My cane blew away

Posted by Wingman on 4/5/2011 at 3:30 PM

Hi all my school got canceled today because of a huge storm that knocked The power out in half the county the wind has been so strong lately

I tell you the best and worst thing about the NFB cane is it's light

I've been fighting the wind just to get around safely out at windover if you don't hold tight it could fly away literally

There are currently 38 replies

Re:My cane blew away

I know it. Before I really and truely needed my cane those were the easiest to get rid of via smashing. My favorite thing to do was lay it behind a truck and hang around to hear the crunch. Needless to say I've grown up, at least a little, because I've figured out storm gutters are easier. I'm just kidding, I don't destroy my canes anymore. I hope your cane didn't actually get away from. It's really difficult and kind of imbarising to be hunting around for your cane. You know what I did? I have a tiny cane that folds down it to 7 pieces, that weighs about as much as the nfb cane. I put a heavy keychain on the elastic strap on the top. Mainly it's to identify it incase some jerk tries to snarf it, but it actually helps me hang on to it in a windstorm.

Re:My cane blew away

Hey, I know how that goes, sometimes as I walk around outside with the wind blowing I think my cane is going to fly right out of my hand and I am going to fly away with it, lol.

Re:My cane blew away

I could totally see that happening. I have definitely felt the wind fight my cane before, don't think I have every had blown out of my hand. I use a pretty heavy cane. But an idea, they make crooks or hook ends to attach to canes. These are great for windy days or places like San Francisco or Seattle where there are huge hills. I have heard stories about them rolling away from people. I actually know people in flat areas where they were getting on to a bus, dropped their cane and it rolled under the bus. Not a good thing. I don't have a crook or hook on the end of my cane, but know people who do use it. It also allows you to hang up your cane -- but it is really so that it doesn't roll away from you. I am not sure it would have helped in that kind of wind.

Now you have a funny and bad story to tell people about your cane blowing away.

Have a great week! Thank you for sharing that!

Sincerely,
Joe S.
AFB Staff

Re:My cane blew away

That has never happened to me. We don't have winds like that here in California.

Re:My cane blew away

Wave 2 of the storm hit Saturday but this time I was in the car as lightning struck a transformer boom
As a result of my cane blowing away I got a nice ambutech folding which works a bit better as far as wind plus it's easier in math class

Re:My cane blew away

How is it easier in math class?

Re:My cane blew away

Nobody is stepping on it and it's easier to put under my desk
I just wish math class itself was easier I've done nothing but get migraines from algebra 2

Re:My cane blew away

I'm glad I no longer have to worry about math in high school.

Re:My cane blew away

Not too long ago, there was a huge storm in my town. Power was out to at least half of the city, and several transformers literally exploded. I kid you not, there was one right down the block from us. Needless to say school was canciled that day, and quite a few streets were impassable no thanks to downed trees. Then, when we got back to school (not me I wasn't in school at the time) a squirrel climbed in to the transformer there. And today for school lunch, we're having, mystery meat.

Neuron

Re:My cane blew away

Have you ever gotten your cane snapped in half because of someone jumping over it? I have.

Re:My cane blew away

Luckily no but my old folding was bent in to a U during winter
But one time this year my cane slid down a flight of metal stairs in a balcony it sounded cool the hard part was retrieving it

Re:My cane blew away

I have had good luck with my canes of late. I have my cane bent by a woman in NYC trying to jump my cane, but she tripped and feel pretty hard. I was bit upset, but someone pointed out that woman jumped it purposely. I didn't feel as bad -- she could see and I could not.

I have had many canes get a little to them.

Snapped a few by catching them on things, expecially the California Canes which went out of business.
The newer Ambutech canes (i stick with the fiber glass -- heavier but have lasted). Mine typically last over a year with heavy travel and a lot of use).

I try to have an extra cane with me too, just in case. I have been traveling on the otherside fo the country and broken a cane. Have to be prepared.

Good discussion!

Joe S.
AFB Staff

Re:My cane blew away

Good luck.

Re:My cane blew away

Thanks
Hey how long does the rope on the folding last usually I'd like to know when to buy the replacement kit

Re:My cane blew away

Replacement canes are expensive too.

Re:My cane blew away

I am with you, they are not cheap and add up.

I have to order a few pretty soon. I tend to order a few and then I don't have to worry about it for a while.

I once, lost one while canoeing in Florida. We were in a back stream in a swampy area off of a lake. My friend had never been canoeing and decided to stand up. The boat flipped. I drained as much as possible, while in water with aligators close by. Then, helped my friend in to the boat, then I got in. My cane was gone. I should not have brought or should have attached it to the boat. Oops!

Good times!

Sincerely,
Joe S.
AFB Staff

Re:My cane blew away

What kind of tips do you like so far i've found each one has it's advantages currently on my folding i have a marshmallow hook tip but one of my spares is the NFB style metal tip. I'm making sure to keep them in stock after my O&M told me about having to bring a replacement to her elementary students that would loose one on the stairs

Re:My cane blew away

I like using the rolling tip.

Re:My cane blew away

I use the roller tip too, but not because of it rolling. I find it doesn't get caught in cracks as much. I walk at least 3 miles a day. When I taught orientation and mobility, I used to swictch out between a few types canes and tips, including the NFB long cane (rigid and didn't fold). If I am walking a lot though, I stuck with my Ambutech folding cane. On weekends, I will walk 5 or six miles in day.

I think the roller tip doesn't catch as much because it is a little larger. You lose some of that sensitivity that you get with the pencil tip or the NFB metal tip.

Like you were saying, there are positives to all of the types of tips.

Joe S.
AFB Staff

Re:My cane blew away

With anything skinnier than the roller tip, the cane always gets caught and jabs me in the stomach.

Re:My cane blew away

and doesn't that smart my cane used to do that to me all the time it doesn't happen quite as much any more since i got my marshmallow tip

Re:My cane blew away

I think we all can relate with that.

That does smart, and it doesn't happy all that much, maybe once in a 3 month period. It used to happen a lot, ugh.

Joe S.
AFB Staff

Re:My cane blew away

Have you ever tried a telescopic its intrigued me for quite some time
does it telescope into itself as often as I've been told?

all i know is they are expensive every where I've looked and they are nothing like the one in Daredevil

Re:My cane blew away

What kind is in Daredevil?

Re:My cane blew away

There have only been a few times my canes have broken accidentally. The telescoping one I had was bad for outside travel, and before it snapped the rubber top got caught in a tree and snapped off, hitting me in the face. The nfb canes tick me off because they're not folding ones and they hurt when they get you in the gut. And the folding ones are cumbersome heavy. The one I use right now folds in to seven pieces, and in's not even a pound. I've had good luck with them, the only time one broke is when this guy I turned in for some pretty serious stuff at my public school snapped it in half with a big heavy boot. It really anoys me when people jump over my cane, so I have a tendancy of swinging it up, mid jump. Usually does the trick. :)

Neuron

Re:My cane blew away

I have used a few different telescopic canes, not a big fan of using them when traveling a lot. I could see using them for indoor travel or real chill travel.

I have had the sections that hold the cane extended. I have had those pieces not work properly or ware away so the can collapsed.

I know people who sware by them though. I guess it all depends on how much and how you travel.

Hope that helps!

Sincerely,
Joe S.
AFB Staff

Re:My cane blew away

Me too Deuron, I still have to put it up mid-jump because like 12 canes have been broken by people jumping over them.

Re:My cane blew away

Thanks

Daredevil's cane he uses most is a modified telescopic he twists a knob and it shoots into position and it can stand combat it's a shame they haven't come up with a cane like it in real life

Re:My cane blew away

I have never gotten a chance to see Daredevil. That would be cool to have a cane that could withstand combat!

Re:My cane blew away

Yeah
I was thinking about contacting the SFX artist to see how they designed it

Which truth be known they probably went through a few between takes

Re:My cane blew away

Yeah. What is your favorite type of cane? I have only used the folding ones, the standard white cane. It folds in to 5 pieces.

Re:My cane blew away

So far i've only used the NFB fiberglass long cane and the ambutect graphite folding which i'm using now

Re:My cane blew away

What do you do when your cane sticks where it won't come apart

Re:My cane blew away

Actually, my buddy who is an engineer showed me a trick, pretty cool thing. If you roll your cane with the jammed joint on your leg, putting very slight pressure on both sides of the cane -- it will release the jammed joint. It should at least. You don't want to put a lot pressure as to break or bend your cane. It used to work with my older folding canes. The new ambutech fiber glass canes with aluminum joints don't tend to jam, never had one jam actually.

Another thing people do, is to put vasaline or WD40 on the sticky joints, so to prevent them from sticking.

Hope that helps!

Re:My cane blew away

Thanks that does help
A solution I came up with is very cost effective and it doesn't get your hands dirty.
YAMAHA slide grease
It can befound in any trombone case in any store that sells brass instruments
It comes in a type of chap tick style canister all you need is a dab on the joints and it is lubricated for weeks so it lasts a long time

Re:My cane blew away

It drives me nuts when people try to jump over my cane! I do stuff to throw them off, whether it be lifting my cane or moving it further out to make them think they have to jump further. There have been several close calls with my cane being almost broken. I use the marshmallow tip. I use two point touch outside anyways. no big deal. never tried the bigger ones. I have the Ambutech folding cane folds into 4 pieces. Has anyone ever said "You never used it before so you don't need it now" or "Why are you using it now, but never used it before?" Although many have been open to it (kids often wanting to play with it) there are a few adults (and teens) that ask "do you really need it?" or "do you really need it when you are doing (name task here)"
Crazy people! oh and, one of the close calls I had I almost broke my cane because I moved my cane under the (still) cart then the person started pushing the cart and didn't see it. When he finally paid attention to where he was going he freaked out "oh my gosh! I am so sorry! I didn't know you were there, and didn't see your cane!" I replied "It's ok, I didn't see the cart either." He said, "Well I assumed you didn't your cane is a symbol of blindness" I said, "I saw you, but not the cart, I can see, but not very well" He said, "How can you see me?" I said, "I have eyes, but to me you are a blob of green, oh and the cane is a symbol of independence to us blind folks" My sister was laughing so hard when I said that. :)

Re: My cane blew away

Lol I would have been laughing too.

Re: My cane blew away

I use a nfb rigid cane with the nfb metal tip. I had to use an iowa cane once when I smashed my last one in a cab door a couple summers ago.