Ya have me in tears bro!! I haven't left my house in so many months I can't even remember. I can't walk very far due to my MS, and my anxiety over being around people has gotten very bad. You just reminded me that I don't need to walk or be around people to get out. Huge THANKS man!!!!!
Honestly I'm not paralised or anything but have bad anxiety too and can relate a lot. Good music and driving for hours is absolutely amazing. Take awesome pics!
This dude is the reason I ended up getting a chair bro. I too have MS and let it dictate so much of my life, not necessarily do I need my chair 100% of the time, but damn does it give you some freedom back man. I was always so concerned about what others thought but finally pulled the trigger and got an awesome chair off ebay. Gave me soooooooo much of my life back!
Yes!! I've been really thinking about the things I'd do if I had a chair that I'm not able to do now. Our paths sound similar, but I just need a way to get back on the path and start enjoying life again. Thanks for the encouragement bro!!!!!
Hell yeah bro, it's definitely a game changer. My thoughts are people are gonna watch anyways so why not be comfortable lol. Seriously though especially being a single dad with 2 kids, I can cruise along side them on while they are riding bikes, walk my dog (roll my dog), go shopping, just get out period. Don't hesitate to message me if you got questions or just want to chat with another mser.. 🤙
I know that feeling! People sometimes pity me, for beeing chained to my wheelchair. I dont know what the hell they are talking about!!!! 😂 I can do anything, and go where ever I want, as long as I got my car!
Omg that view! Would love to see you continue your wheelchair basics guide, especially going up and down curbsides as that is a skill I am yet to master
Like when some IDIOT parks in front of the sidewalk ramp area!?! Or they put the disabled parking stall on the other side of the building from the ramp entrance? I started with really low curbs and time my wheelie just right so that I don't go flying out onto my face. Just as my front wheels land onto the curb, I lean forward so that my weight is as low as possible and give one good push as my back wheels make contact with the curb, and sit up again at the same time. Then ... pop! Sounds more complicated when I write it out but really, just starting with curbs that are only a couple of inches high and working up skill and confidence is my suggestion. Ok.. Richard ... we need a video!
I was almost finished building my minivan microcamper and planning to hit the road full time with my little dog a year ago this month… when a slight twinge in my neck quickly became a massive epidural abscess and crushed my spinal cord at C4-C6. I am now an incomplete quad, but still dream of finishing the van to accommodate the new wheelchair and set off.
If I wasn't on the other side of the country, I'd be down. AZ is beautiful! Looking forward to doing a road trip though. I've always loved driving and the freedom it does give us.
I love your enthusiasm! My car is my independence (after my wheelchair). I cannot walk at all, so learning to drive (40 years ago now!) gives me a huge amount of freedom to go where I want when I want. I was just without it a few hours today while my garage was doing some necessary work and felt so lost and stuck while it was not there on my driveway.
Fantastic, so much fun and energy! The earth is a wonderful place, and we need to appreciate it more! I live in a small town, but only 10 minutes drive, and one is in the middle of no-where. I am lucky to have rolling countryside on one side, and forests on the other and about an hour from the coast!
If you don't have any friends who can drive maybe there's some Facebook group or something that can connect you to people that are down for taking a road trip? Idk, I personally would love to meet someone and take a trip somewhere cool, especially if they can't drive and I can help with that
@@koacado Oh, I live in the Netherlands and the bus that goes straight to Utrecht central train station stops literally across the street from where I live. From there I could easily take the bus or train pretty much anywhere in Europe. If I really wanted to I could be three countries over in half a day. But it does take a little planning and a little more time (and money) so the spontaneity of it is kinda lost.
@@EsmeeAnnamarie that's so fucking great tho. I live in a town where you need to drive for 15 minutes to get anywhere near a train station. Most of the roads don't even have sidewalks and it would be dangerous to walk, and hills so steep its practically impossible for a wheelchair with no motor.
@@koacado It really is. The bus drives by every 15 minutes too so I don't have to wait for long either. Obviously the international trains and buses don't come that often, so you do have to plan that out a bit. I promise you the public transportation system here in the Netherlands is VASTLY superior to anything you have anywhere in the America's. And yes, I'm including all of both the North and South american continents in this statement. Honestly, the USA seems like one of the worst places in the world to live with a disability (and without a disability it's pretty low on the list too). I'm so glad I wasn't born in the US!
@@EsmeeAnnamarie yeah. I don't live in the US either tho but I have been there and it's shit. I live in rural Spain and it's pretty similar to the US in this sense. I'd love to visit the Netherlands sometime
I live near the Superstition/Apache mountains. I recognized the road (Apache Trail) next to Salt River immediately. 😍 I love road trips, too. I just got back from a stormchasing trip to Arkansas.
Richard its awesome to always see you live life to the fullest and your inspiration gives me hope that i can gain my independence again one day. I havent been diagnosed yet because docs dont know what i have but it sounds like ms from my research. I miss driving and being able to do what i want when i wanted and your videos help me know i can do it. Keep up the great work!
Love the message. And wish I could meet up. But alas, I'm in Alaska and that's a serious road trip! As well, I am not a desert person at all. Heat makes all my medical stuff worse so I love the cold. But am not driving right now because it's impossible to get around in all this snow. Last count we had at least 8 feet on the ground. In winter, I am unable to wheel anywhere on my own. It's so cold and frozen here, they can't get all the snow off pavement because of permafrost, so I have to have someone help me at least 6 months out of the year. If you ever decide to come to Alaska, seriously, let me know. I used to work in tourism. I could help you plan a wonderful trip! and you have fans here
Ah man! I'm stuck up in the snow in Canada. I LOVE Arizona. Gorgeous. Warm (well until it's too freaking hot). Have you ever tried rolling through 2 feet of snow? Many of you probably have. Anyways, I love the idea of getting in the car and going. I always have an excuse but really, the Rocky Mountains are not that far away and you're right, I don't need someone to come with me. Thanks for the inspiration Richard!
Yo I want to say thank you for giving me the confidence in being in a chair. I finally got a good chair and it has changed my life for the better 😌 thank you. I'm in Tucson so a bit of a drive for me. I know it's only 5 hrs but it's a bit much for me but looking forward to the next one
These words are so powerful!! I always say my car is the best wheelchair ever; air conditioning, bluetooth, subwoofers, butt warmers, waterproof, room for a lot of extra stuff. It's a living room on wheels!!! Nobody values cars like wheelchair peeps
Wow i didnt realize you lived so close to me. I live less then 2 hours away from there its so beautiful. The superstition mountians is my back yard view. And when im on my horse aka my legs i love running through the desert and seeing all the things
Omg that view! Ngl I'm living vicariously through videos like this. I don't drive and even if I did, I don't have views anywhere near as pretty here. At least I can use regular public transport without help or assistance, so that makes up a bit for not driving, you just can't get as remote (not that you can get as remote in the netherlands as you can in the us anyway, but still). At least living in a very flat country has the pro of making using a manual wheelchair a lot easier. I can get around town without a car or even a handbike no problem (small town). But I get what you're saying. I recently finally went to a festival again. My first time using a wheelchair, which would have been 2019 but, yanno... I won't deny that I was kinda glad I got to build upper body strength first, but omg the number of surprised reactions I got. And the number of "isn't that hard". But as an ambulatory wheelchair user who put off getting a chair for too long, having my chair makes everything so much easier.
Definitely freedom in driving, whist in spinal rehab after sci they gave me a antibiotic to heal my spinal scar, I had an allergic reaction and it took 70% of my sight, inevitably taking my drivers licence with it. So no I cannot do it 🤷🏼♀️ if I could have one thing back it would be my eyesight.
It would be great. Road trips used to be my favorite. No longer have that independence but I am glad that you do and others as well. I’d have to go about 8 hrs west to begin to see something not flat or covered in 2+ ft of white, but I do still enjoy the once every 2 weeks the sun while it’s out for a couple hours . Can’t wait for may and June to be able to get outside again to see a sunset as that’s my jam. I think I’m a bit more depressed than usual cuz there’s been too much snow since December for my wheels so haven’t been out of these walls in almost 3 months and the snow isn’t gone from where I am til end of April and then when the temp is somewhat reliably above zero even once a week is not til may, and mid may is usually the soonest I can be a stay-cation tourist, as I can’t regulate my temp and it’s an e Austin’s ordeal to even get to an appt, never mind anything where I would like to enjoy being outside. Then the middle of June will be here with its 35°C +humidity and I won’t be able to go out during daylight hours til mid sept, then 2 weeks till it’s too cold again but at least I can get the heck out of here, just can’t go anywhere on my own safely. I definitely, other than the pain, depression , extra stress, etc, I DEFINITELY miss my ability to have a vehicle, and being able to just decide, even with kids, where we are going to go that day or week or minute and bloody go!! And not have a care in the world except to drive safe, and keep my kids happy and safe. Which was not an issue of course. Now nothing is “natural” about my days. Sorry if this is a downer comment. Just thought maybe I’d try one more time and see if I’ll be allowed to “share” on this platform . I’m tired of my comments going poof and not being able to even be a part of this community and give support and vent a bit here and there too when appropriate. 💜✋❤️🩹👩🏻🦽
I don't even need to go far for great views. I now live in the Dutch country side and even rolling 5 min with the wheels gets some great views. I got used to them though but when I share photos many are still impressed and if I'm fed up here I can hop over to Germany as I'm just some 7 miles from the border. Check google earth Nijmegen, Groesbeek, Ooij, that's the region I live in now. Beats the urban jungle of Toronto but I still miss Canada 🥺
It's called hand controls, there's cheap ones on Amazon which are basically sticks that you strap to your pedals so you can reach with your hands, and there's other more advanced stuff that has to be installed by professionals
