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








Thursday, July 23, 2009

ekoVenture Guru

One of the interesting things that has come out of my entering the competition to be an Antarctic blogger, is the exposure it has brought.

Ryan, from ekoVenture, has asked me to be an online travel "guru" for their new website. I checked out their site and it actually looks pretty cool.

I will be working on my profile for ekoVenture over the next little while, and will post a link when it is up and running!

The positive energy continues!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Rotary Club - Stratford meeting in mid September

I am quite looking forward to meeting the members of the Stratford Rotary Club in midSeptember at one of their regular meetings.

Originally, I was contacted early last year by member Kevin McCann, however his untimely passing justifiably delayed my speaking to the Statford club.

Elizabeth has contacted me again and we have set a date to meet the group and many of Kevin's friends and fellow Rotarians.

My first presentation, in Welland late last year, went very well and the reaction was very positive.

I am really looking forward to being in picturesque Stratford later this summer.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Blogging my way to Antarctica...Vote for me!! Quark Expeditions

A good friend of mine sent me a link to a competition, run by Quark expeditions in the U.S., to attract votes for an opportunity to blog about a trip to Antarctica!

So far I have a whopping 7 votes! Here is the link, and what follows is the text of my introduction.

http://www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com/blogs/view/291

The last continent for the traveller in a blue wheelchair!

Hi, My name is Walt, and I am a disabled traveller! I have travelled for 20 years when time and finances have allowed.

Most of the time I have travelled alone. This isn't too unusual until you realise that I travel the world with the use of my blue wheelchair!

I have backpacked across all 6 habitable continents and through 28 countries. The only continent that I have not been to is the one at the bottom of the earth - Antarctica.

For the most part I have flown on planes, or taken trains, but never in my life have I ever been on a cruise, much less one to the home of the Emperor penguin.

I have written a book of short stories, "Travels in a Blue Chair: Alaska to Zambia, Uluru to Ushuaia", about the hilarious adventures I have had in my travels over the years in many strange and fascinating lands.

One of the enduring threads of my travels has been the kindness and hospitality of people whom I meet along the way. Sometimes they have helped me, and sometimes they have accompanied me for a short while. When you travel alone in a blue chair lots of weird things can happen, and even the reactions I get are one-of-a-kind!
I feel that as a storyteller, you will enjoy my blog about the trip to Antarctica.

My blog will be from a unique perspective - even simple things like life about the ship will be an interesting adventure.

A polar adventure we can all share together in the spirit of all the past inspirational explorers who have ventured out into the frozen unknown.

Perhaps the only thing left of me at the end of this will be a frozen blue chair? I hope not!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Q-107 Ryan Parker : Interview in August

Just an update on my previous blog item.

Ryan contacted me by phone yesterday and let me know that he was confused about my wanting to use the phone for the interview, if possible. The station apparently has a policy about guests coming in to do the interviews.

I told him that was no problem! So, we will be touching base again in early August, when both he and John Derringer are back from their respective holidays.

It will be great to be on the Q-107 morning show. I really enjoy listening to those guys, they are funny!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Q-107 Monday's interview is off.

Well, things have taken an unexpected and unpleasant turn!

Before I left for a Canada Day camping holiday we had arranged to record an interview on Monday, July 6th.

I returned to find an email from Ryan, in my box letting me know that Q-107 "will not be able to do the interview next week", and with no comment about arranging a future date.

They had asked for a book, which as readers of this blog know, is the biggest obstacle to getting interviewed, due to the lack of books when you self-publish. I have provided a bio and link to my website, where 3 stories from "Travels in a Blue Chair" could be read. Additionally, I can provide some discussion points.

I had suggested simply phoning the interview, as it would be much easier for me than to go downtown at rush hour. But that was only a suggestion.

Oh well, that is what this blog is all about! The ups and downs, highs and lows, and trials and tribulations of trying to get the word to disabled people about the book's existence.

Ryan did say they would mention my book and try to help me out. They wanted to be updated on future happenings.

Still it would be nice to know what happened and if they are still going to follow through with the interview?

I hope so. I know that John Derringer and all the morning gang and their listeners will really enjoy learning about some of my hilarious adventures!