Travels in a Blue Chair: Alaska to Zambia, Ushuaia to Uluru

A disabled adventurer backpacks the world - alone!! This book makes a great holiday gift or corporate prize! See my TV interviews... http://www.youtube.com/user/bluechairwalt








Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Haldimand Abilities Centre.

Just as a way of tying up loose ends, Katherine contacted me and let me know my talk in late March will be held at the Haldimand Abilities Centre, in Hagersville.

Also, that it turns out that Lt. Gov. David Onley will not be able to drop by. But on the bright side, that puts less pressure on yours truly.

Looking forward to meeting Katherine and all the gang in about a month's time!

...and back at the Japanese coffee shop...

When my buddy Terry picked me up at the airport early Sunday morning, I was totally knackered, but I suggested we stop by my favourite Japanese coffee shop only a few blocks from my flat. On the weekends, some students from Humber College form an ensemble to perform some light music.

Whilst there, we bumped into Barb, a local artist and book enthusiast, who was very interested in "Travels in a Blue Chair"! Barb also has lots of contacts with in the Toronto Public Library system and promised to investigate why those books on order have never showed up. Actually, I later checked, and it seems they may have arrived! Yay!

Barb is hoping to have me out to do a reading for her book group in the near future. In addition, I am hoping to also do a reading at the bakery!

You just never know whom you'll meet after returning home from Chile!

Now Terry and I are preparing for our first live drum debut at the local Thai restaurant on Friday night. That should be good for a chuckle.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Szymon - a kindred spirit, and photographer !

One of the first people I met in S. America on my trip, was Szymon Kochanski, a fellow backpacker, but also a great photographer who documents his travels and observations with a camera. He has worked in Turkey and much of Europe as well as visiting Iran and many other out of the way destinations.

Szymon invited me to share his pasta, but then spent most of the week in bed battling a bug. Happily, he has recovered completely and is now making his way to the southern part of Chile, to see the mountains of Pucon, which I was fortunate to see and write about four years ago.

Here is a link to his travel blog. Most of the text is in Polish, but pictures are universal.

http://www.mywayaround.com/

Please bookmark Szymon's blog and follow him as he travels the world! As the banner on the blog states, “if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there”.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Two continents, one Sun but many friends and smiles!

My second week in Chile was a bit more eventful than the first. As usual backpackers come and go through the highway of your life but there is a chance now to keep in contact via the internet, which was not the case when I began all these adventures some 21 years ago!

The cast of characters (friends) at the hostel, welcomed me into their transient family. Dave, Knute, Martin (aka Terry when I have had too much wine), Monty, Paddy, Julie, Enzo, Gonzalo, Susi, Tania and too many more to mention.

Most mornings were spent out on the Barrio as I explored the city and all its urban challenges along the the varied, cobbled streets. A coffee here, a broken sentence in Spanish there, a ramp to a supermarket that was kept chained shut, the helpful ladies in the bakery who always fussed over me, the dogs who barked and chased me, and always lots of smiles!

Afternoons were a time for siesta, and early evenings were spent around the pool and dinner tables or BBQs discussing our respective adventures! I have realised that these young backpackers are full of the idealistic goodness this world could do with a lot more of.

Late evenings were spent with Escudo, Chilean wines or Pisco under the constellation Orion.

I met Nikki, a very pretty English girl, who invited me to join her on a quest to visit the home of the famous Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. Armed with a hand drawn map and Nikki's graduation from Spanish classes, we ventured forth, into the unknown.

The Metro was supposedly w/c friendly, and it was at first, but our destination station had a broken lift. Nikki used her Spanish to inform some shop staff and they duly summoned two subway employees. We giggled incessantly. As you will remember a similar situation in Tokyo from the first story in my book, the men drafted two commuters to assist and they duly lifted me out of the tunnel. We had arrived in Bella Vista!

I wheeled quite a bit under the 35C Chilean sun, but once we hit the hills and curbs, Nikki helped me up like a trooper. In the end, the last street was quite steep, but she got me there, and promptly started to faint! I gave her the last of my water and she fanned herself with a small receipt, whilst watching a stray cat attempt to unsuccessfully ambush a pigeon.

That was the good news, the bad news was that it was Monday and the house was closed. Naruda had foiled us from his grave, but we enjoyed the outside edifice and semi-amphitheater just the same.

Many thanks to Nikki for helping me to experience some literary culture on the trip, and for exposing me to the most wonderful frock in a shop window, adorned with the picture of a house! Typically Chilean.

I am home now and the Chilean sun has withdrawn from the horizon and been reborn into a Canadian star. It is the same sun we all see and it reminds us all that we are all on this planet together. We are not here to take advantage of each other, but to learn from one another and to help each other in our journeys through both the world, and life!

Viva!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Meanwhile in Santiago...

I can't say as I have done much on my first week here at Casa Roja backpackers. Firstly, Delta bent the frame of my chair slightly and then I arrived and found my ride didn't show up. No matter, I hopped on a van and went to my first hostel right on the main square, Plaza de Armas.

The hostel really had no character, but did have a friendly washroom, however the doors to the rooms had no locks and the place was quite noisy.

Next day, I wheeled the 11 blocks, with all my stuff and my wonky chair, to Barrio Brasil, to the west. And now I am here at Casa Roja.

I have been chilling out, getting out each morning for a wheel around the square, before it gets too hot, and meeting new friends here, many of whom are young backpackers out of money, working here to get free beds. Two, Justin and Rob, from Ireland left just last night, and they were so kind in letting me enjoy their homemade concoctions, as Rob is a chef! Salmon croquets on the BBQ, curries, and curried soups. We had far too much homemade Pisco Sour, but it was great.

Last evening we headed to Platypus, the bar next door for a great meal, most of mine Rob ate, but that is only fair!! Actually he raved about the raspberry rissoto.

Anyway, another week to go? Will I get to the coast or Mendoza, or just chill out here and relax in the 33C weather? Who knows?

Stay tuned.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Heading out on a new adventure!

This blog will be on hiatus for a while...tho' I may be able to update it from the road.

Tomorrow I am off to South America for a few weeks. I will meet up with some old friends and relax in the sunshine. I am not sure how much real backpacking I will be doing, but I am hoping to do a drive across the Andes, if possible.

At the very least, I will provide an update when I return! Let the adventure begin!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

A kindred spirit on YouTube

Yesterday I was watching some old music videos on YouTube and I received a message through my inbox. It was a fellow from the old country with my last name. Pavle (LIKILACA on Y.T.), is a nature enthusiast who happens to own a wolf, or at least take care of one.

Pavle has begun to put up footage of his years of videos and has even made a documentary with the BBC. Anyway, he was attracted to my channel on YouTube, due to my last name and all my travels over the years.

It is always great to meet up with another adventurer via the internet! I hope someday we will have a chance to meet, and compare our adventures!