Visiting the outdoor pool with a wheelchair: A Tölzer (85) reports whether it works

Created: 08/10/2022, 11:00 am

By: Andreas Steppan

"Old love": As a wheelchair user, Dieter Höflich (85) from Tölz feels very comfortable in the Eichmühle outdoor pool.

© Arndt Pröhl

Wheelchair user Dieter Höflich (85) likes to visit the Eichmühle outdoor pool in Bad Tölz.

He explains how the conditions are there for the disabled - and what is still missing.

Bad Tölz

– With the current temperatures, most people want nothing more than a dip in the cool water.

But how does the bathing excursion work when you are in a wheelchair?

The 85-year-old retired pharmacist from Tölz, Dieter Höflich, has been involved in the senior citizens' advisory board for many years and recently published a small homage to this "old love" in its "Senioren-Info" under the title "Ein praise der Oach".

The fact that he can stay there is an important part of participation for him.

Mr. Höflich, what is it like when you want to go swimming as a wheelchair user?

Difficult in my case, because I can no longer go into the water alone.

Lifeguards in the Eichmühle always very friendly and helpful

Nevertheless, they are regulars at the Eichmühle outdoor pool in Tölz.

What is your experience there?

Very good.

Actually, I feel completely comfortable here with my disability.

Lifeguards are happy to help the disabled into the water, and wheelchair users who can swim can also be helped.

The facility is not ideal for wheelchair users.

Elsewhere I have seen such guests being led into the water on a kind of sledge.

The lifeguards in the Eichmühle are always very friendly and helpful.

Incidentally, as a wheelchair user, I only pay the reduced admission for young people, my companion has free admission.

How often do you go to the Oach?

This year Corona stopped us when it was particularly hot, but we usually come here ten times because it's a wonderful facility, an "old girl" as we say.

The moving cabins, rather old wooden huts, have not been sacrificed to the renovation mania, they are reminiscent of the old days.

In addition, the beautiful trees, peace, quiet, shade and fresh air.

And we meet many acquaintances that you typically only see once a year, in the "Oach".

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As a wheelchair user, you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help from others, you should definitely have the courage to do so.

Dieter Hoeflich from Bad Tolz

Can you move around in a wheelchair in the outdoor pool?

I have an electric wheelchair, so that's no problem.

At the entrance to the outdoor pool, however, I can't get past the turnstile by the cash desk.

So I call 08041/797209 and they let me in at a side gate.

As a wheelchair user you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help from others, you should definitely have the courage to do so.

This is not so easy for everyone, but it makes life so much easier.

Do you also have a suggestion for improving the Eichmühle in terms of accessibility?

What is missing is a disabled toilet, which is really urgently needed.

A real omission in such a busy facility.

Desire: A "Road Scout" for the hiking trails in Bad Tölz

And what do you do when you have to?

I always have an aid with me, I cannot assume that I will always find a disabled toilet.

They also like to enjoy the summer on hiking trails around Tölz.

How does this work for you?

Yes, I like to enjoy the landscape with my wife and e-mobile on the cycling and hiking trails, for example through the forest to Ellbach, a great trail that many cyclists also use.

Unfortunately, it is also used for agriculture, so many stones endanger safe driving.

Since the city attaches great importance to being cyclist-friendly, I could imagine that a kind of "road scout" would be useful, as is common in Austria.

So someone who walks the paths once a year and makes sure that they are in good condition and safe to use.

There is no doubt that disabled people are also privileged with the hiking trails in our Tölzer Land, just think of the Isarweg to Lenggries.

By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Bad Tölz newsletter.