Point Loma resident’s new book shares tales of traveling the world with a mobility scooter

Point Loma resident Cary Lowe and his wife, Trish, have traveled the world — but not in a way one might expect. Their unusual perspective is the focus of Lowe’s recently released book, “On Two Legs and Three Wheels,” a memoir of the couple’s travels with a three-wheeled mobility scooter.

“On Two Legs and Three Wheels” tells two dozen stories of travel triumphs and tribulations over the past 20 years after Trish lost mobility in her legs because of multiple sclerosis.

Reliant on the three-wheeled scooter but motivated to continue living life to the fullest, Trish and Cary began navigating the world with a new outlook.

“I wrote this book not only for the people who are disabled but for their traveling companions,” Cary Lowe said. “These stories demonstrate that you can go places and do things that you might not think you can do.”

Lowe’s writing career began as an op-ed writer for publications in Southern California. In 2020, he wrote his first book, “Becoming American,” about his journey from being the child of Holocaust survivors in postwar Europe to becoming an American lawyer, academic and political activist.

Inspired by the ability to share experiences and lend insight to others, Lowe began writing “On Two Legs and Three Wheels” shortly after completing his first book.

“I thought a lot of people would find our experiences interesting, both older people and those with disabilities,” he said. “I figured there were a lot of people who … want to keep traveling despite getting older or developing disabilities.

“While we were traveling, we noticed that we saw very [few] people on wheelchairs or in mobility scooters. This really surprised us.”

Relating a lack of mobility aids to cultural differences and accessibility, Lowe was determined to share positive travel experiences in hopes of prompting a shift in how people view limited mobility.

“Disabled people are discouraged from being out and about,” he said. “In most places, these mobility aids are just not available. In many countries, they don’t even seem to exist. You would be surprised at how different some other countries are … when it comes to this concept.

“This was a motivator when writing the book. Not only should people be inspired to travel, but I want to cultivate a broader audience of people in other places who are even more so discouraged by the surrounding social pressures.”

Traveling across the United States, Europe, tropical islands and deserts, Cary and Trish used everything — planes, trains, cars, buses, ships.

“At all times, things will pop up and you must not take it too personally,” Cary Lowe said. “One of the most challenging trips we took was in Alaska. We rode via train for two days from Anchorage to Denali and then Fairbanks. We then got on a bus for another two days. Trish’s scooter was tucked under the bus the whole ride. When we finally got off and were near the Arctic Ocean, they had never even seen a scooter like hers.”

Early in their planning for the trip to Alaska, the couple pondered taking a cruise.

“Most people would not think to undertake a trip like this. They would have settled for something simpler like a cruise,” Lowe said. “We ended up being the only ones in the land travel group that had any restrictions. But everyone was so supportive and it ended up working out great.”

The ability to adapt and be change-makers in spaces unequipped for mobility aids opened a world of opportunity, he said.

“Whether it is in the U.S. or abroad, we have been struck by how readily people will accommodate and go out of their way to help,” Lowe said. “Even if a place is not physically able to accommodate, the people will. There have been instances of people carrying [Trish] on her scooter into a bus or restaurant. It is very remarkable.”

On a trip to Paris, the pair was faced with frustration upon realizing the subways were not disabled-accessible. As an alternative, the couple rode public buses and, despite initial disappointment, they were met with exceptional accommodations along the way.

“At the Eiffel Tower, there was a very long line,” Lowe said. “They took us to a special elevator and there was no line. We zipped right up. The same thing happened at the Louvre. You find things like that and it really makes the travel experience delightful.”

Above all, Lowe said he hopes “On Two Legs and Three Wheels” will spark the same sense of ability and interest in those who read it. Whether or not a person has mobility issues, Lowe said he’s certain that anyone can gain something from being a bit more aware.

“It is great to have had impacts on people that we have encountered along the way,” he said. “I want to open people’s eyes to the obstacles we face. It is a matter of adapting and being flexible.”

“On Two Legs and Three Wheels” is available at bit.ly/3YN92nQ.

For more information about Lowe, visit carylowewriter.com.