100th BLOG

What a great way to celebrate the 100th POST - telling you about our fabulous time in Kansas and Missouri.

We returned the Ford Focus to Hertz in Wichita (actually Derby) where Ron and Chari hang out. It served us well for the 2 weeks while we travelled 3,000 miles (4750 km). That's further than across Australia or across USA!

Ken & Corrine Ervin came across to pick us up and take us back to Parsons, Kansas and then to Branson, Missouri. Wow! That Branson is something else! Heaps of shows - lots of 'em country music - and NO SLOT MACHINES! NO GAMBLING! Can you imagine that? Where Las Vegas is flat, Branson is extremely hilly. We saw Shoji Tabuchi, Goldwing Express, Broadway - The Star Spangled Celebration including Merrill Osmond, The World Famous Platters and the and the Duttons! Here's a bit of trivia - the Platters recorded nearly 400 songs, sold over 89 million records, received 230 awards and are recorded in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. We also enjoyed the beautiful unit at at Surrey Resort complete with indoor and outdoor pools and spas as well as a spa in our bedroom! That Robin sure looked after us. On the way home to Parsons (a three hour drive) we called at Ozark and ate at Lamberts Restaurant which is famous for its food and especially for the way they throw you a hot roll when you want one. We ate well! Darn, I didn't take my camera in there!
Back here in Parsons KA, we started practising for Katy Days. This is held on Memorial Day weekend. KATY stands for Missouri Kansas and Texas Railroad. On Saturday we joined heaps of others in the Iron Horse Duathlon, a 5 km run, a 20 mile bike ride and then another 5 km run. Well, as you know, we Keasts don’t run! Isn’t that right Jeremy? We had a good ride, doing the 34 km in 1:14:45 giving us an average of 27.7 kph! Let me assure you, that is quite impressive. Just don’t tell Evan or Blaxland! Hey, we were the fastest tandem in the event! Hence our medals.

We are celebrating knowing Ken and Corrine for 20 years this year! What a great couple. They claim to be in their 80's but that's hard to believe when you see how they operate. They were one of the Servas families we stayed with when we wandered round USA with our 3 young kids back in '86. This is our 3rd visit to Parsons and they've made it out to Oz once. Guess it's their turn to come visit! To Ken and Corrine and their family, to Peggy & their caring church folk at Wesley, to Wayne the eye doctor who organized the cycling, to the friendly people of Parsons.... thanks for your KANSAS hospitality.

Plans are to stick around Parsons for a few more days till Ken takes us over to Wichita on 1st June where we'll spend a week or so with Ron and Chari before flying out of Kansas City for Vancouver - 13 June (yes, just before we get run out of the country by Dept of Immigration.) Hope Brother Bill’s ready for us by then on Vancouver Island.

Did we tell you we're gonna be grandparents? Deb and Brendan are expecting (Sydney Aust. That's where they live, not the name they've chosen!) Bub due in October.... guess we'll still be in Europe at that time. Really keen to get back to Oz and see the family (had to put that in just in case immigration officials are reading this blog!)

Next post will be from Wichita (Derby).

Thanks for those people who've been having a read now and then. Do drop a comment occasionally. It's sure beaut to know who's out there having a read both in Oz and here in USA.

Well that’s it for the 100th blog….. seeya.