Road Trip!

There is a beautiful Hotel/Spa/Winery tucked into the country side of Georgia just outside Atlanta on I-85 South- Chateau Elan!! 

It is a great "accessible"get away that most simply drive past. The wheelchair rooms are accessible, clean, and very spacious, the country views are amazing, and while the swimming pool has no lift chair, the staff is extremely accommodating... 

       

       

The grounds are meticulously landscaped with rolling hills laden with row after row of grape wines. The "inn" if you will is beautifully designed with perfectly manicured flower beds and shrubs, and the grand entry that is just that- grand.

 The views, spectacular food, spa, wine, and luxurious country feel are definitely worth the trip.

       

Guest Blogger- Blakely Martin

 Hey, my name is Blakely Martin. I have been a C-5 quadriplegic for 18 years. I took up painting as a hobby after my diving accident. I have to paint with a brush in my mouth because I've lost hand function.

After some investigation, I have found several pieces of equipment that make it easier for me to paint. My work can be seen in several business offices, homes, and galleries around the state.

               

 Painting has opened a lot of doors for me and I have made a lot of friends along the way.

(Side note: What Blakely "forgo"t to mention is that he used to be a state championship bowler and at the ROAR 1 year anniversary party, he showed us all his skills)

              

Guest Blogger-Chad Foster

Hey guys! This is Chad Foster. The newest member of R.O.A.R.  I am extremely excited to be a part of such an adventurous organization.  I am a C-6,7 quadriplegic from an accident that happened during my birth.  

 

I have never been one to let my disability stop me from enjoying life.  I am a substitute teacher.  I love working with kids and the questions they have for me.  In my spare time I enjoy quad rugby, hunting, fishing, water sports, traveling, target shooting, church, spending time with family, and just being outside, admiring God’s creation.

   

 One of the activities I have enjoyed the most is quad rugby. It is four-on-four game, played with a volleyball, on a gym floor. It is a full, contact sport. Quad rugby has given me the opportunity to meet and befriend other quadriplegics, as well as, the chance to travel across our beautiful country.  To learn more about this great sport, please visit www.usqra.org.  

         

 Thank you for reading my blog.  I look forward to sharing more of my quadriplegic adventures and other exciting experiences with R.O.A.R.

           

Leg 3- Finally posted!!!

By now I'm sure many of you are trying to figure out how I endure such "hardship and ho-hum travel", but our third destination, Orlando Florida, just may have all the bells and whistles to make the journey worth all the "struggle".

 

The beautiful skyline, rodent and whale themed amusement parks, fancy eateries, tropical palms, and "sunshiney" vibe are everything one could ask for in a working vacation...well work for my wife anyway. Our domicile, The Rosen Centre is a luxurious hotel to say the least with level after level of spacious guest rooms and over 33 conference areas, and is even attached to a massive 150,000 square foot grand ballroom via a catwalk.

 The handicap rooms are nice and clean, nothing super elaborate, but definitely all that a wheeler could ask for with tile roll in shower, wide doorways, and pull under sink. The beds were an easy transfer being that they were the same height as my wheelchair, but we requested a king when booking, yet all the handicapped kings were already full upon arrival and guest services was less than helpful so we made due with two doubles (not the best accommodations for a newly married couple).

 Parking was a delight in that there were numerous handicapped spaces and complimentary valet parking was offered at no cost with a placard , and other parking varied with rates for daily and self parking ranging from $15.00 to $20.00 dollars respectively.

 Our stay was nice, not top notch due to inconsistencies with overbooking and hamstringed check in employees, but a solid 3.5, however our extra curricular activities in Orlando definitely made up for the mileage. Sea World is more than handicapped friendly and their staff goes out of their way to be helpful with ticket prices being reduced by 50% for disabled patrons entering the park and one companion. The walkways, animal exhibits, restaurants, and rides are accessible, they even have an enclosed rotating observation deck that rises hundreds of feet above the park giving you a 360 degree, birds eye view of the entire layout and much of downtown Orlando. On hot days, such as our visit, the penguin habitat is a must see ...with dozens of tuxedoed swimmers, cooler temps, and feeding events scheduled sporadically throughout the day to not only cool you down but allows for Interaction with the animals and staff. The dolphins, whales, sharks, and other aquatic wildlife make for a fin family  adventure not soon forgotten, topped with great food, and hours of water filled exhibits make for a 5 star vacay I would gladly repeat anytime.

 

 Disney, however refuses to reduce their pricing despite having very few rides I could get close to or enjoy, I guess The "Magic Kingdom" is not the happiest place on earth, but we did attend a private event at Universal Studio's "City Walk" and The Wizzarding World of Harry Potter that had amazing food, life like village, train station, pub,  and restaurants,  and their staff was more than accommodating... but I cannot speak for the daily operations of Universal but the private event was fantastic. I guess that means road trip for educational purposes...who's in?

The View From My Seat

Hunting and the outdoors have been family traditions that I've enjoyed from a very young age. Most of what I know about nature, shooting, respect, life, and conservation I learned from time with my dad, cousin Matt, and Papa Pete in the woods, marsh, or waterways. We spent countless hours fishing, jugging, stalking deer, turkey, and squirrel (among others) and noting their behaviors, interactions, and eating habits. We tracked their movements (mile after grueling mile) locating bedding areas, food sources, and doing our best to stay undetected, all the while mimicking the actions of our "elders". The excitement of each season rivaled that of Christmas for me; the anticipation the night before was overwhelming and sleep never came easy. We woke before dawn, gathered our gear, some food, and hit the road for our "honey hole" with my dad giving us a safety brief (it was the Marine in him) along the way. We would approach our hunting or fishing spot with stealth that would make a ninja envious, and we would prepare for whatever the day would bring with my Papa saying "hold your mouth right boys"...his version of "put your game face on".

The excitement was not based solely on a catch or kill, but more so on the time spent in nature with the three men closest to me...the truth be told, some of my fondest memories are of the one that got away. Many a year has gone by since those early days, and all three of my mentors have since passed away, but the conversations, core values, and lessons learned remain very vibrant... the view from my seat has changed over time, but the "scenery" remains the same. I still approach every deer season with that childlike anticipation and I thank my Lord and Creator for each and every sunrise We get to share in a deer blind!!

  

WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum located on Magazine St. in New Orleans Louisiana is a must see!!

It is ranked number 4 of all museums in the United States and guaranteed to not only bring you back in history to the attack on Pearl Harbor Hawaii December 7, 1941, but will put you front and center on the battlefields of the Pacific, Northern Africa, Europe, and Natzi Germany. The "Road to Berlin"  is an accessible tour, at a great price with discounts offered to veterans and their companions, and is completely interactive with each ticket holder being issued a set of dog tags linked to a soldier, sailor, or Marine that follows them throughout their tours of service via headphones linked to listening stations. 

The museum is displayed with time period firearms, entrenchments, vehicles, and aircraft, all meticulously restored, and viewing stations strategically placed throughout describing the rolls each vehicle played during the war.

 

There is a 4D movie theater equipped with rubble seats, surround sound, falling snow, and air bursts that not only depict the landings of D-day and the arduous battlefield conditions the soldiers faced throughout the battles, but the 4D stimulus gives the impression that you are embedded with the allies and American fighting forces throughout the winters of Northern Europe. The 4D experience is likewise accessible with seat cutouts for wheelchair users and plenty of room for companion seating. The tour guides are extremely helpful and put disabled  patrons to the front of the line,  and ushers insure the isles stay clear.

 If you are anywhere in the area, make the time to attend and see firsthand the patriotism, dedication, and sacrifice that earned these brave men and women the title "The Greatest Generation", and witness how they liberated the world from Empirical Japan and the tyranny that was Adolf Hitler.