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.
