Larapinta Adaptive Traverse

National Assistance Card

A little vid Paul put together about The National Assistance Card.

The National Assistance Card was a really amazing tool for getting things done on the Larapinta Adaptive expedition. While it is available nationally for people with acquired brain injuries (ABI), it is being trialled for other neurological disorders and it is hoped that one day will be available to all people with disabilities.

Myself and Paul Allen used it several times and educated schools, support organisations and even publicans about the new card.

For more information click the link in the side bar or visit https://www.nationalassistancecard.com.au

Now The Real Fun Begins!

All the trekkers are now safely back in Tasmania, nursing sore legs and blisters (Paul P. nursing two dislocated and painful toes). But plenty of amazing memories of the peace and tranquility of the Tjoritja.

The Ford Ranger support Vehicle is being returned to the Ford Motor Company of Australian in Campbellfield and we can get down to the difficult job of producing a quality film.

We have 10s of hours of amazing footage and the next challenge is going to be editing it into a narrative that will do the difficult and deep learning of the Larapinta Adaptive Expedition justice.

Also we need to get out all the rewards for the kind people who supported our Pozible fundraising campaign - the socks, the beanies, the books and a heavy Log Lamp!

Thank you again and we'll keep you posted I promise.

Paul P. (on behalf of the Larapinta Adaptive Expedition).

The End of The Trip is Always tinged with sadness

Paul P. again.

We arrived back in Alice yesterday and attended a lunch with CASA, the Alice Springs service provider. I presented a brief slideshow of the trip to them and talk to boat home working together we are all stronger. How by cooperating we each go be on the usual capabilities and excel.

The summit of Mount Sondor was a very long day for me (and Melinda and Eli who had to wait for me). Mike the camera came with us too and filmed the summit with his drone. Pallen, Vonna, Cindy and Tim went for the sunrise (I considered this too dangerous) and so we met 3km from the summit and our reunion was dutifully filmed by Mike’s drone.

The summit for me is always tinged with sadness. Firstly, it’s that what next moment after over a year of planning. Secondly, it’s the end of a profound experience of friendships constructed through mutual hardships. And thirdly, one has to keep just a little bit in reserve for the final day and then give it your all. So I think we’re all a bit depleted.

So it is the end of one expedition but the real expedition of editing all those 10s of hours of footage (some of it amazing footage) into a single narrative is only just beginning.

Tomorrow, we are very excited to be talking to 70 grade 5 and 6 students at Larapinta Primary School.

So, it is with a huge feeling of gratitude to all our sponsors that Team Adaptive take our leave.

Signed:

Paul Pritchard

Vonna Keller

Paul Allen

Walter Van Praag

Melinda Oogjes

Dirk Oogjes

Mike Sampey

Tim Freeman

Eli Pritchard

and Cindy Brazendale

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Larapinta

Device Name: Larapinta
Latitude: -23.59096
Longitude: 132.51018
GPS location Date/Time: 07/21/2022 15:12:06 AEST

Message: The All Abilities Team has set up camp for the night....

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/1hlaeQ/23.59096S/132.51018E

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Days 10, 11, 12 and 13 what a mission!

Mount Sonder

10, 11 and 12…

What a mission. We have had no signal so we have not been able to send the blog posts.

Day 10

Ellery Creek to Serpentine Gorge.

The walk of Wally’s life. Wally. Cindy, myself, Melinda and Eli set off from Camp at 7.15am. With Vonna, Pallen and Tim helping Dirk with packing the Ranger and bringing up the rear at 8.15.

It was probably the easiest day so far (but that is not to say that it was easy). 13.5 km in the sun with some spectacular limestone ridges which for me were quite dangerous with narrow parts and a 10 meter drop offs.

Wally, being straight out of hospital, was very slow (about 1.5 kilometres an hour. Having to rest every 20 metres on the up hill sections. But no coughing up blood thankfully. He had two or three hypoglycaemic episodes which were quickly dealt with with jellybeans.

He came in to camp for a hero’s welcome.

Day 11

Serpentine Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam

Mike (camera man) walked out with us in the early morning as far as a big steep hill to the west of Serpentine Gorge. This led to a broad ridge which had sections of fossilised beach and was obviously part of an ancient seabed.

My middle toe on my left foot seemed to be dislocating. This is due to my hammer toe (walking on the tips of my toes due to my spasticity) and was hurting intensely. And here I was on top of a mountain!

I snoozed and did some footcare and pain relief whilst the others went to Counts Point, with its famous view of the parallel ridges leading to Mount Sonder.

It was a steep descent and I did fall once but remained unscathed luckily.

At the base of the mountain the afternoon heat begin and it was a long walk through undulating country to a dusty campsite.

Day 12

Serpentine Chalet Dam to Orminston Gorge

There is no water at the next camp (Waterfall Gully) which means that we would each have to carry 2 days worth of water (9 Litres) to our camping gear. Some others could not do this so we sent the ‘A’ Team of Vonna, Pallen and Tim to do two days in one – 28.5 km!

We are Now at Ormiston Gorge awaiting their arrival. I am thinking that they will arrive just before dark and very tired.

They arrived!

All had blisters and had to put the tarp up as a sunshade in the heat of the day. It sounded Really tough.

Vonna said “that is the last time that anyone convinces her to do two days in one!”

Day 13

Rest day!