A Special Kind Of Playground

It's been something like 15 years since I last passed through the gates of the North Staffs Special Adventure Playground with my sister Cathy all exited about the fun and games that lay inside. Back then it would have been in a car rather than on a bike, at least this time there was no chance of me not being recognised.

Hannah, who remembered both me and Cathy from all those years ago, was on hand to give me a quick tour and it was immediately clear that the playground has been busy - they was a new extention to the building, more climbing frames and colourful additions outside as well as a soft indoor play area with a ball pool I couldn't help but jump into:

I can see exactly why kids must love spending time here, it was just a shame I had to ride home for lunch else I'd have easily lost hours running round like a kid in a toy shop.

It's not just the premises that have grown, the services offered have as well - now open 7 days a week, 51 weeks a year with local special needs groups and schools visiting in term time, respite and family sessions at the weekend, playschemes in the holidays and even a monthly disco (if only I'd known, maybe I'd have timed my visit better). The staff and volutary play workers certainly keep themselves busy but you can see the great job they do by the smiles on the everybody's faces.
As the servcies have grown it takes more funds, largely from donations, to keep the playground running; and of course there are always plans to expand and upgrade the premises, facilities and services so they can offer the best possible experience to those that visit.

It was great to see the good work that continues at the special adventure playground and I hope my long miles cycling across North America might persuade some people to support them.

You can find more details on the playground here:
http://www.specialadventureplayground.co.uk/home_fs.html

Hectic Preparations

1 week to go and in the midst of leaving parties, drinks with good friends that I won't see for too long and finishing off work, I'm trying to decorate & pack up my house - it seems you can amass quite a few things living in London for 7 years!

Interesting things I've found include:
- 4 bikes
- A snooker table I'd forgot I owned
- 18 bottles of spririts I won't have chance to start, let alone finish (help would be appreciated)
- 20 spare energy saving lightbulbs (consumerism with good intentions)
- A box of clothes, a tent and a rucksac that aren't mine

In preparation for the hands on approach I'll have to take on the bike I've had to teach myself a bit of plumbing, painting, joinery and even cleaning, the house now looks better than at any point when I actually lived in it!
I've also managed to sort out some of my web presence - Twitter is up and running (see right) and my Just Giving page (see left) is up in support of the North Staffs Adventure Playground who help special needs children, young adults and their families - including my own.  I hope to make a visit on my flying visit home over the weekend and will post something if I do.
I'm also hoping to have some time to do some training, not only on the bike, but also putting up the new lightweight tent and cooking on my trangia stove - I fear I may end up experimenting with these for the first time somewhere on the road to Niagara.
Well at least I have an outline plan:

Getting Ready

So, I have the tickets, the bike, the panniers , I've always had the lycra and now I've even got a plan, well at least for the first few days and of course plans are made to be changed...

Hitting the road with my good mate Kevin, who's partly to blame for this, on 2nd July from New York - 1st destination Niagara, on the other side of the Appalachians - apparently they might be a bit higher and steeper than the north downs...