02/24/07

Copyright Michael Coatesworth.

Last revised: February 24, 2007

Have a Cuppa! with Mike

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Hello, I'm Mike Coatesworth

Time for a Cuppa!

The Magazine

For all the Family

I am Sailing

It was the best investment ever made. Using the sail motor boat, the “Mikeco1,” was a comfortable, relaxing and scenic way to get across the Mediterranean. I know it is quicker to fly to different countries, but having already been hit with two DVT’s, (deep vein thrombosis,) whilst flying, I was informed by those who matter that the chances are that I might have another DVT, and the next time I may not be so lucky. Having explored the prospect of travelling by coach around Europe, I found that the coaches do not accommodate wheelchair users unless they are in a large party on a special excursion.

Of course the yacht is skippered, I personally have not yet got the knowledge to captain a sea going vessel, but through watching and learning, I'm sure that experience will follow. At the moment it is being refitted in Portsmouth harbour having more adaptations placed on board to make it a little more wheelchair friendly. It is a 62 foot long sail motor boat and has five double cabins that sleep ten adults.

Before I booked my holiday to Alcudia in Majorca, I did a thorough check of the hotel Alcudia pins, where I was going to stay. I was informed from different sources that the hotel was completely wheelchair friendly. So I set off to a “four star” relaxing two weeks resting in the sun, doing a little fishing along the way.

We set off from Ports mouth in calm water, and thankfully the whole journey was fairly smooth. The sun was already beating down on me as we passed Cherbourg on our port side heading towards the Mediterranean, so we could expect it to be fairly hot weather all the way. My fishing rod was already set up and the line dangling in the water, and in the distance I could see the coast of Roscoff. In the background I could hear the skipper asking for weather conditions as he talked on the radio to whom I presumed was the coastguard. Other crew were busy seeing to the sails and I had been placed in a position where the boom would not come into contact with me and accidentally knock me into the sea. Lesley was lying prominently on the deck soaking up the sun, and Betty was at the stern sitting in a comfortable seat having a well earned doze. Although the sun was hot, there was breeze enough to allow us a good speed. From my position I could see the foam splashed up from the bow racing through the water.

Soon we were well into the Mediterranean and for miles around all I could see was water. In the near distance I saw white splashes of water, lots of them at different intervals, and as Dave the cook, came over to me with a nice hot cuppa, he informed me that they were dolphins, and that I should be careful when fishing, just in case any dolphin got too close to us and accidentally got hooked. Taking this into consideration and not wanting to hurt the friendly marine life I pulled my line in. It was so relaxing sitting as the boat went gently up and down and watching the dolphins as they appeared to follow us for miles. Everything was so peaceful; I sat there without a care in the world, and not even a sound from a seagull, so you can guess that we were a long way from land. I could visualise the excitement and thrills the old seafarers must have had as they sailed the waters in their galleons.

It was at this stage that I was told off by the skipper for removing my life jacket, and although I explained that it was too hot, he told me to get it back on immediately as I was near too near the port side of the boat to take chances, and if it listed and I fell into the ocean, it would take some time to turn around to pick me up. Well he was in charge, so with the help of Dave, I put the jacket back on.

When a crew member spotted land he informed the skipper, and I’ll admit I was a little disappointed as I had expected him to shout out ‘Land Ahoy!’ Soon we were approaching Ibiza, and the view was fantastic. It wasn’t long after we past the coast before we were approaching the island of Formentera. I knew, well to be honest, the skipper informed us that we would soon be approaching Palma, and from there following the coast around to Alcudia harbour. As we arrived off the coast of Alcudia, the crew were busy pulling in the sails and after everything was completed, we continued the final part of the journey by motor.

Alcudia Pins Hotel

As I arrived at the hotel, at first glance it looked okay, and true enough there were ramps everywhere. We were shown to our room, and I was shocked to see that the ramp to my apartment was very steep, but in true Yorkshire spirit I attempted it on my own just to make sure that I wasn’t imagining it, and before my wife and daughter reached me, I set off up the ramp, suddenly my wheelchair tipped backwards and I fell out. I strained my left shoulder, and was helped back into my chair by my wife and daughter who had now arrived at my side. I had to rest for a while to recover from the shock, and I took a couple of pain killers, but luckily nothing was broken. After a good few minutes struggle, my wife and daughter got me to what I was informed was an adapted wheelchair friendly room.

On entering the room I was clearly disappointed. Although it had a few adaptations, the bathroom was far too small, as I could just scrape my wheelchair past the sink to get to the toilet.

The bedroom was so small that not only could I not get my wheelchair next to the bed, I couldn’t get anywhere near the wardrobe to hang my clothes.

I was tired from the journey, so it was the sofa for me, and I decided to sort out the problems after I’d had a sleep.

Later I was helped down the ramp and decided with the help of my daughter, to explore the hotel before approaching the hotel rep. I was surprised to find that although a couple of the ramps were a little steep, I could get around the hotel area and pool quite easily, but when it came to going for a meal, the ramp was again steep and slippery from sand that had blown in from the beach.

I approached the hotel rep and gave him the facts. He was very helpful, and immediately came to look at the ramp to my room, and he even attempted to push me up the ramp without success. A few of the guests commented that the ramp was dangerous and required at least a grab rail on either side of the ramp for safety. The rep agreed and gave me a letter customer service form stating that he agreed that the ramp was dangerous and not suitable for independent wheelchair users, and that assisted wheelchair users would require a strong carer to push them up the ramp, and he also wrote on the letter that I fallen out of the wheelchair whilst trying to ascend the ramp.

The rep stated that there was no other room available, and even if there was, each apartment block had a steep ramp to it. He asked if I would consider changing accommodation and I was informed that the only place nearby that would have rooms available was “Belle Vue Holiday Village.” He stated that we would go down a grade to a three star accommodation, but at least the hotel was wheelchair friendly, and it wouldn’t spoil our holiday. Well it was clear that the Alcudia pins was not going to be any good for me as a wheelchair user, so after a chat with my family, we agreed to the change of accommodation.

After some running around, faxes, telephone calls, the rep gave us the news that a room had been made available to us at the Belle Vue holiday village, and after ordering a large taxi and a shake of the hand for his assistance in the matter, we set off to our new hotel.

Belle Vue holiday village

We arrived at the hotel and we were shown to our room by another very polite hotel rep.

The ramp to our apartment was steep, but accessible, which was a relief.

On entering the room, it was very clear that this was not a “three star” accommodation as the rep had stated, it was in fact a “two star” accommodation. There was no television, no telephone, in fact there was only the bare essentials needed for a short stay.

The room itself was far from wheelchair friendly. The bathroom had adaptations, but was too small, but with a little manoeuvring I could get into it and reach the sink and toilet and roll in shower.

The bedroom was not accessible and again I could not put my wheelchair at the side of the bed, and as in the previous hotel “Alcudia Pins,” there was no way that I could reach the wardrobe to hang up my clothes.

There was a bed in the living room, so I had to use that, and I had to rely on my wife Betty to pass me a change of clothes from the wardrobe as and when required. Still, I wasn’t going to let these events spoil my holiday, so we all decided to put up with it.

On exploring the holiday village area with my daughter Lesley, although there were ramps and lowered kerbs in parts, there was no way that an independent wheelchair user could stay there as the ramps were too steep, even into the local shops, and restaurants on site. The lowered kerbs were still too high for an independent wheelchair user.

While I was there, I entered an archery competition, and there was quite a few good archers, but I came first with 700 points, and received a certificate.

The Belle Vue holiday village in Alcudia is definitely not for independent wheelchair users. The village is only for assisted wheelchair users.

I had a great time, and caught plenty of fish, though mostly grey mullet, and sometimes I just sat at the side of the lake talking to other people who had also arrived to sit in the scenic area.

I was a little disappointed when the holiday came to an end, but on the other hand I had a cruise home in the sail motor boat to look forward to.