RN: On Tuesday 6/11, our destination was the tiny town of WaKeeney KS.  We thought WaKeeney might be a native name, but, noooo it is the combined names of its two founders, James Keeney and Albert Warren (like Nishistein).  As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,799 and the city (incorporated in 1880) is a total of 1.71 sq miles.  Despite its tiny size, there is a Best Western Hotel nearby and we managed to find the only restaurant “downtown”.  It was so deserted on the street that Felix wondered whether we should go in (“it looks a little sketchy,” he said), but we went in and, boy, were we glad we did!

As soon as we walked in, I noticed a Christmas tree decorated with lights in the window and kidded the waitress about it.  She proudly told us about the WaKeeney Christmas tradition.  From Wikipedia: “Since 1950, WaKeeney has hosted an ornate civic Christmas lighting display, which now includes over 6,000 lights and a 35-foot man-made Christmas tree in the center of town. The tree is ceremonially lit the Saturday night after Thanksgiving through New Years.” She told us the city’s big tree was displayed nearby, and suddenly it made sense why we saw a display of Santa and his elves at the North Pole across the street where we parked. The tree in the restaurant was just the top third of the official city tree and it looked big in the window.

FE. The land gets gradually flatter and the sky bigger as we approach western Kansas, and the horizon fills with hundreds of wind turbines for miles and miles.

Finally, we arrive in WaKeeney, a spot I had picked only for the convenient location along our route. It proved way more interesting and fun than I thought!

Certainly, the one restaurant had character

and a Christmas tree

across from the North Pole

and Hannah, the bartender, told us she grew up in Middleboro MA and summered in East Falmouth MA. Who would have thunk! Her husband practices General Medicine in the area, and they are happy on the high plains. Maybe, when they visit Falmouth, we will have a drink at the Quahog Republic Dive Bar, my local watering hole.

After dinner, the sky was amazing, moon and sunset combined!