Author: Jacqui Lowman

Dear Folks,

Today, August 18, is Mari’s birthday.  She is 3.  Our wild celebration was over the weekend when we went to Rome and Augusta.  Still, a girl needs a celebration on her special day.  So we had a low-key party.  There were dog ice creams and cookies.  Mari and Dusty were thrilled.

Extra Hugs and Wags.

🐾🐾🐑💕💕💕💕

Dear Folks,

We recently spent some time in Rome — which is near Norway and China.  If you are familiar with Maine, you will realize that we are not directionally challenged but are talking about a beautiful spot in the Belgrade Lakes area.  

We have the amazing good fortune of being on the board of the Maine Environnemental Education Association (MEEA).  We are so humbled by and grateful for MEEA’s passion and dedication to include everyone in their programming.  So some of MEEA’s staff and the Lowmans paid a visit to Pine Tree Camp, in Rome, to check out the site .  MEEA has an event at the camp.  This is a space and an event at which all are welcome and belong.  

Like the Rome in Italy, Pine Tree is filled with architectural marvels.  There are no barriers to entering any space, including, as you can see from the photos, a treehouse or a swing set.

All attendees will be able to absorb some of the peace and nurturing of this idyllic spot on North Pound.

In contrast, we spent the night in Augusta in a place that was not so welcoming.  

When we had last stayed in 2023, the staff were very excited about the major renovations that the hotel was undergoing.  We hoped that these would make the hotel more accessible.  Alas, that was not the case.  

During previous visits, we had pointed out that simply painting the ADA logo on a regular parking space does not make it accessible.  Mobility accessible spaces need to be wider or have striping beside them to allow people to get out a wheelchair, walker, or crutches from a vehicle.  That had not been rectified.  

The only place with additional striping was a loading dock by the outdoor pool.  We took that place.  Unfortunately, it was at the back of the building and there was no automatic opener for the back doors.  So we had to load up our lap and foot board and roll around the building to the front door.

The hotel prides itself on its wonderful, full breakfast that it says is included in the room cost.  That is, unless you are in a wheelchair.  The major renovation in 2023 was to create a wine and beer bar.  It is a traditional bar, at the height of a high-top table, at least.  That is where they lay out the magnificent breakfast.  So we could not see or access it.

When we were checking out, we mentioned that breakfast is completely inaccessible.  The desk clerk thought for a moment, and then agreed.  She said that she thought that they had never considered accessibility.  She said that they have had guests in wheelchairs, but they always have someone with them to care for them.  

The Girls , who are Mummy’s caregivers, could not reach the bar, either.

The contrast between the hotel and the camp was stunning.  We certainly felt more welcome and valued in the « wilds » of North Pond than in a hotel that touts itself as ADA accessible.

The Lowmans still have a lot of work to do.  😍

Hugs and Wags.

🐾🐾🐑💕

Dear Folks,

We made it safely to Boston and back for our annual medical visit.  You can see Dr. Gomery and his assistant, Lee, in the attached photos.  

We also took a day to go to Leicester, near Worcester, to see our friend Kristin.  She has the most beautiful garden and fenced area.

It was awfully hot and the Girls got overheated.  My niece, Megan, took the Girls to lie on her cool basement floor and applied ice cubes to cool them down.

Sharon, my sister, lives in a condo that is inaccessible.  She puts up portable ramps when we go so that we can enter and exit.  As I was going g down the ramp one evening, Karma went off the ramp.  Fortunately, I was near the bottom, so the chair didn’t flip, throw me, or land on me.  It did get stuck, though, with some wheels off the ramp and some wheels on.  Since I could not move, we called the Woburn (where Sharon lives) fire department.    They came right away, quickly freed the chair — and me — and even hammered the ramp back into shape.  Shout Out to PJ, Brad, and Mark for their kind, gracious, and STRONG help.  

ALWAYS an Adventure.

Hugs and Wags.

Dear Folks,

On May 14 and 15, the Lowmans had the great honor and pleasure of visiting the Presque Isle High School as guests in four of Kevin Malenfant’s health classes.  We shared our messages that success is rising one more time than you fall, that we should not place bars on our insides and clip the wings of our dreams, and some Lessons and Pearls that Dad taught us.  

Dad taught us to: Believe, Try, Adapt, Persist, and Laugh.  He also taught us that even when things don’t turn out the way that we want them to at that moment, they usually turn out for the best long term.  

The Girls were extremely popular, although the students did resist the temptation to try to interact with them.  We were also delighted to get to show off what a miracle our van, Miracle is.

Hugs and Wags.

Dear Folks,

Here are a few photos from our recent trip to CT and ECAD so that Mari could test.  The photos are from the test and then show the result.  She is a Rock Star and passed with flying colors.  I am so proud of her and so grateful to have ECAD’s best dog.  I truly could not live without her!  

To celebrate, we went to the vegan cafe and got sandwiches to bring home.  It doesn’t get any better than that day.  😍

Thanks for your good thoughts and support.

Hugs and Wags.

🐾🐾🐑💕

Here are some photos and a video from Dr. J’s most recent adventure. The Lowmans participated in Over the Edge, a fundraising event held in Worcester, Massachusetts. Thanks to so much generosity, the Lowmans raised over 2,500 dollars for Canines for Disabled Kids for them to do this event, which entailed Dr. J rappelling down the side of a tall building in downtown Worcester.

To view a video of Dr. J’s descent click below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eYGasPhqblXchuunL5s9h8yWKzJlo8pa/view?usp=sharing

(August 23)

Dear Folks,

This is where we will spend tonight.  It gets excellent reviews and is said to be completely accessible.

More tomorrow.  

Hugs and Wags.

The Lowman Family

(August 24)

Dear Folks,

Well, our Journey consisted of 10,381 eventful, amazing, but–most significantly–SAFE miles.  

What a thrill and privilege this trip has been.  We have a lot to process and think about.

We give a shoutout to Google.  As someone with the directional sense of a lemming, I thank her for making our Journey much easier.  She showed the correct way most of the time.  She can be a little sneaky, though.  

On all our previous trips crossing back into the US from Canada, we have come through Van Buren.  That’s what we wanted to do yesterday.  We put in for directions for Drummondville to home on Friday to get an idea of time.  She showed us coming home through Van Buren.  We put in for directions yesterday, but did not check the directions.  We got concerned when she had us get off the Route Transcanadienne and take secondary roads in Quebec and New Brunswick.  We went through picturesque little villages on the water.  And then we saw the sign for the Ft. Kent Bridge.  Rats.  

But it turned out for the best.  We met John Anderson, the customs agent.  He asked where we lived and we said Washburn.  Then he asked where we had been in Canada.  When we said the Arctic Ocean, his jaw dropped.  He said that he has been doing that job for 18 years, and that was the first time anyone had said those words to him.  He asked if there was a city at the Arctic: he wanted to learn more.  We told him Tuktoyaktuk.  That is hard to remember.  SO we gave him a BEYOND LIMITS’ business card, so that he could follow what we had done.  

Our favorite ride–even after all our travels–is coming down Route 11, a scenic byway–from Ft. Kent.  We often do that to celebrate holidays.  I did not think, after all our travel, that we would do that for Labor Day.  So we did not: we did it yesterday, instead.  We share some photos from the scenic byway.

When we got home, Mari was first to note it.  She was beside herself.  The Girls tore around the backyard.  Then I did a lot of unloading.

This morning, Al and his son, Sheldon, came and helped us finish unloading and organizing.  

The first part of the week will be spa times for Karma and Miracle.

Thank you so much, Folks, for your support, interest, and love.  Having you as your network was a continual inspiration.  We wish that you could have all joined us.  But we felt your presence every step of the way.  We have such an AMAAAAZINGGG network.  We look forward to catching up with each of you individually over the next little while.

And please share about BEYOND LIMITS with others: beyondlimitsawaken.org.  Ricky’s had been turning our texts into blogs.  You can find on the website under Top of the World Journey.  We would love to share more about BEYOND LIMITS with others.

Thanks again, folks.  We couldn’t have done this without your help.

Take care.  Be well.

The Lowman Family

(August 21)

Dear Folks,

We are delighted to report that we are in Drummondville.  It took us three hours to get through Montreal.  We would hate to have to do that every day.

More soon.

Hugs and Wags.

The Lowman Family

(August 22)

Dear Folks,

Here’s a post from our last full day on the road.  

The Quality Suites in Drummondville looks like an old chateau from the outside.  This is the fourth time that we have stayed here.  

When we got here last night, there had been a mix-up about our room.  We have always stayed in the wheelchair accessible suite on the first floor: the Akito room.  We made our reservation in January and specified this room.  They also have a similar room on the second floor.  Someone had put a note on our reservation that said EITHER the first or second floor.  We explained that that was not us: we would never willingly choose a room for which we would need to use an elevator:  more hassle to get dogs in, no use in case of fire, etc.  

The first floor room was taken.  So we had to go with the second floor.  The manager, Susanne, pictured, said that they felt terrible.  So they would move us downstairs today when the first floor room was available.  And we happened to be outside in the back when Susanne came out and saw us preparing to bring in our other load.  She thought that we were traveling with another person, because I had talked about “we.”  She was amazed that it was the Lowman family.  So she got a luggage cart (something I can never use) and brought the rest of our things upstairs.  She saw the BEYOND LIMITS logo on Miracle, so we got a chance to tell her about our organization and give her a card.

Today, after the people checked out of the first floor room, they cleaned it and then came with a luggage cart to help us move downstairs.  We also had an opportunity to suggest to Susanne how they could make the wheelchair accessible rooms more accessible.  These are things that a non-wheelchair user might not realize: a lower peephole and lock on the room door; a lower rod in the closet; the microwave on the counter and not in a high alcove; a lower hook on the bathroom door.  Susanne “got it” right away.  We talked about a few longer term fixes for the bathroom.  We explained the need to be able to back next to a toilet.  And the shelf in the shower with shampoo and conditioner is too high.

We feel very encouraged by the reception that these suggestions HOT and hope that some can be implemented.

Tomorrow we go home.  It has been a wonderful trip–lots to ponder and write about.  And lots to do–unpack, laundry, work on Karma, two spa days for Miracle–one at Percy’s and one at Mobility Works.  

And LOTS of people to thank for their constant support, care, and concern–including all of you.

Hugs and Wags.

The Lowman Family

PS: And the only place on this whole trip that has given the Girls their own beds!  Of course at night, they tuck against Mummy.  But otherwise, these comfy beds sure beat a hard floor.  😇

Hugs and Wags.

The Lowman Family

PPS:  Susanne also has two Labs–a black and a chocolate.

(August 19)

Dear Folks,

Greetings from Kirkland Lake.  On our way here, we made a quick stop at  Beardmore.  We thought that you might enjoy the giant snowman statue.

The day started out very foggy and rainy.  The fog diminished.  The rain was intermittent all day.

It was a fine drive, but long.  

When we got here and tried to unload, Karma’s wheels got tangled in our broom and Mari’s leash.  Thankfully, David was outside, talking with his son.  He came to our rescue, taking the broom apart and stashing it and untangling the leash.  The Girls gave him kisses of gratitude.  David also lugged in our suitcase.

David is very mechanical.  He redoes houses (for fun, we think).  He started out as an electrician and now is a crane technician.  He travels all over northern Ontario, visiting mines and servicing their cranes.  He says that’s what keeps a population in northern Ontario–mining–and logging.  He lives in Sudbury and has a vacation home in Nova Scotia.  

David grew up on Cape Cod.  His mother is from the Berkshires.   He has relatives in Maine, but could not say where.  He has been in Canada for at least 34 years.  So…another helping angel.

We went for a walk by the Microtel.  That is where we found the Miners’ Memorial.  It is such an impressive 3-D sculpture.  We hope that you can read the legend.  What an extraordinary way to make a living.

Hugs and wags for tonight.

The Lowman Family.

August 20

Dear Folks,

An early text today.  We are preparing for our last big push tomorrow.

Today we went to Kinross Pond.  We had found it when we went through in 2022.  It’s an absolute gem: and there is a paved path that goes all along its circumference.  (We made sure to stay on the path.).  

Kirkland Lake has a population of about 10,000.  In case you were wondering what kind of mining they do here–gold.  Along the paved path there are plaques to famous KL-ers.  We were intrigued to learn that the character played by Charles   Bronson in “The Great Escape” was modeled on the Tunnel King of Kirkland Lake.  During World War II, a group of miners from Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba served in a special tunneling corps.  That included several from Kirkland Lake.  And several of their famous sons and daughters are known globally.  

The pond is beautiful and peaceful.  People go to walk and ponder.  Some feed the pigeons and chipmunks.  This is bear country, so we are back to the metal bear-résistant containers.  We saw a large quantity of bear scat.

People here–as throughout the northern climes–seem to really treasure the chance to be outside.  And you see people across the age spectrum –from very young to very old.  The human spirit finds a way, not just to survive, but to thrive.

Tomorrow night we should be in Drummondville.  Getting there should be an adventure.  😇

Hugs and Wags.

The Lowman Family