[Blindtlk] Walking Straight Without a Shoreline

[Lloyd Rasmussen]

There are a number of things you are not describing well enough for us to 
give you good advice.  Is the distance across the parking lot a hundred 
yards or 50 feet.  If 50 feet and the parking lot has a cement surface, you 
could tap your cane and get an echo from the grocery store building.  How 
full or empty is the parking lot when you are crossing it?  In which 
direction are the rows of cars (and the little curbs that mark the center 
lines between two rows of cars (parallel to or perpendicular to the path you 
need?)  Does a street run parallel to the direction you need to travel, on 
your left or right, and does it have enough traffic for you to judge what 
direction it is running?  Are there sounds from your side of the grocery 
store (delivery trucks, shopping carts, outdoor P A system announcements, 
etc.)?  Can the slope of the ground or the direction of the sun give you any 
clues?  None of us is likely to walk within the lines in a large, open 
parking lot.  Instead, the objective is to find the grocery store, going 
from one landmark to the next to the next.  Sometimes, when covering longer 
distances in open spaces, you will get a better understanding of the 
environment if you walk fast rather than slow.  Travel is not necessarily 
easy, but it can be empowering when you can go out and do things on your 
own.  I have been using a long cane for 53 years and using my ears for 
outdoor travel for about 65.  Go for it!



Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD
http://lras.home.sprynet.com
-----Original Message----- 
From: Brandon Olivares
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2014 7:41 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] Walking Straight Without a Shoreline

Hello,

I’ve been learning the route to our local grocery store. Most of it is easy, 
but the last part is somewhat difficult. After I cross the street, I turn 
left and have to walk through a parking lot for a while,then the building 
comes up. Once I’m to the building, it’s easy, but there are no distinct 
markings showing where to walk. There are painted lines on the ground, but 
nothing else.

I didn’t know if anyone might have any ideas of how one might tackle 
something like this, or perhaps it is just a matter of practice. Any help 
would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Brandon
_______________________________________________