Everything about mobility, traveling, fixing, and using the One Sexy Scooter and its companion products that make the list. Plus background material on how being handicapped or having a disability may change how you do something, but it doesn't stop you from doing it.
Originally published September 6, 2107
Some general mobility observations or how to navigate Gatlinburg with a handicap.
I tried to find everything I could before we went to Gatlinburg about what was and what wasn't scooter friendly.
My husband can walk short distances, and he did use his walking stick in restaurants, although he could have driven to the table in many of them as well.
Here is a quick list of resources. I'm going to be posting more in-depth posts on the area as well:
HIKING RESOURCES:
http://www.cabinsforyou.com/blog/advice/stroller-friendly-trails-in-the-smokies.htm (what works for strollers often works for scooters.)
http://www.yoursmokies.com/handicappedaccessiblegsmnptrails.html
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm
PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF LOCALS:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g60842-i150-Gatlinburg_Tennessee.html
REVIEWS OF LOCAL AREA
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60842-Gatlinburg_Tennessee-Vacations.html
Originally posted on December 31, 2017
We'll have other posts on our search for a lift for the Triad 750 CSX. We looked at Harmar and the Armstrong lifts. Both of these companies have great solutions that we will go into later.
After a lot of searching, my husband chose the Bruno Joey lift because we live in New England, he needed an inside the car solution, and he wanted something that he could just drive on or wheel on. We went to the Boston Abilities Expo and saw complete conversion vans, which don't allow for AWD. But in the parking lot, we saw an older model Bruno lift. The owner of the lift had a van and we were able to put the Triad on the lift with a little manuevering. We took pictures lots of pictures because if we purchased one, we wanted to make sure it would fit.
We now knew what type of lift we wanted, but we needed a car that could accommodate it. We decided on purchasing a 2017 Toyota Sienna. With a new purchase, we would get $1,000 back on a lift and installation direct from Toyota, which we definitely were going to need. We'll have another post on the complete ins and outs of this decision.
It seems that Bruno has changed how the Bruno Joey works compared to the one we saw in the parking lot of the Boston Abilities Expo. The lift just comes straight out and straight down, and the platform is slightly smaller. We met the Mobility Works folks at the Expo and talked to their NH office. Aaron Morse was assigned to work with us and our unorthodox mobility scooter. He thought it could work, even with the new design.
We made a complete video so you can see how it operates.