Bob Rees The Journey

I haven't posted anything for a while, but I've featured in a couple of magazines, one is a French sidecar magazine, who are putting a story about me in their June and July edition. And the other is Australian Motorcycle News, in the current edition they have a 6 page feature on me, I had a long interview with Kel Buckley who wrote the story, I didn't see a draft of what she wrote, but I think she did a great job, she lifted the photos from my pages. Hopefully the story helps others who have suffered injuries from accidents.

I THOUGHT I would do one more post about my North American solo motorcycle ride as a paraplegic using a wheelchair full time.
The trip has been fabulous, the ride, the roads, meeting people, scenery, just brilliant.
A couple of things I didn't expect:
I was surprised to see that accessible accommodation was great in the USA, best of any country I've been to.
They passed the ADA in 1990, American with Disabilities Act. It's very comprehensive and works well. Check it out. For example it didn't matter if it was a cheap motel or expensive hotel, they all have to abide by the Act, roll in showers, wide doors etc were normal.
And I have to say people everywhere would go out of there way to offer to help me whether I needed it or not.
In Canada most restaurants, pubs, public places have a push button either side of the doors which automatically opens them, so much better than struggling with one hand on the wheelchair and the other trying to open the door, often with strong closing mechanisms
Also in North America pedestrians, when crossing the road anywhere, have the right of way over all other vehicles. And vehicles won't go around you, they wait until you are well and truly out of the way, and stop a long way back too, that's everywhere, cities or the smallest town. It must be a huge penalty if you ignore this rule.
If there is a school bus stopped with lights flashing and schoolkids are hopping on or off, you're not allowed to overtake the bus you must wait til the bus has safely dropped the children off even if there is room around the bus for your car you must wait. Another huge penalty.
Something that takes a bit of getting used to is turning right on a red light, as long as there are no vehicles coming from your left. Just really strange going through a red light. In Western Australia it's a definite no no.
Crossroads with 4 way stop signs. In a town or in the middle of nowhere, everyone stops, who goes first? Whoever is there first, just have to remember the order of arrival.
Some other observations, make sure you have health insurance. It would have cost a lot otherwise when I had heat stroke in the USA, the hospital wasn't worried about the money side of it till I was better. My insurance then covered costs.
A burn on my foot looked different and I was worried it had got infected, and I needed antibiotics
So I went to A&E in Vancouver hospital in Canada, they wanted $1500 up front before the doctor would look at it. Not interested in my health insurance, I was told to get a refund when I'm home.
One doctor told me in Canada they don't get paid by the hospital, but by the patient. If you're Canadian you're covered under the Canadian healthcare scheme.
They looked at it, cleaned it up and gave me antibiotics.
So if you need a doctor in North America, make sure you have health insurance and plenty of money.
Wasn't stopped once by police in the USA, just plenty of waves and best wishes. Did get questioned in Canada by Federal Police, but they were ok too. The West Australian number plate caused a lot of comment.
Bike insurance is expensive, but I got it through ICBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, it was a hassle though.
I've seen homelessness in many places, but I have to say I found it upsetting when it's so prolific, particularly in warmer areas of the USA like California and also parts of Canada, like Vancouver. What the answer is I don't know, but I often think, "There but for a fortune go you or I"
And no matter how much the struggle is in the mornings with my bowel routine, shower, getting dressed, loading the bike up and the time it takes. Once I'm on the bike riding, its all worth it, just brilliant.
The Harley outfit is on its way back to Fremantle by sea, so it will take a couple of months, I'm hoping to pick it up early January.
Thanks for following this part of my journey. Where next I wonder??