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, June 30, 2011

Welland Eastdale Graduation - guest speaker

After the great time I enjoyed with all my schoolmates from high school days at the reunion last month, I was honoured to be asked by the principal of the school to be the guest speaker at this year's edition of the graduation.

I had a bit of a blip getting there, as I left work a bit early to drive down for the mid-week, 6 pm event. Unluckily for me, I only got as far as Burlington before the car died. I had only one hour to get there, so had to take a taxi to my hometown of Welland.

The grad was at an Italian banquet hall, which is a much better venue that the gym, where we had received our diplomas. I was a bit nervous, but once on stage, I remembered some good times at Eastdale, and how my classmates had left me on top of the table in the old Grade 13 room. In the end, it was all the girls from the Physics class who came to my rescue! I also spoke about "Travels in Blue Chair" and how my days in the school helped me in my travels.

I received lots of great feedback from teachers, graduates and their families. It was so heartwarming to be allowed to speak at the event and watch the next generation of young adults take their first step into the future.

Many thanks to Ed, the principal, who invited me and even offered to drive me home! Luckily, my brother John did that.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Visit to Holland and England.

I have been working really hard for the last 9 months, so it was time for a bit of a holiday earlier this month. Of course, I went backpacking!

First stop was Holland, and Amsterdam actually. I had emailed some Dutch friends to see who could meet up for a drink, and Seline, a girl I had met in Cape Town, South Africa said she would be around all week!!

We had a great time, exploring Amsterdam, Den Haag, and Rotterdam, in her fast, little Citroen. I was staying at a hostel, and shared a dorm room with 5 German guys, who enjoyed coming in around 3 am., and then turning on all the lights to laugh and taken drunken photos of each other!

Seline, really knew Holland, and she is such a sweet person. We renewed our friendship easily and enjoyed each other's company.

In Den Haag, we met Esther, my Dutch friend who lives in England. Esther was in the country for her niece's birthday, and so we met for pancakes at the beach in Kijduin beach. Great fun, and her little daughter, and mom were also there. We ate, exchanged stories and walked on the promenade so that the baby could play a little.

Seline and I later toured The Hague and Rotterdam, with Seline handling my chair like an expert. It was a real treat for me, as usually I am wheeling around on my own.

Afterwards, I headed to England to meet up with Esther and Luke in Hampshire. It was Luke's birthday that night and later on the weekend, we enjoyed a visit to Farnham, so the munchkin could visit the playground and we could enjoy a nice brunch!

I had a short visit in both countries, but it was so great to meet up with good friends I have met while travelling!!