[Blindtlk] international cane travel

Wed Oct 5 23:55:30 UTC 2011

Thanks for your observations, everyone. In response to Brian - I had
heard that with international travel, a roller or ball tip would work
better than a metal tip so that was one of my concerns. Nice to know
you've actually traveled abroad using an NFB cane.

Kelby- Though Ambutech's canes are sturdy and well built, there's
something about the tape and paint that just peels and turns black /
ugly very, very fast. It's disconcerting when you buy a cane from them
only to have the bottom paint start to chip and peel within a few
days. What a waste ... this is why I prefer an NFB cane. I mean canes
will naturally age over time but should still look nice since you're
using them everyday.

On 10/5/11, Kelby Carlson <kelbycarlson at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think it's primarily the reflecting tape on the outside of the
> cane that gets warn, particularly on the bottom.  For whatever
> reason--I seem to be unusual in this regard--I prefer the
> slightly shorter AmbuTech canes' length.  I just find that the
> longer NFB canes are less easy to use.
>
> Kelby
>
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "T.  Joseph Carter" <tjcarter at spiritsubstance.com
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 16:27:03 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel
>
> Depends on the cane.  Ambutech's rigid canes are tanks.  Their
> folding canes are pretty tough too.  NFB rigid canes are tougher
> than
> the Ambutech folders because they're rigid, but not as tough as
> Ambutech's rigid canes.
>
> The trend in NFB canes is lighter and lighter, which means more
> like
> a fencing foil and less like a big caveman club.  This lets us
> use
> the very long canes many of us now prefer, without the muscle
> strain.
>
> Joseph
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 06:20:39PM -0500, Kelby Carlson wrote:
> 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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