sweet music of fat tires on dirt. Thank you Charlie and Gaen for your help to/from the bike! I hope your backs aren't too sore.

MAHALO
Berkey

Thursday, October 6, 2011

October 5,2011: SD Zoo's Safari Park

"NOT RECOMMENDED FOR WHEELCHAIRS" warned the sign, but nothing would keep us from descending the path into Tiger Territory. Our descent from Condor Ridge had gone well and
I was feeling confident in the power-assist wheels and Sara's helping hands firmly planted on the push-grips of my chair. We managed the steep section smoothly,and though no tigers were visible in their paddock, we coasted through the Roar n' Snore campground and arrived victorious at Lion Camp.
As I adjust to life in a wheel chair, I find myself seeking "accessible" activities. Prior to my injury, trips to museums, theme parks, and sporting events were seldom as free time was normally spent on (or off) a trail, underwater, or in the snow. Of course, adaptive sports equipment will enable me to enjoy a form of my favorite avocations, but I can't exactly hop onto a hand cycle and go for a ride on a whim- those types of outings now require planning and assistance from people who know how to deal with my particular challenges and the specialized equipment needed.
I can, however, easily enjoy many of San Diego's myriad attractions with the aid of one companion. Load me in the van, strap me down, and we're off to a museum, airshow, or football game. I look forward to these outings with the anticipation of a sixth-grader going on a field-trip. Of course, none of these trips could happen without the time and effort of numerous, selfless family and friends, to whom I am deeply thankful!