[Blindtlk] international cane travel

[Kelby Carlson]

A related cane question.  In people's experience, do NFB canes 
last long than canes from companies like Ambutech? I just got a 
new cane and rather prefer the folding canes with the golf grip, 
but they seem to get beaten up awfully quickly no matter how 
careful I am.

Kelby



 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Miller" <brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 19:04:50 -0400
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel

Hi John,

I've traveled all over the world, including many developing 
countries, using
my NFB long white cane and have emerged relatively unscathed.  
There are
certainly challenges, A couple of things to consider --

First, be sure you have a spare cane with you, even if it's a 
folding or
telescoping cane, so in case yours breaks, you aren't stuck.

Secondly, be sure to bring extra cane tips, as you are likely to 
lose one or
two as you traverse uneven terrain, and you don't want to be 
scarmbling
around on the ground in chaotic situations looking for it.

Just take your time, keep your cool, and you should be fine.  It 
can be easy
to get rattled by the noise, the crowds, the uncertainty, but you 
can do it
with some common sense and an even keel.

Brian Miller



-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of John Davis
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 12:35 PM
To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org; blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] international cane travel

Hi,

I'm thinking of traveling abroad with some friends soon for a few 
weeks.
I've never left the country before, but our plan is to see parts 
of Asia and
Europe.

First, I use an NFB cane with the standard metal tip for travel 
everywhere I
go.  I do use a combination of touch and slide technique 
depending on the
situation.  I had never thought to ask this question until a 
friend who went
to Africa over the summer told me that, being in a developing 
country, the
roads and sidewalks look completely different from the suburbs 
and cities of
the US! With that, I'm wondering If I'll have any trouble using a 
cane in
some foreign countries? From what I've heard a lot of sidewalks 
can have
huge holes and cracks everywhere and the like which might make 
using a cane
hard abroad.  especially in more developing countries ...  
apparently it's
quite chaotic and a total mess in some places even for people who 
can see! I
ask because the NFB metal tip can succumb to rough spots and 
cracks and the
like here on occasion, so I'm suddenly wondering If I'll have 
trouble
abroad.  I will be with a group of friends so maybe I won't need 
to use my
cane too much on my own, but I thought I'd ask before I leave 
anyway.
Apologies if these are silly or the wrong lists to ask these 
questions on.

Thank you

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