A Day on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

 Colorado

July 2022

After spending a week in Idaho and Wyoming, we decided to drive down to the 4 corner region and spend a week in Farmington, NM. One of the main reasons was to spend a day on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. We purchased tickets for the all day round trip excursion with a stop in Silverton with enough time to enjoy a nice lunch and do a little souvenir shopping. I know breathtaking is probably an overused word when describing views while on vacation, but I can think of no better word to describe the views looking down and out from a train hugging a canyon wall high above a raging river. While we didn't see any bears, we did enjoy a few waterfalls. You could open the windows for fresh air and Egypt wasn't the only passenger who took a little nap (or two) to the soothing knocks and cracks from the train wheels rumbling over tracks laid in the 1800s. It was a day we will both remember and cherish. 

Flashback - Egypt's first train ride at the Avenues Mall in Jacksonville, FL

October 2010

EGYPT DAYS

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5 Tips for Flying Domestically with a Manual Wheelchair

 My latest article written for Abilities.com can be found here.

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Tree of Life

 Joshua Tree National Park

April 2023

We pulled over at the Tree of Life wayside to take in the view of scattered trees set against a jumbled rockscape. I got out to read about the area and snap a few pictures when I realized there were trails leading away from the small parking area. I investigated a little to determine if it was worth getting Kellisa out and in her wheelchair for some exploring. I was conflicted because the trails weren't marked and didn't look official, but they looked interesting and I knew I could push Kellisa across the natural terrain. We ended up exploring for about 15 minutes and covered about a 1/3 of a mile. We were the only ones at the Tree of Life and we enjoyed our solitude. 

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Lower Keys View

 Joshua Tree National Park

April 2023

At barely 1/10 of a mile in length, I was questioning if the effort required to get Kellisa in and out of the SUV with her wheelchair would be worth it, especially since I could see the viewpoint from our disabled parking spot. I can say we are both glad we took the time because the view from the lookout was spectacular across the valley with the Salton Sea and Santa Rosa Mountains visible. It is reported that you can even see into Mexico on a clear day. We did not have a clear day. While we would have liked a longer trail, the paved sidewalk was worth our effort. 

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Oasis of Mara

 Joshua Tree National Park

April 2023

The Oasis of Mara is the standard 1/2 mile paved ADA accessible paved trail behind a visitor center in a national park. It has informative signs spaced out along the path for visitors can learn about the local features of the desert. We shared the trail with a few visitors, but didn't observe any wildlife. Viewing different cactus was a highlight and seeing houses scattered across the desert was a unique sighting.  

2013 Flashback:

Pictures from July 2013 Visit

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The Good House Spa - A Wheelchair Accessible Guide with Pictures

 Desert Hot Springs, CA

April 2023

While looking over a map, I noticed a town between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park called Desert Hot Springs. It brought back memories of when Kellisa and I stayed at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa in British Columbia, Canada, for a few days. We both enjoyed the relaxation and soaking while the hot springs did temporary miracles for Kellisa's cerebral palsy. I searched online to see if Desert Hot Springs actually had hot springs and it didn't take long to confirm they did. With several options available, I zeroed in on the Good House Spa which offered day passes for the pool and jacuzzi area if you weren't staying overnight in their hotel. When I read, "Adults only," I paused with disappointment for a second before remembering that Kellisa is no longer a child, in fact, she's a 23-year-old adult.

After carefully studying the pictures and reviews I could find online, I decided it looked accessible enough and called to purchase our day passes. I explained our situation and needs and the lady on the phone thought we would be able to navigate around their grounds with little problems.

The one disabled parking spot was taken when we arrived, but one of the end spots was open. It was a little tight, but I was able to get Kellisa out and back in without too much trouble. We were greeted at the gate and shown the grounds. Kellisa and I decided to enjoy a nice lunch before soaking in the pool. Kellisa ordered a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, and I enjoyed mushroom nachos with fresh fruit.

We let lunch settle a little before getting ready to soak. The changing room was a little small and the attendant opened a massage room for me to change Kellisa into her swimsuit. We made sure we left the room exactly the way we found it and really appreciated the accommodation.

Kellisa pointed to the pool with excitement and two minutes later we were up to our chins in beautiful mineral water. We found the 94F water heavenly and spent the next three hours relaxing and playing. We were careful not to make too much noise since it was an "adults only" resort. I do have to admit that it was nice to enjoy our time without children running, splashing, and making a lot of noise. I would have taken a nap while floating under the blue skies if I weren't solely responsible for Kellisa. I thought we would end with some time spent in the jacuzzi, but we used all our time enjoying the pool. If/when we return, we will consider staying here overnight to enjoy their oasis beyond the limited hours of a day pass.

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