DeTerminator
Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 107
I faced a need to use my Irish Blackthorn early this morning, and I'm glad that I had it with me.
I bought the blackthorn 3-4 years ago, when I started to need a cane and saw the posts on this forum (Carl L, thanks!). I had trashed my hip joints over the years carrying the strength training to extremes, and 35 years of hard workouts did me in, along with inheriting bad genes. I had to have both hip joints replaced over the past year, though a measly 54 years of age! I'm doing pretty good these days, and don't need to use a cane, but I take it along on my daily walk. I walk at night and early morning hours these days, and go for a bike ride during the day.
I started out at 2:07 AM, and was walking past a residence when two large dogs started barking and took me totally by surprised. They had come out of a garage that was obscured by a large pickup truck, barking their fool heads off and coming toward me fast. The seedy owner was in the garage doing who knows what at that hour. The type that cuts their lawn once or twice a year, and doesn't care much for snow shovelling, either. I'd seen the dogs on prior occasions, and they were at least 50 lbs., dark brown, and appeared to be some type of hound. I turned toward them with my stick out, waiting for one to close in. Sure enough, one got within range fast. I extended the stick to jab at it, and made light contact with it. A light prodding made it back off. The owner came out fast to call them off. I heard him say a few words, but couldn't make out everything he said since I had my Walkman playing. I heard, "stick," "bit," and "will". I think he might have said something like I would have got bit if I didn't have the stick. The whole episode was over in about 10 seconds.
I turned without saying a word- the stick did my talking, and I continued on my walk. I need to do a search here on pepper spray, me thinks, and get some. I feel like I need another layer of protection.
The Irish Blackthorn...my favorite stick. I used to really like my Canemaster and Enasco canes a whole lot when I needed to actually put weight on them, and the blackthorn took a back seat due to the angle of the handle (30degrees, and rough for weight bearing on extended walks), but, yeah, the blackthorn is my current favorite.
I bought the blackthorn 3-4 years ago, when I started to need a cane and saw the posts on this forum (Carl L, thanks!). I had trashed my hip joints over the years carrying the strength training to extremes, and 35 years of hard workouts did me in, along with inheriting bad genes. I had to have both hip joints replaced over the past year, though a measly 54 years of age! I'm doing pretty good these days, and don't need to use a cane, but I take it along on my daily walk. I walk at night and early morning hours these days, and go for a bike ride during the day.
I started out at 2:07 AM, and was walking past a residence when two large dogs started barking and took me totally by surprised. They had come out of a garage that was obscured by a large pickup truck, barking their fool heads off and coming toward me fast. The seedy owner was in the garage doing who knows what at that hour. The type that cuts their lawn once or twice a year, and doesn't care much for snow shovelling, either. I'd seen the dogs on prior occasions, and they were at least 50 lbs., dark brown, and appeared to be some type of hound. I turned toward them with my stick out, waiting for one to close in. Sure enough, one got within range fast. I extended the stick to jab at it, and made light contact with it. A light prodding made it back off. The owner came out fast to call them off. I heard him say a few words, but couldn't make out everything he said since I had my Walkman playing. I heard, "stick," "bit," and "will". I think he might have said something like I would have got bit if I didn't have the stick. The whole episode was over in about 10 seconds.
I turned without saying a word- the stick did my talking, and I continued on my walk. I need to do a search here on pepper spray, me thinks, and get some. I feel like I need another layer of protection.
The Irish Blackthorn...my favorite stick. I used to really like my Canemaster and Enasco canes a whole lot when I needed to actually put weight on them, and the blackthorn took a back seat due to the angle of the handle (30degrees, and rough for weight bearing on extended walks), but, yeah, the blackthorn is my current favorite.