Tag: wheelchair

Dania Beach Pier

Last weekend I took a trip down to Miami to see Radiohead live in concert at the American Airlines arena. The concert was amazing, it was my first time seeing Radiohead, and they put on a very OK Computer heavy setlist, which happily surprised me.

The arena itself was pretty good. Its a near clone to the new Amway Center in Orlando. Handicapped parking at the arena was NOT free like it was in Orlando, but I cannot complain about anything else. Except the traffic. Downtown Miami traffic is horrid.

On the way back from Miami I stopped by Dania Beach, specifically near the Dania Beach Pier, and I found it to be by far the most wheelchair friendly beach in Florida yet. Here is a video of me using my lever drive chair to go directly from the parking lot to near the water. Completely flat the entire way!

After resting for a few minutes, I continued down towards the water to watch the wind surfers in action. Next time I’ll bring my wetsuit and try out the water myself.

Handicapped parking is free near the pier, but has self service kiosks for everyone else. Entrance to the pier itself is not free, but is only a few dollars for both observers and fishing. There were tons of people fishing so it looks like a great spot.

Avalon State Park

This past weekend I took my lever-drive beach chair out on the beach at Avalon State Park, near Ft. Pierce, on the eastern Atlantic coast of Florida. I’ll post more details about my chair soon, it’s still in final testing mode, but I’m very impressed with its ability to let me push myself up and down even the softest sand beach.

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The reason I went to Avalon State Park is that it seems to be the most northern Florida beach with a straight, direct pathway on to the beach from the parking lot. From my recent explorations of public beaches on the east coast, they all have a parking area that is elevated above the sand dunes, with a winding ramp down on to the sand (if there is a ramp at all). While these ramps are better than stairs, they can also be rather steep, sometimes too narrow to make a turn on, and are often covered with a layer of soft sand. The ramps are also usually about 500 feet away from the water, making it a major chore to access.

This is compared to beaches in South Florida where the roadway is often at the same level as the beach, with the water only about 100 feet away.

I didn’t get a chance to take pictures, but an image from Wikipedia shows how relatively direct the access is at Avalon State Park:

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Parking is free with a disabled placard, but is otherwise handled by a self-serve walk-up machine in the parking lot. I believe it was only $2/hour. This compares to beaches closer to Cocoa Beach that are anywhere from $15-$20 per day and are hit or miss when it comes to being free for the disabled.

The beach at Avalon is beautiful, the sand is relatively coarse, the water is aqua, and best of all, the beach was nearly empty. Outside of a few people jogging, I was the only one there. According to Google Maps, its about 240 feet from the parking lot to the water’s edge. There is a sand dune to overcome as you approach the water’s edge (or rather, when you’re trying to get back up!), but it’s of medium grade and I was able to maneuver it with some effort.

Wild dolphins in the Indian River

 

I did some fishing with my dad today. We went to the pier at the far end of the bridge over the Indian River in Melbourne Beach, Florida. We did not get any bites, but it didn’t matter, because we saw wild dolphins for the very first time!

After 25 years in Florida, I can now confirm that they exist outside of Sea World!

It was also a great place to test out my newest GoPro camera attachment. This time I put it on my FreeWheel, a great little wheelchair toy that attaches to the front of your chair and lifts the front caster wheels off the ground. It turns any wheelchair into a three wheel stabilized offroad chair. The FreeWheel is awesome because it is very light weight, easy to travel with, and let’s me go in the grass, dirt roads, and even tightly packed sand.

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It also makes a great camera location for stable filming. I’m planning some trips to Miami, Clearwater, and San Francisco (!) for later this year and I’m excited to throw my FreeWheel into my bag and take it with me.

Body boarding at New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Here’s a short clip of me swimming out in the waves at New Smyrna Beach. I attached my GoPro straight onto my cheap foam body board and enjoyed the surf.

New Smyrna has become my favorite beach to visit in Florida. Although it’s a bit of a drive from my home, it’s worth the mileage due to the great easy wheelchair access provided by parking your vehicle right on the sand. From your vehicle to the surf is about 20 feet and half of that distance is over highly compacted sand. The water is always a great temperature and there are few sand dunes to get in your way.

Parking is normally $10 per day, but is FREE for those with a disabled parking permit. Just mention it to the guard at the gate and they’ll give you a windshield sticker for future quick access.

There are a few downsides to keep in mind.

First, New Smyrna is a very popular beach in the summer. It’s always crowded. Be prepared to have to drive more than a mile along the beach before you find an empty parking spot. The good news is there is always enough room if you drive far enough from the entrance.

Second, vehicle access to the beach is CLOSED around high tide. Check the tide predictions for the day before you go and try to avoid the time two hours before or after high tide.

Third, there is almost always a strong rip tide parallel to the coast. This means if you get in the water and aren’t paying attention, you will literally be taken a mile or more down the coast. For those of in a wheelchair that struggle to get through any sand, it’s a major concern.

Despite these issues, New Smyrna is still my favorite beach. The people are always friendly, there are vendors that sell snacks, you can see crabs, sea turtles & all kinds of birds, oh and you can’t beat the accessibility.

My first GoPro video

Here is my very first GoPro video. I attached the camera on the front of my Dragonfly handcycle. I still have one of the original three speed Dragonfly’s and it’s still my favorite wheelchair attachment toy. It’s always fun, gets me a lot of compliments, and best of all let’s me go at a fast speed without having to even transfer out of my chair.

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I took my gear over to Lake Nona, Florida, a classic riding spot for me. It’s near my home and work, with a beautiful bike trail that goes several miles through the area sounding the Orlando Airport. The trail even features accessible water fountains (accessible for both wheelchair users and dogs!) and complimentary air pumps. Parking is easy as the trail starts at a small commercial area that has a Panera, a Union Burger (Canadian burger chain that serves poutine), a pizza joint, and a frozen yogurt shop, among other businesses.

Lake Nona itself is an upscale community and a future biotech hub. There are some beautiful houses and people are always friendly.

My first video is rather uneventful, but it gives you an eye-level view of what riding my handcycle is like.