Travel

Those of you who check this site regularly will have read Christian's article about his late night adventure in Athens. When it was first posted, I had friends asking me if I was worried about him—well of course I was! However, having been his mother for nearly thirty years, I have come to accept, even admire, his adventurous spirit.

Sara and Christian got the travel gene from their father. Oh, I like to see new and different places, so long as I can return to my five-star hotel room in the evening. If there's no room service, I'm roughing it. Peter, on the other hand, is happy in some third world country, with a back pack, riding a local bus along a dusty road. Obviously Christian's injury has prevented him from exploring some of the more inaccessible hurricane ravaged, war torn, cockroach infested, dirt poor destinations that Sara and her dad have been to--but he does get around.

When someone is first injured, you question whether they will be able to go to the grocery store alone. Once that hurdle has been leapt the sky's the limit, and so flying becomes the next challenge. Christian's first post-injury flying experience was to go to Victoria (alone) to compete in a marathon there. He was met at the airport by a good friend, but it was still an eye-opener, learning how the airlines dealt with passengers in chairs.

Two years after finding himself in a wheelchair, Christian had a baclophen pump implanted in his abdomen in an attempt to control the spasms that plagued him. Less than two weeks after undergoing this surgery he travelled to Australia, alone, for two months. He met innumerable other young travellers from all over the world. This proved to be a wonderful, confidence-building experience for him. He toured the west coast from Sidney to Cairns, and then flew to Alice Springs. He went sky-diving, sailed around the Great Barrier Reef for three days (with his wheel chair being towed behind in a dinghy) and he learned to play the didgeridoo. Yes, he brought one home--it's huge, and the sound becomes monotonous!

That same year, in July, he went to Alaska where he competed in the Sadler's Midnight Sun Ultra Challenge, a 367 mile wheelchair race from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Unfortunately he had to withdraw after the third day, due to severe tendonitis in his right wrist. Heartbreaking, as he was in fourth place at the time. However, he stayed with the race to the end, encouraging and learning from the other racers.

In 1999, Christian travelled to a number of races—Vancouver, Spokane, New York, Atlanta—but the most exotic destination was Japan. After competing in Oita he took some extra time and explored alone, from Hiroshima to Tokyo.

Since then he has been to many Canadian and continental US destinations, Hawaii, England and, of course, Athens. I no longer worry about him going alone, any more than I worry about his sister or his dad. They all seem to have an affinity for finding themselves in unusual circumstances!

Due to working in both Calgary and Hamilton, he now travels several times a month, racking up more frequent flyer points than anyone else in the family. He has learned all the tricks of how to travel in a chair. In fact he once convinced an airline to allow him to bring his three month old black lab puppy, in the cabin, on his lap—no kennel, from Quebec City to Calgary.

We have a world map in our home that is stuck with coloured pins. Each colour represents a different member of the family and where they have been. Christian's currently travelling in Venezuela. He is holding his own.

A man whom I considered very wise taught me that life is a journey, not a destination. Don't be afraid to take those journeys.