European Tour

Date- 15th September

(Day 4)

Country- Switzerland

State/County-Bernese Oberland

City/Town/Areas Meiringen, Grindelwald, Klein Schiedeg, Jungfraujoch

Locations Jungfraujoch Railway, Jungfraujoch Summit

URL

Jungfraujoch Railway- http://www.jungfrau.ch/

Notes

Meringen to Grimdlewald then in the train up onto the Junfraujoch.

I had emailed the Jungfraujoch railway from the UK and been told that they were accessible. As with everything in Europe I set my expectations low and my cynicism high, but boy was I proved wrong on this occasion.

My Brother-in-law rod and I decided to catch the train from Gindlewald (we could have gone from Interlaken) on the basis that (a) we might not be able to get on board and so the view of the Eiger from there is good and (b) I have not been there since I was 16 (40 years ago) and had fond memories of the area.

At the station in the middle of Gindlewald there is disabled parking, there is a disabled toilet, the platforms are all level and ramped and when I went in to buy the ticket I was informed that not only were all the main stations accessible but that people in wheelchairs go free! Given that the standard return fair up the 11,333 feet of the Jungfraujoch is 145 CH that is one major discount and very generous.

We waited for the train from Gindlewald to Klein Schiedeg where one changed for the rest of the ascent. Bang on time the train arrived and the ramp to the side of the train was a mere 3 inches, the train has plenty of room.

Make sure you have good breaks and sit in the direction of travel and with the back of your wheel chair against a bulkhead as the train tips up the slop at an alarming degree. The scent to Klein Schiedeg is both breathtaking and beautiful.

One gets off the train there (again a small step) and on to the next train up onto the Jungfraujoch. This train is much higher (all the platforms are pretty level and there are no steps or stairs). The boarding arrangements are effective and interesting; they use a fork-lift truck and a special pallet to get wheelchairs onto the train, there is lots of room and a special area of the compartment, again remember to travel facing the direction of travel, the slope of the train get very steep now.

The second part of the ascent lasts 50 minutes and the train stops 3 times, after the first stop it enters the mountain and stops twice inside the Eiger for people to get off and take pictures from viewing windows, (you cannot get off at these stops in a wheelchair).

Finally after about 50 minutes inside the mountain the train pulls to a halt in the cavernous terminus inside the Jungfraujoch. At this point a helpful man with a forklift arrives and rather alarmingly weaves through the crown to pick me up. Then I wheel off through set of doors and WOW a coffee shop with windows looking directly out to the glacier!

The whole of the Jungfraujoch complex is fully accessible and has toilets on every level that are wheelchair accessible. There is a short push (about 100 meters) up an incline and this is very hard going at nearly 12,000 feet! At the top the lift whisks you up to the viewing platform (known as the sphinx) at 11,750 feet, out of this and through the doors and there you are; outside and looking across the glaciers and peaks.

The trip down is just as straightforward, though remember to sit with your back to the direction of travel this time as the train plunges downhill at the same steep angle.

Rod and I got off at Klein Schiedeg and had beer and wurst in the warm autumn sun and looked at the Eiger (Klein Schiedeg looked pretty accessible, the station has disabled toilets and most areas were well paved if a little hilly).

Then somewhat reluctantly off on the next train to Gindlewald and into the mini and back to das Sherlock Holmes hotel in Meiringen for dinner. Peter and John had arrived and we had a rather raucous dinner (excellent wild boar and good local beer and wine). Then an early night before our next stage and it’s demanding drive.

Accessibility

Excellent throughout

Parking

Easy and free

Toilets

Excellent

Accommodation

N/A

Other/General

Jungfraujoch and Klein Schiedeg both very worth the visit and the cost. Food and drink at the top is quite pricy but you can take food and drink with you. This is a real wow event though.

My Overall Accessibility Rating

9 out of a possible 10

European Tour

Date- 14th September 2010

(Day 3)

Countries- France and Switzerland

State/County- N/A

City/Town/Area- Mulhouse France and Meiringen Switzerland

Locations- Schlumpf Musem Mulhouse and Das Sherlock Holmes Hotel Meiringen Switzerland

URLS

Notes

Metz to Mulhouse France then on to Meiringen Switzerland

An early start, despite our fears the cars are still there and unmolested. A good breakfast and off onto more motorway for the flog across to Mulhouse. On the way we stopped at Epinal for coffee- a charming little town. The trip onwards to Mulhouse is a more interesting drive and we decided upon the route over the col - for the first time giving the Mini a proper outing on the hairpin bends.

At Mulhouse we go to the Schlumpf Museum – a major car museum that my Brother-in-law Peter knows well. It is huge and Peter and John are going to stay on there all afternoon and visit the railway museum on Wednesday morning. The Schlumpf really is worth a day’s visit (petrol-heads plese note), though Rod and I can manage only lunch in the museum and a couple of hours as we want to get onto Meiringen in Switzerland. The whole of the Schlumpf museum is accessible, and very good value, wheelchair users are free, parking is not.

If Bugatti are your thing the Schumpf has more fo them than you can sake a stick at!

Then on to Meiringen. We get to Switzerland in just over an hour, at the customs we buy our ‘vignette’ – the pass you need for driving in Switzerland (40 Swiss Franks- about £32), these last a year but the year runs January through December so ours will run out in 2 months!

Driving in Switzerland is complex as speed limits change in rapid succession, 2 or 3 in the space of 500 meters some times. The Sat Nav is vital for knowing what the limits are. However Swiss drivers are pretty law-abiding and courteous so things are not too stressful.

We arrive at Meringen (site of the fictional last encounter between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty) and stay at [Das sherlock holmes Meiringen Alpbachallee 3 CH-3860]. Access is via the lift (proper sized lift) in the lower level and parking is on the street next to the hotel (3 franks per night).

Accessibility

Schlumpf Museum- first rate

Das Sherlock Holmes Hotel - Good

Parking

Good at both places

Toilets

None in Epinal that were accessible, Good facilities at Schlumpf, OK at Das Sherlock Holmes Hotel

Accommodation

The das Sherlock Holes hotel is fully accessible except for the swimming pool and my room, though not specially adapted (I don’t think they have any specifically adapted rooms) is very roomy and my bathroom is large enough to manage. Meals are served in the accessible restaurant or the bar and the bar (also accessible as is the terrace) the staff could not have been more helpful and pleasant.

Other/General

My Overall Accessibility Rating

9 out of a possible 10 for Schlumpf Musem Mulhouse and 7 out of 10 for Das Sherlock Holmes Hotel Switzerland

European Tour

Date- 13th September

(Day 2)

Country- France


State/County- N/A


City/Town/Area- Reims and Metz


Location- Reims Centre, Reims Car Museum, Best Hotel Metz


URLS


Car museum Reims- http://www.musee-automobile-reims-champagne.com/


Hotel in Metz- http://www.activehotels.com/wl/servlet/xmlbrochure/index.do?hotelid=51745&language=en


Notes


From Folkestone to Reims and then to Metz France

Up at 05:00, dress, light breakfast and off. The Holliday Inn Express does not officially server breakfast until 06:30, though we manage to hijack the arrangements a little early at 05:45.This is a mistake by the hotel as many people want to get the very early trains and having breakfast out from 04:00 would be sensible.

A 15 minute drive to the Eurotunnel terminal with an automated check in (note have the credit card you booked with to hand, we did not need it but the signs say you may do). Not a human in sight until we drive around the one-way system to the shops and cafe (disabled toilets here).

We sit in the mini listening to the last of the BBC before we depart for foreign climes and watch for our ticket number (P in our case) to be called on the electronic message board. Then we are off, the train is an interesting experience, I have never done this with the car (though I have travelled on Eurostar a good deal). You drive on and sit tight until the train arrives in Calais France.

Then off and on our way to Reims for lunch. This is a long and rather boring flog along the French toll motorway (Peage), you pick up your ticket at the start of a section and then you pay at the end, note this is a left hand drive country so with a UK car the ticket machines and pay booths are on the wrong side- ok with a passenger but very difficult if travelling alone.

A major improvement since my last trip to France is that now all the motorway services seem to be disabled accessible and have accessible toilets.

We park up in Reims city centre for lunch in the main square. The sun is shinning and the food is good though the restaurant does not have an accessible toilet – well this is France! My Brother-in-law Peter knows of a car museum in Reims and after a little searching we find it [84 avenue Georges Clémenceau 51100 REIMS 03.26.82.83.84].

 

This is a charming place to go, it looks like a run down bus garage and is definitely not high tech but the staff are very proud of this quirky collection and are very helpful. The whole museum is accessible with it’s own parking and is on one level.

Now it’s off to Metz, another long flog along motorway and eventually we find our way into the ‘business district of Metz to stay at [Best Hotel Metz (51745), Metz, 3, Rue Pierre Boileau, Metz, 57050].

I must admit my heart sank when I saw the hotel, it was in a dreadful district and surrounded by a security fence and looked like a war zone. Parking a Porsche and my Mini Cooper there seemed rather risky. However we were tired and hot and too lazy to find another place to stay.

My room was on the ground floor and adequate, though only for a small wheelchair (I use a 15 inch wide Kuschel for travel) and a very mobile user, as far as I could see there were no other options available-certainly not any specialist disabled rooms.

As it happened the cold beer revived our spirits and Peter spotted that the menu for dinner looked quite good. In the end we had one of the best quality (and most certainly best value) meals on the trip down at the hotel. Dinning room and parking all accessible and in the end the rooms were clean and quite cheap. A reasonable overnight stop.

Accessibility- Reims centre café’s like most of France is variable in accessibility and years behind even the UK. The museum in Reims was very accessible with an accessible toilet and all of the motorway services in France seemed to be accessible.

Parking- easy with the blue badge

Toilets- few in French café’s in Reims that were accessible, all motorway services had accessible toilets, interestingly the hotel in Metz had an accessible toilet in the public area but did not appear to have any specifically adapted rooms.

Accommodation- Metz hotel was OK but in France as with most of Europe you are going back years in accessibility and the general level of access, though much better now than even 5 years ago is still disgracefully poor and on this trip France and Italy should both be ashamed of such uncivilised arrangements.

Other/General- Flogging across that part of France is a bore but Reims centre is buzzy and nice and the car museum a real find.

My Overall Accessibility Rating

5 out of a possible 10

European Tour

Date -12th & 13th September 2010



Country - England


County - Kent


City/Town/Area - Folkestone and Eurotunnel


Location - Holiday Inn Express and Eurotunnel


URLS - www.hiexpress.com www.eurotunnel.com

Notes-
From Salisbury to Folkestone – 145 Miles

On a sunny and perfect late summer afternoon my brother-in-law Rod and I load my Mini Cooper S Clubman and set off from my home in Salisbury Wiltshire on the first leg of our long journey around Europe. As our booing on the Eurotunnel is for 06:50 on Monday we decided to stop over at the Holiday Inn Express in Folkestone Kent. Despite being a Sunday afternoon the M25 is very slow but we arrive in time for tea. At Folkestone we meet up with my other Brother-in law Peter and his chum John who are driving down in Peter’s white 1988 Porsche 924S. Early to bed because we need to be at the Eurotunnel terminal for 06:00 (disabled drivers please note the requirement for an early check-in).

Accessibility


The Holliday Inn Express is completely accessible. On Eurotunnel you stay in the car as it is only 30 minutes to France.


Parking


Holiday Inn has disabled aprking outside the front door and the Eurotunnel waiting area also has accessible parking and a shop and toilets before the embarkation gates.


Toilets
Accessible at the hotel and at Eurotunnel terminal

 Accommodation
The Holliday Inn Express is completely accessible, clean, quiet and good value.

Other/General
UK Blue badges are valid in the EC and seem to be OK in Switzerland too so dot forget to bring it.



My Overall Accessibility Rating
10 out of a possible 10

Wheelchair Snow-Chains

Hello from snowy Salisbury!

We had about 4 inches (20 cm) yesterday and so as soon as the snow stopped falling I took the opportunity while the snow was dry and powdery to sweep a path across to my car from the front door. One advantage of using a wheelchair is that though it is cold and slippery trying to get about in this weather, one is more stable on four wheels than on two legs!

On reflection, perhaps the choice of my 'indoor slicks' on my wheelchair was a bit daft, I did end up in a few places wheel-spinning on the icy courtyard and thought I might get stuck in the snow! However, I finally cleared a path to my car and the sun has dried up the path so I'm able to get out to the car now and have just managed to clear the worst of the snow and ice off.


Not quite so straightforward was the electric security gate onto my courtyard, this needed some serious attention to de-ice the runners and get it working again. Fortunately I don’t have to go into the office today and can work from home, I am VERY tempted to take my Mini Cooper out for a jaunt in the snow but I think that can wait until tomorrow when I have a good and valid reason to make a journey.


I have hooked out my 'treaded' tyres for this RGK wheelchair, they ought to give a bit more grip when I go out today or tomorrow. One tip- when I have had very deep snow to contend with (back in the late 1970s) I bound thick nylon chord around my wheelchair tyres (sort of ad-hoc wheelchair snow-chains), this worked surprisingly well, if this weather keeps up I may have to resort to that again!

Disabled Parking and the UK

For those outside the UK there are some specifics to deal with.

• In the UK (and the EU) there is a Blue Badge scheme for people with the requisite level of dissability, this applies to the person not a specific vehicle (unliek int he USA where they have 'Handicapped' number plates- note your European Blue Badge does not cover you in the USA)
• See (http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/bluebadge/)
• the Blue Badge scheme works throughout the UK and Europe but with significant differences within adn between each country
• In the UK (excluding certain areas outside London and excluding Westminster within London) the general rules are:
• Badge holders may park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours in England and Wales except where there is a ban on loading or unloading, and at a few locations where local schemes apply, such as parts of central London
• Parking Meters- Badge holders may park for free and for as long as they need to unless there is a traffic sign specifying a time limit for holders of disabled parking badges. You must display your Blue Badge.
• Marked Dissabled Parking Bays. Where a time limit is in force, you must also display the special blue parking disc showing your time of arrival. These have a Blue Badge sign (some may still be orange). You may park free and without time limit unless signs say otherwise (check local signs for information).
• Red Lines (London) A vehicle displaying a Blue Badge may stop on single or double red lines, but only to pick up or set down the badge holder. You are not allowed to pick up or set down Blue Badge holders at bus stops on red routes where there is also a wide white line. Parking on red routes is only allowed, if at all, at spaces specifically reserved for Blue Badge holders. You must always check the signs to see what concessions are available.
• Parking in Central London (specifically Westminster) is very difficult. Tehre are a linted number of 'Blue Badge' locations. DO NOT confuse these with spaces that are dedicated Dissabled Spaces for specifically registered vehicles OR for vehicles displaying a Westmisnter Dissabled parking permit, your Blue Badge WILL NOT cover you and you will get fined.
• See (http://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk/index.php?br_wid=1280&br_hgt=800)
• You can get 100% discount fromt he Congestion Charge in London, you need to apply for this so go to (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6736.aspx)
• As well as the Blue Badge Scheme in England there is a scheme for qualifying people (with the severest level of dissability) to register their vehicle as the class of "Dissabled". This means that the yearly vehicle excist duty (road Tax) is free.
• See (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/MotoringAndTransport/Yourvehicleandlicence/DG_10028003)
• Such registration of a vehicle is needed in SOME UK areas to get relief from parkng charges (for example see my posting on Bridport)

I hope this helps!

UK - Salisbury Cathedral

Date January 2009

Country UK

County Wiltshire

City/Town/Area Salisbury

Location Cathedral

URL http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/

Notes

An unashamed promotion of my home-town this entry! I live and work in Salisbury and since moving here a few years ago I have visited many (though not all) of the places of interest in and around the city. However the cathedral (with the tallest spire in Europe) is an impressive place to visit be your reasons secular or sacred, and the well-known subject of John Constable’s famous painting.

Salisbury is a medieval city and the Cathedral is just over 750 years old. Set in the Close – a walled area closed from late evening until early morning and containing a number of notable houses, most of which are not open to the public and a leading school.


Accessibility
The Cathedral is flat access into the whole ground floor area including (via a short ramp) the choir area. The shop, restaurant and cloisters and the chapter house (where there is one of the few remaining copies of the Magna Carter) are also flat access.


The view of the Cathedral commonly known from Constable’s work is also accessible via the good quality path from Mill Road SSW to Harnham village where it passes the Old George Inn (good views, old pub, nice food and beer and a restaurant. This is reasonably accessible especially the restaurant for a manual or small electric wheelchair, though not for a large electric wheelchair or scooter.

Parking
Parking anywhere in Salisbury is a bit of a nightmare, but then in the 13th Century when it was mainly laid out on its present plan, that was not a consideration. There is limited parking in the Close for people with Blue disabled parking badges (see my blog entry on Parking and travel). Alternatively there is a large public car park 400 metres away.

Toilets
There are wheelchair accessible toilets in the restaurant and in the cloisters. Both would take a small electric wheelchair or a manual one but netiehr would accommodate a very large electric wheelchair or scooter.


Accommodation
I live here however, there are a number of hotels in Salisbury many have some accessible rooms.

Other/General
There is a trip up to the spire and into the roof of the cathedral but it is not accessible and one needs to be pretty fit to do the tour. It is however very worthwhile if you can manage it.


There are a lot of first-rate music events at the Cathedral and they do make provision for people with wheelchairs. Unfortunately for the very popular events (like the candle-lit Advent services) the area reserved for wheelchair users and their companions does not have the best of views and the ushers at these events tend to be elderly volunteers who may not fully understand your needs.

It is therefore worthwhile getting there early for any events and also checking before the event with the cathedral or whoever is selling the tickets about seating arrangements.


My Overall Accessibility Rating
9 out of a possible 10

USA - Lauray Caverns Virginia

Date August 2009

Country USA

State/County Virginia

City/Town/Area Lauray Caverns

Location Lauray, Virginia
URL http://www.luraycaverns.com/

 

Cliff in Lauray Caverns

Notes
This is a near unique find anywhere in the world. Over a mile and a half of caves that are accessible with a wheelchair. The are truly breathtaking and I had assumed since my accident that I would never go into such a place again until I visited them when out in Virginia visiting one of my sons.


I called them to check the situation:


“Hi I am thinking of visiting you but I am a wheelchair user, I know it’s unlikely but are the caverns accessible?”


“Yep”


Said in a tone that suggested it were inconceivable that they might not be!


Luray Caverns is located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, just 90 minutes from Washington, DC, 10 minutes from the central entrance to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park, and 15 minutes from I-81 at New Market, Virginia.


Accessibility
You arrive in the visitor centre and then descend by wheelchair list into the caves. I used my manual wheelchair and a small electric one would fit but large electric wheelchairs or buggies might not- you can check and they are VERY helpful.


Some of the ramps in the caves are very steep and you may need a little pushing help. The paths are concrete and generally dry.


Parking
Ample, free and on site


Toilets
Lots of accessible toilets around but above ground only.


Accommodation
We did not stay over


Other/General
It was 38 C and 90% humidity when we went and the cool of the caves was very welcome.


My Overall Accessibility Rating
10 out of a possible 10

USA - Taliesin West

Date November 2009

Country USA

State Arizona

City/Town/Area Phoenix- Scottsdale

Location Taliesin West (Frank Lloyds Wright’s place)

URL http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Home.html

Arizona Desert from the Highway

Notes
A fantastic place, what FLW lacked in implementation skills he more than made up for with creativity. The guide we had was excellent and this is one not to be missed, you do have to book in advance and allow plenty of time for the trip.

Accessibility

The building complex is generally single storey and the guided tour was straight forwards in a manual wheelchair. Some of the doors can be a little narrow (I estimate about 28 inches) and there a few steel short ramps.



Parking

Parking is on site and close to the site, get the map to find it though it can be a little intricate to get to the entrance

Toilets

There are accessible toilets on site but they are a little small to access for anything larger than a manual wheelchair or small electric one (tight turn in the gent’s).


Accommodation
We did not stay over.

 Other/General

There is NO CAFÉ at the site so get your caffeine fix in before you go and if it’s summer take plenty to drink.

My Overall Accessibility Rating

8 out of a possible 10

UK- Bridport West Bay

Date January 2nd 2010
Country UK- England
County Dorset
City/Town/Area Bridport- West Bay
Location At the harbour and various at West Bay
URL None

View from the end of

the West Harbour Wall

Notes
West Bay Bridport is a delightful place. Rather quirky and not ruined by commercialisation. Definitely a village by the sea but one with a working port and that does not have the air of a museum piece.

Accessibility
The area is pretty flat (unless you want to venture onto the steep coastal footpath!) with good paths and to the west about ½ mile seafront that takes you to just below the cliffs. The harbour also has good access and is flat and mostly smooth and I had no problem in my manual wheelchair.

Parking
There is plenty of parking however please note the Dorset CC regulations provide only for free disabled parking if the Vehicle registration class is “disabled”. This is a perverse action on the part of the County Council since it benefits only those who have a vehicle with such a registration class (i.e. those better-off and with the means to run the vehicle), whereas those without the means or who choose not to own a car are financially penalised.

Toilets
There are several sets of public toilets though when I went neither of the disabled access toilets were locked and in one case they were the only ones working.

Accommodation
We did not stay over but were there for the day and a picnic, however, we did have coffee in one of the many cafés and restaurants most of which seem to be accessible.

Other/General

The beach to the West is shingle and for a heavy-duty or outdoor wheelchair would probably be reasonably accessible (there is an access ramp to the West of the harbour down on to the beach). The beach to the East is sand and quite steep

My Overall Accessibility Rating

6 out of a possible 10