Thanks so much (again) For Your Support of The Larapinta Adaptive Traverse.

 Thanks so much for your support of the Larapinta Adaptive Traverse. 

Things are getting busy around here, with only two days to go until we start driving to Alice Springs. We are in awe and filled with gratitude for the encouragement and support we have been gifted. 

It is heartening to know the message of inclusion, competence and adventure has been embraced by so many people in the community; it feels as though we are doing this adventure with all our supporters in some way. 

We hope our film will bring everyone along with us, busting myths and giving the wider community some insight into how disability and significant illness frames the way you think about, engage in and work around a society that is not built for you. It’ll be hard, and funny, and beautiful, and human… thats all we can guarantee at this stage - we’ll have to leave the rest to the Larapinta trail!

A bit of an update on the team:

Paul Pritchard has returned from the UK, where he farewelled his beloved Mum, got Covid and saw a few mates in the mountains of his heart, Northern Wales. He’s off to New Zealand this week to present at the NZ Mountain festival, and then will be whizzing off to drive the Ford Ranger to Alice Springs with Dirk and Wally. Many thanks to Franks Engineering for fitting the adaptions to the car, Ford for organising it and Dirk, our support and logistics superhuman for making it happen.

Walter has had a bit of an epic few weeks; he had to call himself an ambulance after coughing up lots of blood and unable to breathe - even with his home oxygen set up. He had a few nights in the Mersey hospital, Devonport and then was airlifted to Hobart. We’d planned on Wally still being able to drive a hire car loaded with stuff to Melbourne next week (to meet Dirk with the support vehicle), but any plans for a discharge by Sunday have been dashed. 

Paul Allan had to move out of his large furniture making studio quickly as the site was sold. He has managed to do the impossible- find a new space (smaller, but more social), procure extra storage, move impossibly heavy objects and remain cheerful- just look out for the endless jokes flowing from this guy when the film is made. Paul will be meeting us in Alice Springs the day before we set out.

Vonna has been in Perth, WA for almost 3 weeks receiving a specialised radiotherapy. You know, most people would be taking it easy, but Vonna took her bike, tent, and runners and has been making the most of the sunshine in between appointments. She’s also been researching and trialling camera gear, looking up sweet Larapinta spots to catch on film, and honing her vision for the look and feel of the film. Vonna will be flying to Alice, stocking up at the supermarket and getting us all organised a few days before we leave.

That’s about it for now, but we will keep you updated, and want you to know that we literally couldn’t do it without you; your generosity has allowed us to realise a dream, and hopefully encourage others to do the same.

With thanks 

The Larapinta team.

Oh No Wally! Get Well Soon...

 As we speak Walter is having a procedure to cauterize bleeding blood vessels in his lungs.  He will still be an important part of the trip but the Doctors have said that if he goes to remote location (such as the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges) he runs the very real risk of having a major bleed, which will put his life at risk. 

Obviously he doesn't want to take undue risk so will be our ground support from Tasmania - updating our blog (we will have a satellite phone to write the blog and send it to him to publish), answering our questions about everything from weather to sponsor commitments. 

I guess that is the reality of disability - that you can never be sure what the next moment will bring. Of course this is true for all of humanity - but is brought into sharp focus with many disabilities.

You just concentrate on getting well Wally. 

We are all thinking of you.

Team Adaptive xxx

National Collision Repairer Magazine

National Collision Repairer

Team Adaptive just featured in the industry magazine National Collision Repairer about our sponsorship from Ford Motor Company in Australia. The slant of the article is how Ford have put in a left foot accelerator for Paul Pritchard who can drive but needs an adapted vehicle. There'll be another post dealing with the Adaption soon...

The team applaud Ford and their diversity and inclusion drive - FEDA (Ford Empowering Diverse Abilities).

Founded in 2002, FEDA helps ensure the company's ongoing commitment to employees with disabilities. The inclusion drive works in concert with efforts in the United States and Europe to help Ford vehicles become the mobility vehicles of choice for customers dealing with disabilities.

This is inclusion in practise!

Get yourself well Wally!

Wally is in Hospital on intravenous antibiotics after coughing up blood. 

Thinking of you Wally

XXX

 

Larapinta Adaptive Promo Film

Watch the Larapinta Adaptive promotional film by Miro Digital below...
 

The team have just received a $5000 grant from the Australian Geographic Society for which we are truly grateful. We will put the extra funds to good use and purchase an extra camera and other required resources for our expedition.

Not long now!

Thank You Thank You Thank You

The team is very pleased to announce that our Pozible campaign fund raiser was a storming success thanks to 120 supporters contributing a total of $13,660. And to all those people who for whatever reason could not offer any financial assistance, we felt your good vibes!

We are just three weeks away from setting forth and all members of the team are working hard to make this trip and film a success.

At times there have been struggles during the lead up, I won’t lie. Vonna has had a surprise trip to Perth to get her lungs gold seeded and I have just returned from a month long trip to the UK which ended in the cremation of my dear mother. I am strikken yet again by the plain fact that absolutely everyone goes through this shit all the time. And that if we are going to live our lives to the full, with meaning and a little bit of joy, we not only have to directly contend with all this stuff, but we have to accept it without question.

Anyway, back to the West MacDonnells. A lot has been happening. We have been having team meetings to work out each other’s individual needs (we are a pretty diverse lot). When I was in the UK I collected some kit, including puffer jackets, from those lovely folk at Mountain Equipment. We’ve started using the Pozible funds to buy essential camera equipment. And the Ford Ranger Wildtrack is getting adapted to Left Foot accelerator as I write (more on this awesome kit later).

So, It’s all going to plan (just) and hopefully someone who looks like us might see us and know that they’re not alone. That they too can have a go. That matters.

 And finally, a quick thought about cooperation. By working together we will form a strong team, cooperating so each individual is able to go beyond their usual boundaries. In doing so, I think we will demonstrate how our disability does not define who we are and how co-operation makes us (everyone) whole.

Abseil Photos

A cool 1-degree temperature at The Springs, halfway up Kunanyi did not deter anyone from abseiling.  The views were terrific, the ambience exhilarating! Phil from Aardvark Adventures was helped by our very own certified and qualified safety inspector Conrad, a valued member of our All Abilities team. The abseil subjected our driver Dirk, and team members Paul A and Tim, Walter, and some of our great sponsors to an apparently 'risk-free' adrenalin rush by making us climb over the sturdy safety fence at the lookout. Secured by harnesses and ropes and cheered on by incidental tourists each one of us was rappelled down the cliff and filmed by Mike and Kirsten from Miro Digital Productions for future propaganda. We all enjoyed the morning and felt this was a great way to herald in our next challenge to traverse the McDonnell Range on the Larapinta.

Many thanks, The Abseil and an update :)

 We entered the long stretch of winter today.

Its sure getting chilly down here in Tasmania- the days are short and the rain cold; there's snow coming down on the mountain and our fire has been burning since I got up this morning.

There's a lot to love about this time of year here; it's beautiful, bracing, quite internal and a little bit intimidating. We are reminded of our closeness to Antartica. We start buying Vitamin D and layering up, and the conversation starter is often about how the mountain looks today, as it's mood will determine ours.

It's from this space of deep blues and greens that I think about the Larapinta trail- in just over a month we'll be immersed in the vibrant orange and sky blue of the desert, waking and walking and talking together for just over 17 days. It feels like the world will open up, and become simplified in a way. Of walking, of thinking and reflecting, and although its a tough slog to even get there, I just know it will be a life changing experience.

I'd like to thank everyone who has been supporting the Larapinta Adaptive adventure; from your encouragement and good wishes, information and map sharing to stumping up prizes or donating to the Pozible campaign (only 3 days left!), and publicity for the expedition. It feels good to know so many believe in the team and the film. So thank you.

I realise we have been a bit quiet over the last 3 weeks- this is because Paul P and the kids had to make an emergency trip to the UK, to farewell his beautiful, brave and adventurous mum Jean. We've had heavy but grateful hearts; Paul wrote a chapter about his fist climbing adventure (with his mum in Scotland) in The Mountain Path. It's so good she got to see it published, and for the world to know what a profound hand she had in shaping Paul.

I've been (trying) to keep the home fires burning and the Larapinta planning ticking along with the rest of the team (Go Team!). We're doing well! We've got everything in hand, and in fact we are preparing for an Abseil on Sunday with Aardvark Adventures. 

Thanks so much Phil, and to everyone who bought an Abseil through the Pozible campaign (still one place available!) We talked about the weather this morning- should be just under 2 degrees (Phil said 'Bewdy! Shorts weather!).But seriously, wrap up! Bring warm gear, pack wet weather gear, and don't worry- we have lunch SORTED.

 For those who booked, the details are below:

For The kunanyi Abseilers

The abseil is at the Springs Lookout on kunanyi/Mount Wellington, which is the blue dot/marker.  

The orange dot is the Lost Freight Cafe and toilet.  The blue dot is the car parking spot, it’s the overflow 

car park and only a 2 minute walk to the lookout/abseil.

• Meeting Date - Saturday 5th June.
• Meeting time - 10am. 
• Lunch provided (if anyone has any specific dietry requirement please shout out).
• It can get cold up there so please pack plenty of warm clothing and a rain jacket.
• If the weather is really bad we may have to postpone...

Again, our heartfelt thanks for your support.

Melinda, on behalf of the Larapinta Adaptive crew.