On the Highway with Barry – Jellico, TN

Day One

The lesser airline reared its ugly head once more this morning. However regardless of their finest efforts, I nonetheless received to Knoxville nicely earlier than darkish simply as I’d hoped. I’ve received a few two-hour drive, and I don’t like doing that type of factor, particularly at midnight and uncharted territory. I’m on the best way to Jellico, Tennessee this week, a small city proper on the Kentucky border, due north of Knoxville. I’m staying in Williamsburg, Kentucky, simply north of the border, as a result of I couldn’t discover any optimistic evaluations concerning the one resort in Jellico.

Jellico, Williamsburg, and all surrounding areas are within the Cumberland Mountains and it’s a good looking drive. I’m additionally studying a ebook about Daniel Boone, “Blood and Treasure” by Drury and Clavin. In case you don’t already know, one of many many issues Boone is legendary for is main settlers by way of the Cumberland Hole and increasing American territory into Kanta-ke. Kanta-ke was as soon as a “forty-thousand-square-mile sport park the place all native Individuals would possibly hunt and entice, however none would possibly erect a everlasting city or village on the danger of brutal conflict. This included white males.” Based on the authors, Boone was unaware of this unofficial pact between the native Individuals, however that may be debated at one other time. Whatever the causes for who, how, the place and/or why, that is one other stunning space of the nation wherein I’ve been blessed to journey. Thanks, Chief Dog!

Day Two

I’m right here to see James, a retired postal employee who has been dropping his imaginative and prescient to a illness referred to as Retinitis Pigmentosa, which assaults the peripheral imaginative and prescient first and generally ends in complete blindness. It additionally makes travelling in low-light conditions very tough. James’s remaining imaginative and prescient within the heart a part of his eyes is helpful however blurry. Very, very irritating to say the least.

James hasn’t had any formal coaching, however his mom’s husband made him a cane out of some type of stunning wooden with a plastic tip. It’s precisely the identical size because the cane I introduced for him! Folks like James who’ve had no formal coaching simply determine issues out. That’s in the event that they resolve to maneuver on with their lives, as James has accomplished.

I most likely say one thing related each time I write, however getting out of the home and shifting round independently with restricted or no imaginative and prescient is among the absolute bravest issues folks can do. There are such a lot of individuals who don’t even strive. James, different shoppers at Chief and different folks in related establishments are motivated to the purpose of doing one thing about their state of affairs. It’s inspiring to me. Each time.

James takes to the cane fairly shortly and he makes use of it to stroll the street between his and his mom’s home. After we head over to Lafollette, Tennessee to work in an space wherein James travels often. The sidewalk is fairly crowded, and James realized simply how useful the cane may be. We made it all the way down to a light-controlled intersection to speak about site visitors patterns then headed again in the direction of house.

We stopped to eat earlier than we received all the best way again and I had a fried bologna sandwich. The bologna was virtually as thick as a hockey puck and fried to perfection. Perfection. They promote slices of home made truffles within the restaurant as nicely, and whereas I didn’t partake, one of many fellas sitting near us did. I swear, it was 1 / 4 of a cake! This was the most important particular person piece of cake I’ve ever seen served in public. Or privately. I can’t emphasize simply how giant this piece of cake was.

Day Three

James’ mother baked me a cake! This can be a first! I imply, birthday truffles have been made particularly for me, however she baked me a cake simply to say, “thanks”. The primary day I met her she made what I assumed was an off-hand remark about baking me a cake. I laughed it off and mentioned one thing about how I’d by no means flip down a cake. I received to James’s home this morning and he invited me in to see the cake his mom made for me. No matter food plan I deliberate on holding throughout my keep will now embrace cake! So overwhelming, actually. A really gracious factor to do. So, James’ mother, thanks once more. It’s/was scrumptious!

James and I headed to Corbin, Kentucky at present. Corbin is the place James’ major care physician is, additionally it is the place he goes to buy garments and footwear and the house of the unique Kentucky Fried Rooster. One Harland Sanders opened a gasoline station in Corbin in 1930 and began serving dinner to attract in additional clients because the Nice Melancholy wore on. In 1931, he moved throughout the road, switched from Shell Oil to Pure Oil and constructed a bigger eating room. This and the ultimate rendering of these eleven herbs and spices signaled the demise of extra chickens than may be counted.

James and I spent the vast majority of our time on Primary Avenue in Corbin, a protracted, straight, busy road. Primary Avenue is populated with native outlets and each different road is managed by a lightweight. The remaining streets had been managed by cease indicators. James picked up on the road crossing enterprise and was crossing like a professional earlier than we had been accomplished. Studying to guage intersection patterns is a key ingredient to impartial journey as a result of when you’ve decided how the intersection is managed you possibly can determine the most secure instances to get throughout. James is nicely on his method.

On our method out of city, we stopped for a late lunch at A&W. Not the fast-food restaurant with which you may be acquainted, this was a drive-in that was so busy it appeared like somebody kicked an anthill. After we had been accosted for not parking in the fitting spot (by different customers, not the employees), we discovered a terrific spot and ordered home made root beers, hamburgers and sizzling canine. An effective way to finish the day. I’m heading again to the resort to eat cake.

Day 4

We frolicked in Jellico at present, the place James does some buying, and at Indian Mountain State Park, the place James spent quite a lot of time as a baby. Jellico rests in Elk Creek Valley, amid the Cumberland Mountains and was based in 1873. It was initially referred to as Smithburg however was modified to Jellico to capitalize on the high-quality bituminous coal found within the space. James referred to as it “blue Jim” and mentioned the coal itself was so black it was virtually blue. The identify Jellico is a spinoff of the phrase “angelica” which is an herb that’s outstanding within the surrounding Jellico mountains. Once I drive with the home windows open there’s a candy odor within the air. I ponder if it’s angelica.

James is getting actually assured along with his cane and continues to inform me how he would in any other case be all bruised up with out it. He’s holding his head up a lot now that I didn’t must remind him one time about it. I’m positive I write about it usually, however holding your head up is essential for straight-line journey, steadiness and posture. James instructed me on Tuesday that his neck was sore from holding his head up greater than he had in a very long time.

Truthfully, there wasn’t a lot to do in downtown Jellico so far as advanced road crossings go however we did get some good apply on the state park. There’s a path round a big pond there and James was in a position to stride out and stroll confidently. I realized that he’s a baseball fan as nicely and we talked about his plans to see his crew, the Braves, play in Cincinnati later this summer time. Nice American Ballpark is one I haven’t visited but so I’m pre-emptively jealous of his upcoming journey. The stroll across the pond was not difficult however nonetheless an essential a part of life. Getting out in good climate and strolling for enjoyment or train is an integral a part of a well-rounded life, proper? Having the ability to try this with confidence is a very massive deal.

We’re going to work later within the day tomorrow as James has an appointment. One other good thing about the house supply possibility: it affords us the chance to work in low lighting. As I mentioned earlier, RP causes night time blindness so touring at midnight may be difficult. There are not any new expertise to debate for night time journey however it’s normally extra of a confidence difficulty. Do you actually belief that your cane and cane expertise will find obstacles in your path with out with the ability to detect them along with your remaining imaginative and prescient? I consider that James does possess this belief, which is why we’re doing it. I wouldn’t ask any of my shoppers to do one thing that I actually believed they couldn’t do. I betcha I’m confirmed proper tomorrow night.

Day 5

I took benefit of our late begin time at present and drove over to Middlesboro, Kentucky to see the Cumberland Hole. It was solely 30-ish miles away however took over an hour because the street will need to have been mapped by a blind priest on a drunk mule. Or possibly the priest was drunk, and the mule was blind, I’m undecided. Anyway, the street was not straight, but it surely positive was fairly. Pinnacle Mountain is formally in Virginia, and that is the place Cumberland Hole Nationwide Park is positioned. On the viewing space on high, you possibly can see three states: Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the precise Cumberland Hole. I used to be up above the clouds, and it was only a stunning view. I noticed all there was to see, so far as I do know.

I had one other cheeseburger at one other drive-in, (Conley’s in Middlesboro. Extremely advocate) and made it again to James’ home in time for the afternoon lesson.

James’ mom was there, and she or he confirmed me footage of her go to/tour to Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. It’s a museum now and is most well-known for housing James Earl Ray, the person convicted of assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King. He, after all, mentioned he didn’t do it, that some man named Carlos truly pulled the set off. However he additionally mentioned that he did do it. His personal attorneys acknowledged that the one time they knew for positive if he wasn’t mendacity was if his lips weren’t shifting. An actual piece of labor, that man. He escaped Brushy Mountain and was caught 4 days later by non-barking coonhounds, which I discover fascinating. He died of syphilis, most likely from a blood transfusion obtained after getting stabbed practically to demise. Jail is a foul place. We’d all do nicely to keep away from it in any respect prices.

James and I did some work in downtown Williamsburg, then on the Walmart the place he does the vast majority of his grocery buying. We mentioned buying methods then he practiced pulling the basket with one hand and utilizing his cane within the different. It sounds a bit cumbersome, and possibly it’s at first, however with just a little apply James was doing very well. He and his mom normally do their grocery buying collectively, however he feels assured sufficient to do it on his personal now.

We practiced extra road crossings downtown and received some Juno work in. Juno is working with an empty harness to simulate information dog journey. He loved it however admitted that working a dog would take quite a lot of work and focus. He’s precisely proper: It IS quite a lot of work. Some people consider that they only maintain on to the harness and the dog takes them the place they wish to go when in truth, the dog will solely get you misplaced sooner in the event you don’t know the place you’re going.

Day Six

James’ mom and her buddy Gary cooked us breakfast this morning. Home made biscuits-and-gravy, eggs, bacon, and pork chops. I’ll by no means go away right here. Gary grew up in Jellico and he regaled me with story after story concerning the space. His mom, Gary’s mom, realized to prepare dinner hen from Harland Sanders, Colonel Sanders himself! Now, she already knew methods to fry hen, however realized methods to do it the Colonel’s method. He tried to rent her, however she selected to stick with her present employer. She did train him methods to make the coleslaw that KFC nonetheless makes use of at present. How about that? I don’t know who taught Gary to make these biscuits, however they, alone, had been sufficient to maintain him round! Did I point out that he made home made blackberry and strawberry jam? The realm wherein he collected the blackberries was shared by a bear! You gotta actually need blackberries! They gifted me a jar of blackberry and strawberry jam. I’m undecided how I’m gonna get ‘em previous TSA, however I’m going to strive my finest.

James and I, after our hearty breakfast, took a drive over to LaFollette, the town wherein we began our coaching on Monday. I needed to indicate James what a distinction per week of coaching makes. He breezed by way of the slim, crowded sidewalks that gave him some bother on Monday. Then he crossed a road 3 times, one which he had declined to cross on Monday as a result of it made him too nervous. Simply an effective way to complete out the week, slaying a dragon. Very good approach to wrap issues up. Now, I’ve received the remainder of the day to determine methods to get that jam again to Texas…

I’m headed to a few camps on my subsequent two journeys. One is only a day in Houston for me, speaking to youngsters about mobility choices. The opposite is our week-long camp on campus at Chief. It’s been March since I used to be there and I’m trying ahead to being again on campus.