Inspired Spinal Cord Injury Support Forum

tonka
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 12, 2015 10:43:30 GMT -8

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Post by tonka on May 12, 2015 10:43:30 GMT -8

OK, so I hunt, fish, ride ATV's, drive Jeeps and kayak. I guess I'm just an out-of-doors junkie at heart!

Patricia and I are considering buying a camping trailer. This would give us a place to stay overnight 'cuz we all know hunting and fishing is best early and late in the day (except in Texas where night hunting hogs is the best).

When I lived in Idaho I had a pard with spina bifida who parked his chair in the streams and fly fished. The water was too cold on my legs so I fished from shore...

I went elk hunting each year in Idaho with an old guy (older than me at least) and enjoyed sitting in a rock blind at 10 below zero with wool long johns and quilt lined jeans with hand warmers in my socks and pockets... This same old guy got me interested in long range rifle shooting a la Quigley Downunder. Black powder breach loaders shot at ranges out to 800 yards. I out shot him and finished mid pack of about 00 shooters.

I haven't been kayaking for a couple years but there are some lakes here in AZ that are great for sunfish and bass... I already have a carrier for the top of my Jeep...

My ATV gets weekly workouts (I'm in the desert near Phoenix)!

I have a backyard pool and the water is almost warm enough.

Come on you outdoor types, lets hear from you! Tell me about your offered chairs and adventures! My screen name for many sites is Dusty Wheeler...

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Lαrα
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 12, 2015 11:02:21 GMT -8

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Post by Lαrα on May 12, 2015 11:02:21 GMT -8

You are a busy bee!

Well, i love horses and have two, one of which I show but I cant ride unfortunately. I love going to the stables and go every day for maybe 2/3 hours.

I go to horse shows most weekends.

One time I spent all my time with the horses, we had 7!

I have a scooter that I go out for a ride on now and then.

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cbdives Advanced Member Posts: 735 Post Likes Received: 490 Date Joined: November 2013 Injury: Peripheral Neuropathy Date Injured: Progressive Member is: Offline Send PM	Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 12, 2015 11:17:15 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by cbdives on May 12, 2015 11:17:15 GMT -8 My thing is Scuba & underwater photography. I teach Scuba and certified to teach people with disabilities to dive Joe
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tonka
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 13, 2015 13:11:57 GMT -8

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Post by tonka on May 13, 2015 13:11:57 GMT -8

I've fished from my kayak since before it was fashionable. I'm as able bodied as anyone in my boat! AZ Department of Fish & Game is holding a free class but we have another engagement so this is just an FYI...

Free kayak-fishing clinic to be held May 23 at Fool Hollow Lake in Show Low
May 13, 2015
SHOW LOW – Learn how to paddle and cast May 23 at Fool Hollow Lake in Show Low with a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. kayak fishing clinic. The clinic is free. Reserve a spot with a refundable registration deposit of $20.
Class size is limited, so register by calling the AZGFD Pinetop office at 928-532-3680.
Why learn to kayak fish? Kayak anglers are a growing community of outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy the exercise, quiet, and ability to stealthily paddle into fishing areas that boats cannot reach. Catch fish, stay in shape and enjoy nature in its purest form.
The clinic will consist of kayak instruction so anglers can learn what to bring and how to pack. It’s a hands-on clinic, so participants will spend time on the lake with experienced instructors. At the end of the clinic, it will be time to go catch fish. Kayaks, life jackets and fishing equipment will be provided (although registrants can bring their own.)
Participants must be at least 10 years of age.

DJ
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 14, 2015 3:19:34 GMT -8

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Post by DJ on May 14, 2015 3:19:34 GMT -8

Great thread tonka! Last year I stayed at a nature reserve for a couple days. We stayed at a cottage and really enjoyed it but we're planning on tent camping this year at the same reserve. I was so close to getting on a kayak last year but I didn't. I'll probably give that a go this year too!

I've thought about ATV'ing and Snowmobiling and think that I have the strength to ride one of those but I gotta find one with a twist throttle instead of a thumb throttle. I heard that it's quite easy to convert to twist throttles so I'm going to see if I can try it out somewhere.

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tonka
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 14, 2015 16:56:03 GMT -8

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Post by tonka on May 14, 2015 16:56:03 GMT -8

Good for you DJ, do it!
When I lived on the coast I kayaked in the surf quite a bit. I'd usually find some kind soul to get my kayak off the car-top carrier and drag my it to the water for me. After 4 or 5 hours of getting beat up in the waves I'd come in bone tired but happy. When I worked at the Rehab Institute several of the staff went quiet-water kayaking on Wet Wednesday. A local kayak rental business provided all the gear. A couple quads and some paras came out and a good time was had by all. I saw some gripping devices used by folks with limited hand grasp that seemed to work well. I swim really well so I'm not worried about the water (I wear a PFD anyway) except it's cold (I wear a wet suit in the ocean).
ATV's get back that wind-in-your-face feeling that I had when motorcycling! Mine is a Polaris and has a fully auto trans. It gets me to those places I used to hike to.
Life is good...outdoors!

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DJ Administrator STAFF Posts: 8,162 Post Likes Received: 2,829 Date Joined: July 2013 Injury: C6 - ASIA B Date Injured: June 2011 Member is: Offline Send PM	Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 15, 2015 2:58:49 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by DJ on May 15, 2015 2:58:49 GMT -8 tonka, that sounds like fun! I've got gripping devices that'll help me so I'll definitely give it a go when I get the chance.

wavewolf
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 15, 2015 22:14:53 GMT -8

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Post by wavewolf on May 15, 2015 22:14:53 GMT -8

tonka, serious question: how do you accommodate B&B needs while out in the water? It would take me too long to get to land and out of kayak, which I could not do by myself, to not have an accident. And on rugged land, to get to a private spot, and then have someone collect you again...hmmmm, not going to happen. And how to carry out the debris?!!! The thought of a BM in a wetsuit is just too horrid to imagine... Actually, because of danger of too much sun exposure and very limited energy with my disease, I probably should proceed with selling all my kayaking gear. I can hardly accomplish my ADLs anymore, so am giving up hope to do fun stuff that I would love to do again. I think my life is run by B&B now.

Hoea ra!

tonka
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 20, 2015 12:31:05 GMT -8

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Post by tonka on May 20, 2015 12:31:05 GMT -8

wavewolf, I can easily cath myself inside the kayak when I'm not wearing a wetsuit, just pop the spray skirt off and use a towel keep curious eyes out... I do pull to shore or some other more stable spot just for safety. I can't do it on the ocean as the waves mess with my poor balance and wetsuit... We all have different bowel needs. For myself, I'm an every-other-day person and have few accidents if I stick to that schedule. The meds I take all seem to slow my bowels up but once in a while I'll take an anti diarrhea tablet just to be sure. I will pay for that over the next day with some abominable discomfort but it is worth it for me. So wether I am boating to 4 wheeling I don't worry much about accidents. With the cath I can always pee in an empty soda can in the car or boat.

tonka,Lαrα,cbdives,DJ,wavewolf, Again, our circumstances are different as my strength has been very stable over the years. I'm a guy with huge shoulders and upper body strength and no lower body strength...
My wife and I looked at a small camping trailer yesterday and are thinking seriously about getting one. It isn't without challenges. I transfer from my chair to the trailer doorway floor. then scoot in backwards to a couch where I boost up onto the couch and from there I can transfer to all the surfaces I need to get to...except maybe the bathroom/shower. I'll have to work on that! I think a short step stool outside the bathroom and one inside will give me good transfer surfaces. I use two "stadium cushions" glued together to cushion my boney backside during transfers. I have a Jay Protector but getting it on and off is more work than it is worth. As we move forward I'll let you know how it works out. I think someone mentioned a toy hauler but they all weigh too much for my Jeep to pull...

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wavewolf
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 20, 2015 20:09:25 GMT -8

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Post by wavewolf on May 20, 2015 20:09:25 GMT -8

tonka, I think cathing is much easier for males-- a towel wouldn't quite conceal what I would be doing!!! Would need to disembark, and that is just a lot of energy, then getting around on rough land, also. I would have to get even inferior but waterproof AFOs to be able to get around at all. Given energy constraint and how frequently I need to "go", I have not been able to imagine a workable solution--and believe me, I have given it so much thought. Glad you find a way to manage this and stay active. I always dreamed of having a small travel trailer, so much better in the rain! Hope you find what you can use.

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Hoea ra!

kilg0retr0ut
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 21, 2015 9:16:26 GMT -8

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Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 21, 2015 9:16:26 GMT -8

I'm lucky enough to live in the outdoors, or close as you get while still being in a house. I deer hunted the first year after my injury. My crazy Yooper father-in-law made it all possible. He had a blind set up with heat, a soft chair all the way down to a container of nuts for munching. That year I also snowshoed in a blizzard, and went ice fishing a few times. The following year I bear hunted. I've taken the couple of years off except for a little Brooktrout fishing. So far this year I've seen deer, turkey, great blue heron, woodcock,wood ducks,hooded maganzer, muskrat,geese,sandhill cranes, porkypine,pilated wood peckers, humming bird, all in my backyard. Now I'm seeing lots of misqeetoes, ticks and black flies.

The spelling in this is horrid. I know.
I hope to get back at it, but keeping up with a house that was built in 1947 has kept me busy.
I do have a archery target out back my daughter and I practice on.

I'd like to try some camping this summer. I'm the string a hammock and a couple poncho's type of camper.(I hate being in a tent) and my wife who believes the pop-up trailer is the only way to go. I'm working on it

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L4/5 CES

wavewolf
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 21, 2015 18:46:02 GMT -8

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Post by wavewolf on May 21, 2015 18:46:02 GMT -8

kilg0retr0ut, are you in UP by any chance? That is such a wonderful area that one wants to live outdoors no matter how cold! That's the way I was before being so sick and getting paralyzed. Now I just don't have the strength, hard enough to do ADLs. Living in nature is a great way to go.

Hoea ra!

kilg0retr0ut Advanced Member Posts: 2,507 Post Likes Received: 1,862 Date Joined: July 2013 Injury: L4/5 Cauda Equina Date Injured: 7-15-10 Member is: Offline Send PM	Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 22, 2015 4:22:49 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 22, 2015 4:22:49 GMT -8 I am in the U.P. Wavewolf. Along the south shore of Lake Superior. We had a mini blizzard two days ago, less than a inch though. The last two winters were pretty long.
	L4/5 CES

tonka New Member Posts: 35 Post Likes Received: 59 Date Joined: April 2015 Injury: L1 Date Injured: 1980 Member is: Offline Send PM	Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 22, 2015 6:25:23 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by tonka on May 22, 2015 6:25:23 GMT -8 Long, cold Idaho winters are why we retired and moved back to AZ! Ice on the roads for 5 months straight--NO MORE! I will say that clear winter mornings with the sun peeking over Grand Teton was beautiful...and summers are heavenly!
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wavewolf
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Enjoying the great out-of-doors! May 22, 2015 20:11:42 GMT -8

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Post by wavewolf on May 22, 2015 20:11:42 GMT -8

May 22, 2015 4:22:49 GMT -8 kilg0retr0ut said:

I am in the U.P. Wavewolf.

Along the south shore of Lake Superior. We had a mini blizzard two days ago, less than a inch though.
The last two winters were pretty long.

Doesn't get much better than that!!!! But now I understand why it is so important to keep walking. Being in chair in ice and snow is a bear...although Knight seems to conquer it. Must be a long haul for you to get to doctors--need a dogsled, with a wheeled rig for summer!

I had dreams of kayaking to Pictured Rocks, Grand/Williams/Wood Islands, Apostle Islands, and Isle Royale, but it will never happen now. Lake Superior is so cold that I could have only done this trip in summer. I wanted to start with the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium (July) in Grand Marais, then travel west and north. If I did well in those, I wanted to try the Gales Storm Gathering in October in Munising. I loved cold climate with lots of snow before having mobility problems. I was invited by Nigel Dennis to the Gales of November (Lake Superior) elite sea kayakers' mayhem in 1998, but did not feel up to it so declined and therefore I am here to write this!

tonka, I hear you, but the sun in AZ would fry me! Too much sun exposure exacerbates my disease, even in winter. Still, easy passage in chair is nice.

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Hoea ra!

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Enjoying the great out-of-doors!

Post by tonka on May 12, 2015 10:43:30 GMT -8

Post by Lαrα on May 12, 2015 11:02:21 GMT -8

Post by cbdives on May 12, 2015 11:17:15 GMT -8

Post by tonka on May 13, 2015 13:11:57 GMT -8

Post by DJ on May 14, 2015 3:19:34 GMT -8

Post by tonka on May 14, 2015 16:56:03 GMT -8

Post by DJ on May 15, 2015 2:58:49 GMT -8

Post by wavewolf on May 15, 2015 22:14:53 GMT -8

Post by tonka on May 20, 2015 12:31:05 GMT -8

Post by wavewolf on May 20, 2015 20:09:25 GMT -8

Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 21, 2015 9:16:26 GMT -8

Post by wavewolf on May 21, 2015 18:46:02 GMT -8

Post by kilg0retr0ut on May 22, 2015 4:22:49 GMT -8

Post by tonka on May 22, 2015 6:25:23 GMT -8

Post by wavewolf on May 22, 2015 20:11:42 GMT -8

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