This story first appeared in the July 26 edition of the Kansan.
Editor’s note: The Kansan asked its readers about their most memorable vacations. Here are their responses:
African safari
worth the wait
When you leave Newton and travel 29,430 miles, you are not in Kansas anymore.
This trip to South Africa was 40 years in the making for Janet and Byron Ediger, travel agent at MTS Travel in Newton.
When we were missionaries living in the Congo in 1968, we had tickets purchased and were all ready to fly to South Africa to experience an African safari.
But both Janet and Byron came down with hepatitis, and the local doctor quarantined them to one room for six weeks right during the time of the planned trip.
So, now in 2008, the trip to South Africa really happened, and we spent two weeks in a rented car traveling to Cape Town, The Cape of Good Hope, the wine lands, the Garden Route with its many ostrich farms, orange groves, banana plantations, through mountains and along the coast line.
The highlight was a four-day African safari in world-famous Kruger National Park.
“Seeing so many animals in the wild is a sight and experience that makes you truly appreciate nature as part of God’s wonderful creation,” Byron said.
We were surprised how many mountains there are in South Africa, which is a beautiful blend between coastline, bush country, mountains and valleys.
“Having previously lived in Africa, and now to be able to drive to the very most southern tip of Africa, is something we always looked forward to. It was breathtaking,” Janet said.
This is also when we saw our first wild animals, which were several Elands ,which are large ox-like African antelope.
The best part of the whole trip for Janet and Byron was the four-day safari in Kruger National Park.
“It is a photographer’s bonanza,” Byron said, when describing the more than 750 pictures taken.
We did see the “Big Five,” a term originally used only by hunters referring to five of Africa’s greatest wild animals: lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalos and rhinos.
As during the bygone hunting era, the term “Big Five” still conjures up the romance and excitement of Africa as an exotic destination.
Many travelers regret a visit to South Africa as incomplete without having spotted and photographed the “Big Five.”
The Edigers got them all.
— Janet and Byron
Ediger,
Newton
Dolphins highlight
trip to Mexico
Our mother and father moved to Newton from Arkansas City to live at Presbyterian Manor.
Our father has since passed away, so a year later, my husband and I took Mom, Letha Wilson of Newton, to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, for a vacation.
This is on the Pacific Ocean, north of Acapulco.
With beautiful palm trees and beaches, it’s very tropical, and Zihuatanejo is a nice, quiet town.
We stayed at Villa Del Sol right on the beach. The hotel is strict to protect the turtles that lay their eggs in front of the hotel.
We were lucky enough to be there when it was time to release the turtle hatchlings back into the ocean. What a thrill!
And to watch my mother be so excited to watch new life go into the world will be a cherished memory for us.
Then, a few days later, I asked Mom if she wanted to go swim with some dolphins, and she immediately said ,“Yes!” So off we went.
As we lowered ourselves into the water, Mom was not the least bit afraid. It was so heart-warming for us to watch our mother really enjoy what life has to offer.
She now has memories that will forever stay with her and her children.
Oh, did I tell you Mom was 87 on that trip, and she just turned 88?
— Linda Brown
Visit to see family
quite an adventure
In May, my Filipino wife Mila and I went to the Philippines to visit her family and attend her village fiesta.
We spent 15 hours on an airplane flying from Los Angeles to Manila.
We then left Manila by van and drove three hours to a ferry boat port. The van was loaded on the ferry boat, and we sailed 2 1/2 hours across the ocean to the Philippine island called Mindoro, where Mila was born and raised.
We drove across this island for 2 1/2 hours until we ran out of road. We then loaded onto baca boats (a large canoe-type boat with outriggers and a gas engine).
We sailed around the island on the ocean with no life preservers for 45 minutes until we reached a small village.
From this village we walked up a hill and then down the hill for about 150 yards into the forest (or jungle) until we reached Mila’s village.
There were four concrete block houses with concrete floors and tin roofs. There were four bamboo huts with dirt floors.
Electricity was provided by portable gas generators. They have running water 12 hours a day, and no television, water heaters or refrigerators. Ice was carried in by coolers.
We spent 4 1/2 days in the village.
Two hogs, a goat and several chickens were butchered. Fish were brought in from the ocean and cleaned and cooked. We also ate some octopus. There always was plenty of rice.
My wife was a little concerned about taking me, an American, that far from Manila, but we didn't have any problems.
I finally got to meet my mother-in-law and most of my in-laws. We plan on going back in three years for the annual village fiesta and family reunion.
— Ed and Mila Foth,
Newton
Colorado trip in
1930s first of many
In the early 1930s, our family decided to make a trip to Colorado Springs, Colo.
Grandmother Wright was subject to bad attacks of asthma, and a change in climate was advised by her doctor. Since she was in the Springs, we loaded up our Ford and started out one noon on what was Route 96 to see her.
We stopped at Rush Center that first night and stayed at a hotel that was unique; our room had a big coil of heavy rope by one window — our “fire escape.” I wonder if that hotel is still there?
The next day we hit a bad storm just east of La Junta, Colo., with wind, rain and muddy roads. I knew my parents were concerned, but they kept their fears from us, and we finally made it to the safety of La Junta.
The remainder of our trip was uneventful, but this started our lifelong love for Colorado, and we spent many summers at a cottage in Green Mountain Falls, owned by my father’s company, which we shared with the employees. It was called “Turnabout.”
My children, and then their children, loved the hiking, fishing and exploring the area for many years.
Truly, Colorado was our second home!
— Ruth Douglass Woods,
Newton
Family boat trip
full of mishaps
A few years ago, my brother David organized a family reunion aboard a houseboat.
We arrived to find nephews and nieces in water up to their waists pushing the houseboat out of the mud near the shore.
When we had cruised about five miles, my oldest sister, Marilyn, noticed smoke coming from below the deck — the engine was on fire.
We were on the horns of a dilemma.
We exceeded the occupancy limit by about 16 people. We couldn’t call the rental people for assistance until we got the number down.
A nice young man on a jet ski stopped to offer his help. We sent him to fetch a buddy with a motorboat who took us to shore.
We vowed to end the trip on a happy note, so the next morning we gathered at the state park for a picnic breakfast. It rained the entire time.
David was bummed. What he had planned as a wonderful time turned out to be a disaster. I assured him what we had experienced was not your run-of-the-mill reunion, but one we would remember forever.
He suggested next time we try Las Vegas. Hasn’t he heard of Lake Mead?
— Kathy Nelzen,
Newton
Mud, closures
icing on the cake
On Highway 81, almost to Nebraska.
Good! We were ready for a one- or two-day trip.
Wakefield — Steve Lloyd Wetlands Area. Blocked by a very large mud puddle. “Is this it?”
Washington — Marcon Pies makes 400 pies per day. Yes, they were open, cleaning the ovens. Sugar- free pies sprinkled with granulated sugar glistened under the lights.
Morrowville — World’s first bulldozer, an old, old wooden (oak) blade crudely mounted on an antique Fordson behind a chain-link fence. “We drove all that distance to look at this?”
Haddam — Brown’s Honey Farm. Largest honey producers in Kansas. “There it is! Closed.”
Belleville — Boyer Gallery features animated carvings and 25 lighted motion displays. Doors were locked.
Clifton/Vining — LCL Buffalo Ranch, 300 buffalo? No, the big herd is on a ranch up north.
Delphos — Oldest elevator in Kansas. We took pictures of the one we thought looked the oldest. Man in office: “Oh you won’t find an oldest elevator structure, we are the oldest co-op elevator organization in the state of Kansas.”
We’re saying we had a good time, and we’re sticking with it!
— John Schrag,
Newton
