Paraplegic Scuba Diver

I entered the Coffs Harbour Ocean Swim and decided I would catch the train from Sydney stay in the campground near the ocean swim and do it solo. I've camped many times before but never have I carried everything that I need and not used a car. It all worked great and Ill tell you how I did it.

One my back I have a backpack with clothes, toiletries and some books and phone charger. On my footplate I have a tent fly with some of my clothes stuck in there too. Below me I have a red tent and a sleeping bag. Hard to see but below my backpack I have a Thermorest sleeping mat. I didnt carry any cooking gear but I would next time.

I had no trouble carrying the gear including uphill. It was helpful to have the backpack not too heavy so I could lean forward easily. Having the bag on the footplate allows you to balance the weight of the backpack. The weight of the gear under the wheelchair doesn't matter if your not putting the chair into a car. The wheelchair supports all the weight.

Here is my camping setup. It rained while I was camping and the fly was great because it kept the grass in font of my tent dry which is helpful because that's where I sit when I climb into my chair. And the chair stayed dry too. I stayed a the Big 4 caravan park at Park Beach, they had great disabled facilities.

I boarded the train at Central Station in Sydney and took a 10 hour journey to Coffs Harbour. The first class carriage has a large area with no seats so you can stay in your wheelchair. I chose to sit in a seat and there was plenty of room for my wheelchair next to me. The toilet is quite big and I could easily fit my manual chair. If your using a wheelchair you have to travel in the first class compartment but you only get charged economy.

The stewards are really helpful and will offer to get meals from the buffet car for you.

This is the route the train takes, there are lots of opportunities to get off at other stations and go camping

There is always a beautiful view from the train

The seating was firm but comfy

The toilet work fine but that flush is incredible

Waiting for the train at Coffs Harbour. The station is accessible but be aware there is a short steep hill to push up when you leave the station.

Here I am at the end of the wheelchair ramp on beach wondering how I will get to the start of the swim on the other side of the jetty.

That's the distance I need to crawl from the end of the access matting

The swim started on the other side of the jetty, there is wheelchair access matting down to the high tide mark but you have to crawl from there. So I crawled about 50m across the beach and swam about 150m to the start. It was a good way to warm up for the swim getting to the start.. The swim wasn't difficult, I was in the 600m event that goes around the jetty, I was last but I wasn't kicking! It took me 25 minutes. I know I'll never beat the swimmers who can kick but I'm really competing against myself.

I also went in the local Parkrun at 7am which was beautiful and fairly flat. My time was good, 30min from the back of the pack. I am much more competitive on land on a sealed track. The event starts in the park out the front of the Big 4 caravan Park where I was staying. Its a fairly flat course running out around the marina. There is a 100m flat grassy section at the start and finish.

This is the view of the sunrise along the course just before the start

I was able to beat joggers, runners can beat me.

I had some spare time to explore, so I pushed my chair around to the southern headland which was fairly flat and well paved. Because it's a tourist town there a bathrooms all along the waterfront.

Looking south from the southern headland

I spent three days in Coffs Harbour and then caught the train to Grafton to visit friends. A few days later I caught the train back to Sydney and then the tram and bus back to my place.

I spent $106 on the train travel and $80 on accommodation. I probably spent about $150 on food.

Everything worked out perfectly