Decision time!

I decided that in order to make an informed decision on when and where I would use my K-2 rather than my standard chair, I would use it exclusively for a week so that I could compare the performance and differences between the two.

The first day in the office was quite an event. We caused quite a stir and everyone wanted to see and quiz me. This chair definitely turns heads and at one stage it was suggested that I may need a code on our time tracking system so that I could log how much time I spent explaining the amazing features on the K-2!

After the end of the first week I went back into my traditional chair for one day. I was now in a better position to decide on the pro’s and con’s of each chair. It didn’t take more than a few minutes to realise how much more manoeuvrable the K-2 is.  I love it so much that I rarely use my Otto Bock wheelchair.

I am lucky enough to have a big car so I could use my Trekinetic without needing to fold it for transport. It fits in the boot of my 7 seater together with my old chair folded next to it – I was not yet confident enough to give up on my old chair so continued to carry it around for a few days just in case – of what I am not sure! Anyway, a few days later and it is now assigned to the house as my home chair. Out with the old and in with the new – don’t they say “nothing ventured, nothing gained”?

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At last – our first adventure

5pm and we are off for our inaugural ramble! Armed with new K-2, energy drink, fleeces, camera and plenty of enthusiasm (oh, did I mention the not so great weather?).

Our destination, Southport beach, with a car park surface that might have been laid back in the 60’s and is now more like the lunar surface. The first time we decided on this walk we didn’t even manage to get out of the car park – definitely not wheelchair friendly.

 

 Hooray! Our first goal achieved – out of the car park and onto the trail. Getting used to the unusual steering meant that I was all over the place at first, but the good thing is that wherever I unintentionally steered, I could get myself out of without my husbands muscle power. This independence lark could get addictive. With our sights firmly set on attaining the waters edge, we set off .

Now, if you know Southport you will realise that this can be no mean feat because the tide only seems to come in every few years and the rest of the time can be miles away. Apart from this we forged ahead and in no time were getting excellent practice over stones, mud, sand, grass and a mix of them all. Not being used to going off road it soon became apparent that I would need to be patient with myself and build up my strength. Pushing yourself around a shopping mall and a beach are entirely different matters. This did however give my hubby a chance to see how easy it was to push and before we knew it we had gone about a mile with the sea still just a distant glimmer! At this point we noticed we were the only people on the beach and rather than become the next headline on the North West news – I could imagine it – “Women in wheelchair rescued from incoming tide”, we decided to turn back and try reaching the beach another day when we had a tidal report.

 All in all, it was an amazing first trip. We tried and conquered a number of different terrains and at the same time got the confidence to go on to bigger and better things.

Tired but happy we returned home to hose off my K-2 ready for the next adventure.

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Day one – delivery

Delivery – Have K-2, but no place to go!

 After much excitement and anticipation the day for delivery of my Trekinetic K-2 has arrived. Mal dropped it off early on Friday morning and after going through some instructions and useful information, left me to get acquainted. I immediately went out onto our road for a few laps to get familiar with the new and unusual driving style. It was at this point that my hubby disappeared back to the office leaving me to spend the rest of the day reading the manual, pushing up and down the living room and waiting impatiently for his return so that we could go for our first outing.

Tick, tock, tick, tock!

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