Julie Andrews
Mountain Triking – Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews goes down to the woods in Weston, giving everyone a big surprise.
Imagine quietly strolling through woods on a balmy Sunday afternoon contemplating roast beef and Yorkshire pudding when out of the bushes fly three rambunctious trike riding ladies. It would certainly make you blink a bit wouldn’t it?!
Yes, that was me and a couple of friends last weekend. Well, when you’re offered the chance to trial a new invention on your own doorstep, you have to drag your friends along too.
Awesome invention
When Ed Elias, inventor of the awesome Mountain Wheelchair Trike met with us last weekend, he immediately sussed that the three of us could begin our woodland adventure right in at the deep end. Exchanging four wheels for three, Dawn, Jo and I took our lean, mean trekking machines and headed deep into Weston Woods.
Propulsion is easy; Mountain Trike is really easy to use, with two drive levers by your sides and hydraulic disc brakes at your fingertips. You can also gain extra leverage for steep and difficult ground since even whilst the brakes are firmly engaged the levers can be set to take you forward on release.
Designed for traversing over land that would be uncomfortable, difficult to negotiate or even impossible in traditional wheelchairs, the unique direct drive steering system means that the rider can even steer with one arm if required. This has to be the most exciting new wheelchair available with nowhere being out of bounds. (more…)
GET ACTIVE, TAKES TO THE SEAS
Julie Andrews set sail on her very first seafaring holiday, on luxury cruise liner, Grand Princess, joining friends who were celebrating their 25thwedding anniversary.
Having never sailed before and given that two of our party are wheelchair users, the staff at Thomas Cook had a lot to investigate. Thankfully, our agents were exemplary at understanding access needs and advising us accordingly.
Everything was made easy on our embarkation from Southampton. We drove straight to our designated area; bags were collected and car taken by valet to park and just like that we were luggage free and ready to play.
Setting eyes upon our floating princess for the first time enthralled the big kid in each of us. Setting off that fresh summer day, our grand lady sliced easily through frothy aqua blue waters heading, eventually, for Iberian seas.
Get Active (Julie Andrews) : Newport Wetlands Reserve
Newport District Council invites our very own gallivanting gal, Julie Andrews to tackle the wilderness trail at the local RSPB wildlife reserve.
A year ago this very week, I had life saving surgery and as most of you know, once released from the shackles of my 18 month bed rest, catapulted straight back into high action sports. However, it didn’t take too long for me to realise, that the road back to sustainable good health would take a ‘tad’ longer. A more sedentary way of living and playing was necessary to give mind and body a chance to catch up with the superwoman inside. Tiptoeing back into working life was frustrating but I am grateful for the opportunity it gave me to appreciate passive recreations.
Arriving at the visitors centre, I was delighted to discover several ‘all terrain’ scooters available to borrow; this would certainly make the trek ahead easier. From the car park there were three trails varying in length from 2.74km (1.7 miles) to 4.36km (2.7 miles). Today, I was meeting with representatives from the local council and a group of disabled adventurers, to check out the access on two of the easier trails. (more…)
Get Active: Caving
Our very own thrill seeking journalist Julie Andrews heads to Cheddar in Somerset, to discover an alternative way of getting out and active in spring!
At this time of year, when you’re desperate to shake off the cobwebs of winter hibernation and outdoor activities are thin on the ground have you ever thought of going under it? What ‘does’ lie beneath our mortal soil?
I was about to find out!
Cheddar
Ambling through the beautiful village of Cheddar is a delightful way to spend a day. At the lower end of the gorge there are accessible riverside walks, shops and tearooms with the most delectable food. There is also the world famous cheese company of course, where you can watch traditional Cheddar cheese being produced and have a taster or three! The pull to stay in this area and graze a while is so very tempting!
Alas ‘I’ was in Cheddar to discover a ‘slightly’ more arduous recreation, so onward.
Gough’s Caves
Advancing slowly up the steep and winding road with wheelchair and my trusty mule (my hubby), we made our way up to the caves entrance. It was a difficult climb, but being surrounded by the highest inland cliffs in the country made it more privilege than burden.
At the cave’s entrance we negotiated the four wide steps down to the cave floor easily. I do suggest that if like me, you need some physical assistance, a strong companion or one of the amazing cave guides will be needed here to get your adventure started. Once down on the cave floor, the rest of the paths on the lower level are completely accessible.
What a joy to be rolling completely free along the path as it meanders through the cave. A luxury that is sometimes not even afforded me in ‘modern Britain’ let alone way down deep where Neolithic man once lived. Snaking ever upwards, the path took us deeper into the cave, a kind of magical yellow brick road that seemed to go on forever. (more…)
Julie’s Back
She’s back! Julie Andrews gets back in the saddle for Able magazine by joining Sportability for a day of quad biking and falconry!
Having been physically out of action for more than a year and a half, due to a pelvic bone operation, the very sight of a quad bike set my teeth chattering! Why choose such an extreme sport for my return, I hear you cry? Well, having been given the go ahead to resume normal life, getting back into the saddle was important – besides, I only intended to try it out for a few seconds!
Transferring from wheelchair to quad bike was difficult for a ‘vertically challenged’ person like me but, at the Sportability centre, there was plenty of willing, burly muscle to give me a lift. Choosing the softest quad bike seat possible, I was pleasantly thrilled to discover how comfortable and well supported I felt.
A quick briefing followed and, once my instructor was happy, I was ready. I braced myself to start. Heart pounding, I revved the throttle with my right hand and, in fully dramatic style, STALLED! Appalled but determined, I asked for someone to come and turn me on again! It took several excruciating minutes, before my embarrassment and the hysterical laughter of my companions, began to subside!
AND SHE’S OFF!
Finally I was away!
At first, my rusty confidence clung to the belief that this was only to be a short ride, then off! Half a lap later, daring to unglue my eyes from the stony ground, I began to look about me. With the trees swishing in the wintery breeze and the wind tickling at my face, I sped up and made my first lap of the circuit. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was FREE!
