Learning to Fly by Awesome Possum

Not long ago on a warm summer day, I found myself standing on a platform high in the air, tied to a tree. I was visiting the beautiful Mountain Springs Lodge, about 20 miles north of Leavenworth, WA, in search of a new experience. My ziplining adventure was just beginning. As my guide Becca told me “you got this” for about the 15th time that day and I stepped into space from 70 feet in the air, I paused to consider how I got myself into this position. I can’t even see. Wouldn’t it have been easier, safer, and just as much fun to go stand in front of a giant fan and pretend? But then I would have missed the birds, the shouts of happy people walking the plank, and that allusive feeling of soaring up to 190 feet over the Beaver Creek valley as I channeled my inner possumness.

I wanted to fly because it’s considered safe for people of all ages, between 70 and 270 pounds, who do not have neck or back injuries, and are not pregnant. Most importantly, it just sounded fun.

Before I went, I was very concerned about having control of my speed and being able to stop myself. Once I gave up any idea of control, it was much easier to relax and enjoy the flight.

We met our driver at the gate and rolled out to the trailhead on a Polaris Ranger UTV, where we met our guides. Once there, each of us in our group of eight had to step on a device similar to a scale to choose our helmets. It made me think of the sorting hat from Harry Potter. Keeping the mystery alive, they refused to say anything about how it actually worked. That is how I became the Awesome Possum. Returning to human form appears to be much more difficult. Others in my group included Sparkles, Cupcake, Bugs, Tinker Bell, Skywalker, Captain Time Travel, and Princess. Our guides were Tad and Pikachu.

Once this was done, we stepped into our harnesses. These must have been similar to parachute harnesses. They allow you to fly in a sitting position and have straps that go around your waste, chest, thighs, and shoulders. When not traveling through the air, your line was always clipped to a tree. Nothing was left to chance. The guides were in control of everyone at all times. They communicated by radio. It was all designed to take your mind off the process and focus on the fun.

My tour consisted of five ziplines. The longest one is about a quarter mile and takes about 45 seconds to complete.
They also offer a nine-line tour, but the five-line tour contains the longest line and is a better value, in my opinion. The entire process took about 2 hours.
First, those who had never done it before were allowed time to try a 15-foot practice line close to ground level.
When I asked, I was told that I was the only blind individual they had served in the 5 years of this facility. They did not single me out in any way or make me feel differently than anyone else. Obviously, canes and dogs stay on the ground, but you could bring your phones and smaller items.

So how does it feel? It feels wonderful! I would do it again. Walking the plank happened when our guides asked us to yell as we stepped off the platform. By comparison, parasailing allows you to stay in the air longer. Once you get past the nervousness of stepping into space, ziplining is exhilarating, safe, and fun. It’s thrilling to soar for almost a minute until the guide stops you and you lower your feet onto the tree platform, feeling the wind in your face, knowing we are all there because nature can be just as adventurous as any rollercoaster or amusement park. It certainly builds confidence. I was told that a 92-year-old lady had done the five-line course and loved it.

In my research, I learned about many ziplines across Washington. Amboy, Bellevue, Camano Island, Eatonville, Everett, Leavenworth, Liberty Lake, Silver Lake, Stevenson, and Woodinville all have options. Some are integrated with challenge courses like rope climbing, repelling, staircases, and suspension bridges. Once you choose your style of zipline, it is easy to find videos on YouTube. It’s a great experience for family reunions or team-building activities.
I recorded this fantastic journey from start to finish, and you can listen to this edited Binaural 1-hour recording. Headphones are recommended for maximum enjoyment.

Bottom line: I am thrilled to be able to recommend Leavenworth Ziplines as it was an adventure I won’t soon forget.

https://www.leavenworthziplines.com/ Email: [email protected], Phone: 800.858.2276

Episode Notes

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Listen to this short episode to experience a high-fidelity binaural demonstration of this best in class Keurig coffeemaker: My original review from the summer 2020 WCB Newsline appears below.
Listen to experience a high-fidelity stereo demonstration of this best in class Keurig coffeemaker. Purchasing information may be found at the following link: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/keurig-reg-k-duo-plus-trade-coffee-maker-with-single-serve-k-cup-pod-amp-carafe-brewer/5368248?skuId=68287245&mcid=OS_googlepla

Coffee Magic at a Price by Reginald George

Let’s start with this little-known fact: Seattle is the official coffee capitol of the universe. Everett and Vancouver are right behind.

In case you doubt, Wikipedia says “Seattle is regarded as a world center for coffee roasting and coffee supply-chain management. People in Seattle consume more coffee than in any other American city, one study stated.”

So how far are you willing to go for a good cup of Joe that is easy to make and pour? For myself, I’m finding it’s pretty far. The $15 coffeemakers out there are not cutting it anymore for my exacting requirements. My Keurig is eight years old and, besides, it’s sadly stuck waiting for me at my office. I needed something at home to help me stay alert while working.

I had spent about six months obsessing over finding just the right coffeemaker, when one day my co-editor, Heather, walked into a Bed Bath and Beyond in Walla Walla and walked out with what must be one of the most stand-alone, accessible, blind-friendly units available. It’s not perfect, but it’s close.

I have always been a fan of one device to rule them all. My iPhone reads me my books, takes me on walks, wakes me up and puts me to sleep, and if I could get it to make coffee, I would.

I was originally fascinated by what are called grind and brew coffeemakers. What I really wanted was a machine that would sing sweetly to me in the morning; accept whole beans, ground coffee and K-cups of any brand; give me hot water on demand for a cup of soup, tea, mulled wine, or cider; make a pot or cup of the size I specify; and do it all automatically. I don’t ask for much, do I?

The Keurig K-Duo Plus is an incredibly well-designed, compact machine for around $220 before discounts, which, with the exception of singing and grinding whole beans, checks all those boxes for me.

There is a version of this coffeemaker called the Keurig K-Duo Essential at Walmart for around $100, but it lacks many of the best features. More on that later.

The Keurig K-Duo Plus comes with a removable 60-oz. reservoir, or tank, that is supposed to make a 12-cup coffeepot. If you believe, as they do, that a cup holds five ounces, you might even buy this ridiculous claim. The big, round, insulated, stainless-steel pot that comes with the machine is easy to pour from, and it keeps the coffee hot for up to two hours without burning it. This replaces the typical heating plate underneath your coffee, which tends to make it too hot and causes bitterness over time. Life can be bitter enough without bad coffee.

The water reservoir has the unique ability to be rotated on a platform to either side of the machine or behind it. This lets you adapt the Duo Plus to your environment, and it should fit nicely under most cabinets.

The K-Duo Plus takes standard paper filters, and comes with a reusable gold filter and a long, disposable charcoal filter that slips into the tank to keep the water tasting sweet and pure. This also keeps minerals out of the machine and will extend its life, so it’s a good idea to change this every three months or so.

The main controls are individual push-buttons that circle around the brew button in the center with a large raised letter K on it.

Starting at the bottom of the dial between five and seven o'clock, you have two buttons that specify either carafe or cup. Then, moving clockwise around the dial are the buttons for choosing your sizes, which are 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz. or cups, depending on if you are making one cup with a pod, or brewing a pot of coffee.

The differences with the less-expensive Walmart version include: • Only three sizes: 8, 10 and 12. • Not programmable. • You can’t move the tank, as it’s in a fixed position behind the machine. • No button for a stronger brew. • It comes with a glass carafe that must be heated on the plate underneath.

Still, if this meets your needs, it's well worth the price.

There is much more I could say about these models. One downside is that there is no beep or signal built in, so singing is out of the question. However, if you are listening, you can hear when the machine turns on and when the coffee has finished brewing. A beep would have been helpful to know if it’s low on water or if some error has occurred. But as long as you follow the steps in order, you will have excellent results.

My old Keurig stayed on all the time to keep the water hot, so coffee was ready very quickly. To save energy, this machine automatically powers down after five minutes, so it takes a little longer to boil the water, but you don’t have to wait to start the process. You can put in your pod, hit the power, choose your size, press the strong button if desired, then press brew and walk away. In a few minutes, you come back to a perfect cup or pot of coffee. You can also operate the machine with no pod and have just straight hot water.

When you first plug it in, you are asked to set the time and, of course, this isn’t very accessible. It can be done if you know you are starting at midnight, and count the taps to the correct time. The timer remembers the last time it was set, and this makes it difficult to set without sight, but this feature was not important to me.

If anyone has any thoughts on the best grinder to go with this, or anything coffee-related, you can write to TheWCBNewsline at GMail, and we can all enjoy your comments together, over the hot beverage of our choice, in the next issue.

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Welcome to the WCB Newsline Unleashed Podcast!

This podcast will consist of an occasional series of Interviews, Audio, Tech Reviews, and Adventures based in Blindness and Low Vision Experiences supporting the mission of Washington Council of the Blind

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