Importance of Having a Spare Cane

The Importance of Having a Spare Cane

It is VITAL! I cannot stress this enough!

I was packing for a trip to my parents house in Chicago.  I was only expecting to be gone ten days.  I have used my NFB Folding Cane and only really use it when traveling or going to crowded places and restaurants.  I figured it hasn't gotten much use so it should last ten days right?...Wrong.  I got to Chicago and unfolded my can and low and behold, the point of connection between the fourth and fifth pieces had frayed and the connection is weak.  Great.... I don't have a usable cane and I am no where near a center that sells NFB canes.  They don't sell long white canes on amazon and the Independence Market was closed.  I thought about the Free White Cane program but I had already requested my cane in the last 6 months so I was not eligible,  I called D Canes, the maker of the Nebraska Cane, aka Bob Riley, and he didn't answer at first.  Luckily. he called me back very quickly and I told him my situation.  He made an exception because I was cane less and sent it out for me.  It takes about three days.  I would be without a cane for three days.  If I would have listened to all the advice I have ever gotten about traveling which was "bring a spare" I wouldn't have been in the predicament I found myself in. 

I should have brought an extra folding or brought my straight non folding NFB cane and brought the folding for back up.  

It is very hard to get a cane quickly or immediately.  So don't let yourself get stuck in a foreign place without a cane.  A cane is my eyes.  I should have brought a spare set of eyes.  Hehe.