The Traveling Wheelchair

17 Standish Avenue
Town Wharf
Plymouth MA 02360
Phone: 508-746-2643
Website: http://www.captjohn.com/WhaleWatching/index.htm
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7F5iIZxDOE

 On July 4th of 2007, I went on a whale watching tour with my family and friends. I love whales so I decided to go on a whale watching adventure on Captain John’s Whale Watching Cruise out of Plymouth. We were told that they could easily get my power wheelchair on the boat.

When we arrived we saw the ramp and it didn’t look very wheelchair accessible. Since we were already here we did try and succeeded but it wasn’t very easy. The ramp to the boat had support notches, which were spread about 1 foot apart from one another, all though this ramp. I had to be dragged up the ramp which was very high and very scary! I didn’t want to disappoint anyone so I went up. The boat staff assured me I would be ok. I got on the boat, Thank God! I at that point was just happy to be off that ramp.

We got great veiws of the shoreline traveling from Plymouth Harbor to the open and majestic Atlantic Ocean.

Once on the boat I had to stay on the top level of the boat. I had NO access to the restroom. I had No access to the cabin below, which had a little cafe in it. I was exposed the whole trip to the elements. I had NO cover from the sun and nothing to block the winds.

When the boat ride got rough my chair would jump up and down and I thought I was going to flip over. My staff and family were a little concerned as well and they held on to me to keep me stable. The staff on the boat were friendly and did talked to me a lot about the whales that we were seeing and we seen lots of whales this day.

 We saw beautiful whales jumping right out of the water. We got so many great pictures this day. I loved seeing the whales. I really enjoyed the woman narrator, who came over to me personally and chatted to me about the whales. I still look at my wonderful pictures from this day. The boat ride lasted about 4 hours, which was a long time to be exposed to the sun and wind out on the sea.

Once we returned home I was quite weary about the ramp for the tides changed and it was steeper. I wasn’t looking forward to this  but I had to get off. My family, friends and the crew had to lift my power wheelchair up a little even to get onto the ramp to go down it. I went down the ramp and once again had a very scary experience with it. My family, friends and the staff on the boat helped me get down but I think they were as scared as I was.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful whales I saw. Seeing these whales was well worth all the obstacles I faced on this cruise. Would I do it again? YES! Overall the good points out weighed the bad and I have some great memories. I just wish persons in wheelchairs could somehow have full access on this cruise.

Overall I give Captain Johns’ boat trip TWO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Three Stars they would need to provide a wider ramp that is more wheelchair accessible; provide a wheelchair lift from the upper level to the lower level  so a person in a wheelchair can access the restroom, cafe and escape from the elements of the weather. I know this may be expensive and I know it’s unlikely to happen but I wish somehow, someway it would be done.  Captain John’s crew and the beautiful whales I saw get Five Stars!