Scenic Viewpoints, Mobility Issues and Scooters

[Ella1]

A major reason for me to travel is to see and to paint scenic views, whether it be an old barn, a seascape, mountain valleys, or whatever. However, I don't walk fast or far, and carry (and drag) very little. As it should be, parking areas are almost always a distance from the view and points of interest.
Do you all find that the scenic areas (viewpoints) along roads are numerous and beautiful or unusual, or are such expectations and hopes out of line with reality?
Traveling locally, there are a few, but most require a hike of some distance, something I'm not easily able to do.
When I go out to paint here, I setup within a few feet of the van door. With oil paint, I really (now) can't go farther because of transporting the equipment. Even watercolor stuff is a challenge at times.

After the van is reliable again, I will consider a toy hauler and a mobility scooter to get around. A problem there is the scooter needs charged after use, meaning electricity. In a hauler, there is none, and electric hookups in campgrounds would get too expensive.  I wonder if there is a l-o-n-g charging cord so the scooter could be hooked into the van battery as I drive. Other than that, are these 4 stroke gas scooters noisy? Noise on hiking paths would NOT be acceptable.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I take it you don't already own a scooter, and therefor can't give us any hard and fast numbers as to what it would need - amps and volts and stuff - to recharge.

Lacking that, I'm just going to take a wild-assed guess and suggest a small gasoline generator used to recharge an electric scooter while you are boondocking MIGHT be the best way to go.

Regards
John

 

[rvwandering]

Ella, where are you located? We've found that viewpoints in the east are often blocked by vegetation but that is not the case in the west. Scenic drives are just that - scenic from start to finish with plenty of places to stop and drink it all in. If you're unsure check Google Earth first especially street view.

I'm not familiar with gas scooters but you may not be allowed to use one on trails because of the noise and smell. We have forum friends who use Segways due to mobility issues and they have a generator to charge the batteries. This might be cheaper than going to a campground.

Also check my blog ( link in my signature). I use a wheelchair and take most of the pictures. Many were taken from viewpoints or along the road. I have information about short trails and whether the parking lots are large enough for RVs.

If you have any questions about a specific place please ask here or send a PM. Karen

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

You don't say what part of the country you are in but I find numerous spots in the west along county roads and State highways that make beautiful photographs without leaving the road.  For painting, you would have to find a place to pull off the road (usually not too hard).  No need to do more walk than around my truck.  My usual problem is that I blast by some interesting view before realizing it and have to turn around and go back  :s 

 -- Spiff

 

[mockturtle]

Here in the west there are SOOOOOO many neat viewpoints where you can park and at least spend the day. The Oregon coast, alone, has hundreds that are paint-worthy.

 

[akrvbob]

In the Rocky Mountain states they are a dime a dozen!!! Right now I am driving all the Scenic Byways in wyoming and it is staggering the beauty right beside the road.

You may want to go back and see the photos I took for my blog from Wyomings Scenic Byways, Eventually it's going to be a Guide book to the best of the Rocky Mountains.
Bob

Just a few shots--none require any walking beyond 25 feet. This is a tiny drop in the bucket from Wyoming, I could post another 100 as good or better than these:

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Along Oregon's coastal 101 we have found more pull offs that were beautiful than you could shake a stick at.
Being able to make those stops is one reason we downsized from RV to van. I don't walk far and still get to see lots of cool stuff.
I don'tthink you'd be disappointed in the western states.

 

[Ella1]

I just looked at the cost of enclosed trailers, and that pretty much puts THAT question to rest. The scooter I want is a Pride victory 10, 24-Volt DC motor. I thought that could be plugged into the inverter and charged while driving... My inverter is only 600 amps.
I am in the southwest, and had hoped to drive north, probably going along the coast, maybe both north AND south. I have to look at maps.
Karen thanks for your offer. After I get some route ideas, I may do that. Your sites are a wonderful resource, thanks.
Spiff, thanks for your post, this year I don't expect to get farther east than western New Mexico. Walking around my van is about all I'm able to do some days.
Mockturtle, Oregon is a goal, as is Washington. It's been a long time since I've seen the ocean.
Bob, your photos are beautiful. I can stay here and paint them! lol!
You've certainly answered that question.
Thank you all.
Ella

 

[VJG1977]

There are car chargers available for that scooter, probably any scooter you buy will have a car charger available.  No need to use your inverter.

http://www.amazon.com/Charger-Mobility-Scooters-Pride-Victory/dp/B00BB0T7ZW $36.99

 

[Ella1]

Thanks, I didn't know that.
I have a cigarette lighter receptacle in the panel behind the sliding door.
If I were to get a scooter and trailer, would the cord reach that far? from the trailer, over the hitch and to the receptacle near the side door?

 

[Almost There]

Thanks, I didn't know that.
I have a cigarette lighter receptacle in the panel behind the sliding door.
If I were to get a scooter and trailer, would the cord reach that far? from the trailer, over the hitch and to the receptacle near the side door?

The wiring for that cig lighter outlet is probably way undersized to properly charge the scooter. If I've learned nothing so far from SternWake it's that OEM wiring is pretty much useless... Good for running a phone charger but not much more!

The trailer you will probably end up with for transporting a scooter will likely only need a 4 pin wiring but if you put in a 7 pin wiring hook-up, then the extra wires can be used for a good hook up in the trailer that can be used to charge the scooter.

 

[VJG1977]

Found this link to wheelchair accessible trails, has list for every state.

http://www.traillink.com/activity/wheelchair-accessible-trails.aspx

You can also google the search term -  handicap accessible scenic views -

 

[WriterMs]

Hi Ella,
I see you already wrote that the cost of an enclosed trailer is going to be out of reach for you right now. So this is likely not relevant, but I wondered if you whttp://pleinairjourney.com/ould be able to use a toy hauler anyway. Raising and lowering the doors on many of those might be too much of a workout.

Regarding a scooter, did you have in mind how to get it in and out of the van? Or would you have one of those rear=mounted carriers? Would those be light enough for you to load up and take down your scooter?

I wonder about a lightweight hauler that you could hold on to for some support like this large but fairly narrow garden cart:

http://www.amazon.com/Suncast-LC125..._sim_86_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=086JCKZ95RD7AYG1NYCK

I agree with what many have written in reply already: as you travel the west, you will find hundreds of scenic pullouts where you can park and simply set up at the front or side of your van.

And, finally, I wonder if you have read the blog of Plein Air? He RVs and has shown many of his campsites and also art supply storage tips, etc. His blog can be found at:

http://pleinairjourney.com/

 

[eDJ_]

Several years ago here in Ohio the State published a comic book sized pamphlet for Motorcyclist.  It was
called "Ohio's Blue Highways".  Blue highways (on maps) are usually secondary roads that travel through some of the
states most scenic areas that most people don't know about. 

So the State decided to publish some of the most scenic secondary roads to promote Motorcycling.
What they didn't realize was that many other factions of people would use the pamphlet.  Sunday drivers in cars,
some elder care facilities took older people out on these routes, and photographers learned about it quickly also.

I'm sure other states travel and tourism departments have done similar.

 

[Ella1]

I see you already wrote that the cost of an enclosed trailer is going to be out of reach for you right now. So this is likely not relevant, but I wondered if you would be able to use a toy hauler anyway. Raising and lowering the doors on many of those might be too much of a workout.

All good questions.I have NO idea. I cannot handle much weight. I suppose hinged doors and a ramp might work. And yes, an enclosed trailer is out of the question right now.

Regarding a scooter, did you have in mind how to get it in and out of the van?  Or would you have one of those rear=mounted carriers?  Would those be light enough for you to load up and take down your scooter?

As I said, My planned scooter was a Victory 10. It has hard wheels, but the cost and weight of the air-filled tires on another one pretty much rules that out. With batteries, The 10 weighs ~156 pounds, which my carrier can handle. That 10 will not fit in the van. I will have to get a cargo carrier platform and a ramp for it. I haven't checked the price for that yet.

I wonder about a lightweight hauler that you could hold on to for some support like this large but fairly narrow garden cart:  

I have one of these: http://www.cartsonthego.com/folding-laundry-carts. By the time I get paints, easel, seats, and O2 tank in it, it's really heavy for me. When I use watercolor, my tools fit in a waist pouch, and I can drag my O2 tank with a tripod stool on the wheeled O2 cart a ways.

I agree with what many have written in reply already:  as you travel the west, you will find hundreds of scenic pullouts where you can park and simply set up at the front or side of your van.

That information helps make decisions easier. (ie,I don't have to get a scooter right now)

And, finally, I wonder if you have read the blog of Plein Air?  He RVs and has shown many of his campsites and also art supply storage tips, etc.  His blog can be found at:  http://pleinairjourney.com/

Thanks for the link to that blog. I've added it to my list.

 

[ramblingvanman]

Hi Ella. I have not looked at your scooter in particular yet, but I have repaired many electric scooters. Access to the batteries is very easy. Those batteries are sealed. I would just take them out of the scooter and charge them in your car while you are driving. The batteries for the scooters and very small and relatively light; compared to a standard car battery for example.

 

[Almost There]

Hi Ella. I have not looked at your scooter in particular yet, but I have repaired many electric scooters. Access to the batteries is very easy. Those batteries are sealed. I would just take them out of the scooter and charge them in your car while you are driving. The batteries for the scooters and very small and relatively light; compared to a standard car battery for example.

Ahh, now there's an idea! It would save having to have an external hookup for them particularly since it looks like you'll be able to get away with a hitch carrier for the scooter rather than any kind of trailer.

I'd still beef up the wiring to an outlet for them but that's not a difficult job.

 

[Ella1]

Thanks, rvm, those two batteries weigh between 24.5 lbs. each/ 32.5 lbs each. That's an idea, but the weight makes it too hard for me to do. If I get a platform&ramp for my carrier, IIRC the charging cord is long enough to reach the dash cigarette lighter. But what was that other post--the cigarette lighter will wear out.
I don't understand all that, and whether plugging it into the inverter (extra deep cell battery) would be better.
Maybe I should go to a store to see about removing, lifting, and replacing the batteries.

http://www.pridemobility.com/scooters/victory10.asp the four wheel version
batteries: (2)U1 or (2)40AH which should I get?

 

[Ella1]

Ahh, now there's an idea! It would save having to have an external hookup for them particularly since it looks like you'll be able to get away with a hitch carrier for the scooter rather than any kind of trailer.

I'd still beef up the wiring to an outlet for them but that's not a difficult job.

Is that something my mechanic can do?

 

[ramblingvanman]

A "mechanic"? Not really. If you want an external 120v(or even a 12vdc) outlet put in I suggest you go to an RV shop, or a marina and have them do it. It is just not a job your regular car repair shop is equipped for or experienced at. Did you read the operators manual yet? It is available online if not. The reason I ask is that it recommends not using it in any kind of a weather condition. It even states that rain can short it out. That can be planned for, but you definitely need to be aware of the limitation.