Falkland Islands mobility question

[flymeaway]

At the dock in the Falklands how far of a walk is it from the tender to the parking area? Is it difficult to walk?  Uphill?  Also thinking of going to Volunteer Point. Could I use a small mobility scooter on pathway?  Thank you for any help!

[TayanaLorna]

50 minutes ago, flymeaway said:

At the dock in the Falklands how far of a walk is it from the tender to the parking area? Is it difficult to walk?  Uphill?  Also thinking of going to Volunteer Point. Could I use a small mobility scooter on pathway?  Thank you for any help!

The parking area is just after the dock.  There is just a bit of an up from the dock and then fairly level as I recall.  Cannot use a scooter, wheelchair or rolling walker at Volunteer Point and there is a bit of walking to see the penguins.  Most of the ride to get there is in a 4 wheel drive vehicle off road through bumpy terrain.  Not even recommended for those with back issues.  

[flymeaway]

Thank you for your help!  So no trail at all into that area but it sounds like fairly close. I probably will be able to use a cane to steady myself hopefully. I do walk a mile everyday but on a level surface. It would just be so much easier to have something to help me and a place to sit. Thanks again for the info. 

[flymeaway]

Oh, I misread.  I guess it is quite a walk into the area. Does anyone know about how long and rough the walk is?  Is it over a lot of rocks and stones. Probably in rough terrain I could manage about 1/2 mile but I would be pretty tired after that. Just really want to make it work with my handicap. 

[GeorgeCharlie]

We were in the Falkland Islands last Dec and I also have some mobility issues in having to wear heavy braces on both knees. Even so, I found walking around Volunteer Point not all that bad. From the vehicle parking area it is likely only a couple hundred feet to the Gentoo colony and maybe thousand feet to the King colony. The walking is mainly on level ground, but you are definitely limited the using a cane. Although, getting out there in the 4x4's can be a challenge!!

 

We did a review to our cruise and you can see some of our pictures starting at post #148, with the Volunteer Point review starting at post #162.

 

 

[edinburgher]

19 hours ago, TayanaLorna said:

 Also thinking of going to Volunteer Point.

Is it absolutey essential that you go all the way to Volunteer Point which is the most challenging long and bumpy ride for even able bodied persons?

 

There are other penguin viewing options must closer to Port Stanley which would  most likely be easier for you and give you the bonus of some time to explore the town itself and the town would be manageable with a mobility scooter.

Edited November 5, 2023 by edinburgher

[flymeaway]

OMG!  Thank you so much GeorgeCharlie!  I’m grateful for your insight. I’m like you. More of a “can do” attitude. Really appreciate your help!

[flymeaway]

Hi edinburgher. I understand you thoughts but yes, it is necessary for me to go as I really want to see the King penguin colony. I know the ride may be tiresome but being from Arizona, we are used to off road adventures and I don’t mind being uncomfortable for a couple of hours for a possible great payoff. Thanks for your input. It’s much appreciated. 

[edinburgher]

16 hours ago, flymeaway said:

it is necessary for me to go as I really want to see the King penguin colony.

hmmm not really "essential" then.

 

Perhaps you would be kind enough to report back once home as it may be helpful for others with similar physical challenges to know if it really is feasable or not.

Edited November 7, 2023 by edinburgher

[edinburgher]

On 11/5/2023 at 3:48 AM, GeorgeCharlie said:

you can see some of our pictures starting at post #148, with the Volunteer Point review starting at post #162.

Thanks for posting the link to your blog as we really enjoyed looking at the photos, especially those of the different penguins at Volunteer Pont, some of which were stunning.😀

[GeorgeCharlie]

1 hour ago, edinburgher said:

Thanks for posting the link to your blog as we really enjoyed looking at the photos, especially those of the different penguins at Volunteer Pont, some of which were stunning.😀

 

Thanks and we also had an enjoyable visit to Edinburgh while on a cruise in 2019.🤠

[edinburgher]

59 minutes ago, GeorgeCharlie said:

Thanks and we also had an enjoyable visit to Edinburgh while on a cruise in 2019.🤠

thank You. Have to agree that there are worse places to live. maybe you will visit for longer next time.

[edinburgher]

1 hour ago, GeorgeCharlie said:

Thanks and we also had an enjoyable visit to Edinburgh while on a cruise in 2019.🤠

thank you.. Have to agree that there are worse places to live. Maybe you will visit for longer next time as you likely only scratched the surface..

Edited November 7, 2023 by edinburgher

[flymeaway]

Update:  Just arrived home and I wanted to post an update on Volunteer Point for those interested. I did go to Volunteer Point. I took a cane and decided to leave my scooter on the ship. I believe I would have had a better experience if I’d taken my scooter than I did with my cane. Let me explain. First, I did not take an excursion through the ship. I booked a semi private one. Second, my scooter, Travelscoot, is very compact. It folds down like an umbrella stroller and weighs around 30 lbs. so very easy to put in a vehicle. I believe if you take a large scooter the vehicles they use to transport you there may not fit your scooter. You need to contact the tour operator and inquire about it. Also, if you have a collapsible wheelchair that would probably fit in the back of the vehicle, but contact the tour operator about that too. 
 

Upon arriving at the site your vehicle will park fairly close to the penguins. The ground is firm enough to traverse however, the issue is, there is a small valley down and then a larger incline up to see the largest group of penguins. Getting a scooter up and down those inclines is the problem. I think with a wheelchair, it probably could work a bit better depending on the willingness and strength of the person pushing the wheelchair. 
 

There are penguins in the first valley. This is pretty easy to get to. You need to go along the ridge and look for the gentlest sloop down. That was the only way I could get down there with help from my husband and my cane. I was able to stand there and watch the smaller group of penguins and do some photos from there. I did not have the strength to go anywhere else by the time I got up the incline again.  I just got back to the truck and sat and waited until everyone came back. 
 

If  had brought my scooter, I could have stayed out there much longer and at least watched the penguins, even if from a little far away, I could have also seen the area better by traveling to the other side of the parking area over to the beach area. If only to see the sights and not go down to the beach. Also, I wouldn’t have been so exhausted and had to spend my time just sitting in a truck. 
 

Once in town my scooter would have come really handy to check out the sights and do a little shopping also. This is my thoughts and experience with my limitations. You may be different. I just want to say that if something is really important enough to you, don’t let others discourage you.  You don’t have to resign yourself to only taking a bus tour of someplace for 2 hours because your handicapped.  You can have the adventure you want. You may need to do it differently than you would have before you became disabled, but usually, not all the time, but usually you can find a way to do it. And even if you don’t get to see everything others get to see, you at least got to do some of it. Just enjoy what you get to experience and don’t be discouraged by what you can’t do. It’s better than sitting at home twilling your thumbs. Like in the movie Mame, “Live!  Life is like a banquet, while most poor fools are starving to death. So live, live, live!”

[Joy_K]

@flymeaway Thank you so much for coming back to report on your experience.  We will be doing an Antarctica cruise next January and when I contacted the private tour company, they said I could bring my travelscoot to Volunteer Point.  Sorry you didn't get to bring yours with you. 

 

Can you tell me other excursions you were able to do with your travelscoot on your cruise?  I have asked one company that does Magdelena Island cruises, and she said no scooters allowed on the island.    

[flymeaway]

Joy_k. You’re so welcome. I hope the information can help you have the time of your lives this next year while you’re traveling. I’m working on a series of videos addressing my travels using a scooter right now.  I got very frustrated over the lack of current information out there addressing this. I hope I’ll be able to help others enhance their time while traveling. I’ll post a link here when I’m finished. In the meantime, I’m happy to pass whatever information I can to help you. South America can be a challenge for mobility issue guests but can be done. Please email me at Flymeaway at cox.net and I’ll try to personally address any questions you have.