Phil and Vikki at Lake MacDonald in Glacier National Park
He might be confined to a wheelchair, but Bermudian Phil Cracknell and his wife, Vikki, are not letting it confine them to their 21-square-mile island home.
Instead the couple found the easiest way to see the world – trade-in the airways for the roadways. Which landmass is best for this kind of travel? Where else….North America.
The ambitious duo tackled eight of North America’s National Parks among other stops in six months and combined it into their own book – Views from a Wheelchair.
Soon to also be featured in The Royal Gazette, Vikki (of the Phil and Vikki duo) happily answered a few additional questions for Bermuda Abroad:
Q: Why do you travel? A: I think some people have the wanderlust gene, we certainly do – it’s a very important component to our relationship and a testament to our compatibility; that, and our immense respect and curiosity about nature and the diversity of people and their cultures. I guess we’re just nosy people with too much time on their hands! Actually, with retirement we finally have the opportunity to explore forgotten passions.
Q: You just finished a trip through 8 national parks in America. What prompted this?
A: Air travel for everyone is difficult, but for us, it had become a nightmare; the wheelchair created problems for airport staff and flight crews not to mention the stress and strain it took out on both of us. Turning our sights to North America was a no brainer – it’s a huge land mass with unlimited possibilities for road travel and is accessible. The US has strict ADA requirements (Americans with Disabilities Act) which affords us easy access or better access than other countries. Choosing the focus of visiting all the 58 National Parks in an RV with a desire to photograph and publish a book of our experiences called Views From A Wheelchair. Yes, we did complete a trip through 8-National Parks, but also twenty-two other wonderful stops along the way. Including state parks, historical monuments, national recreational sites and wildlife refuges – completed 25k miles spread over 5 western states in about 6-months. Our home-away-from home is a 24 ft ability equipped Dodge Sprinter van, called Dragonslayer.
On the road with the Dragon!
Q: How did you plan your trip and why did you chose to camp?
A: Believe it or not, traveling is hard work and not for the faint of heart, as you yourself must know– but when you add the component of accessibility it becomes another hurdle. Not all hotels have accessible rooms or more importantly, bathrooms. With our camper van we have everything we need to our specifications. Life on the road is also expensive, so it keeps the costs down but the best part of camping, besides a million other explanations; we have become more in-tune with the cycle of wildlife – rising with the first hint of daylight and retiring as the last bird tucks his head in for the night – we are smack in the middle of it and that’s exactly where we want to be.
Planning the trip for 2009 was hit and miss – we were greener than green to life on the road and our destinations were chosen for two reasons, Comfort and comfort. And comfort was priority number 1. As we started the journey in January of ’09 (excitement overruled practicality – don’t plan a trip in the dead of winter) it was damn cold on the west coast so we headed to Arizona where we met a couple from Montana who invited us to visit them in the summer, which we did. Knowing 3-national parks were in close proximity, Yellowstone, Glacier and the Grand Tetons we headed out and spent 6-weeks tooling around big sky country. On the return trip from Montana we swung into Utah to visit their 5-national parks; Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion.
Q: What were some of the challenges and/or benefits you faced traveling in a wheelchair?
A: Benefits – not sure if there are any benefits when you’re confined to a wheelchair even if ‘Little Blue’ can tool around at 8 MPH and has a rising bar-height seat, it is a wheelchair after all, with outdoor limitations. And trust me, the option of walking versus; wheeling is no contest. For as many trees, bugs, clouds and rocks there are, I wish I could remove my legs and lend them to Phil. Sharing the gift we ‘walking types; take for granted; the many places a wheelchair can’t go: Descending a ravine, hiking a rock strewn path through a river or climbing a hillside, these treasures he can only see in someone else’s photos. Since my legs didn’t come with the removable on/off option, Phil and I will continue to explore what is available and with our combined assets turn can’t into can every day. So I guess there is a benefit – positive thinking.
As for challenges in a wheelchair – the biggest challenge is ignorance. Believe it or not, we have been asked many times if he/you can stand up and transfer into the jeep, boat or bus. Educating the public regarding people with mobility issues is a constant challenge. Also, access – example: The building will have a ramp, but the door into the building has an impassable step.
The most amazing and astonishing challenge; people stumble over Phil and the wheelchair because they didn’t see him, as outrageous as it sounds, if you’re less than 5 ft tall; you’re invisible.
Q: Do you have any suggestions for someone who would also like to do this?
A: Yes, oodles of suggestions – more than this article could accommodate, but the most important is, desire. Where there is a will, there is a way, and that applies to everyone. Also, our book Views From A Wheelchair will help. The 2009 Expedition publication should be available mid-summer.
Phil and his camera
Q: Where is your next trip?
A: Ah that’s a great question and what a trip we have planned! We head out June 11 for Telluride, Colorado to the 37th Annual Telluride Blues Festival; from there we visit 4-national parks – Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde National Parks. In between the parks we will soak in mineral springs, take 2-train rides on historic steam engines, experience the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and take a 4-wheel jeep tour into the San Juan Mountains. After crisscrossing southwestern Colorado we will drop down into Arizona to witness the splendors of the Grand Canyon.
Robyn's Wanderings 