Writing,
doing more research, and confirming facts will keep Penner and LaPlant
busy over the next eleven months with a goal of having the book ready
for the 2016 holiday shopping season. As with previous Kansas Sampler
Foundation books, Penner's sister Liz King will design the book, Bobbie
Pray, Lawrence, will edit, and Mennonite Press, Newton, will print the
book.
Much
like the popular 2005 guidebook, this one will be approximately 432
pages in length with hundreds of color pictures and about 4,000 entries.
The entries will feature everything from restaurants and scenic drives
to architectural gems and indoor and outdoor art.
Penner said, "Since the middle of May, we've been on the road every
Monday through Friday. We've eaten two to four meals each day in
locally-owned restaurants, went through two cameras to capture 127,000
images, and the odometer on our wrapped GMC Terrain, loaned to us from
Midway Motors of McPherson, has 105,000 miles on it. We went through
three sets of tires and had only one encounter with a deer. The car,
affectionately known as ERV (Explorer Research Vehicle), side-stepped
major ruts at remote scenic areas, endured thousands of miles on stony
back roads, and survived rickety bridges. It was a magnificent four
years."
Though it was Penner's second trip to every town in the state it
was LaPlant's first such adventure. She said, "I was surprised at the
diversity of geography, the beauty found on the back roads, and how big
our state is. It was wonderful to meet the people of Kansas and hear the
pride they have in their communities. I can't wait to share all of this
with the public."
As
they did throughout the four-year trip, the research duo will continue
to share pictures and comments on Facebook and through e-blasts and the
Kansas Explorer Club newsletter. Information will be available on www.kansassampler.org.
"After
seeing the state up close and personal, we can't wait to make it easy
for others to see the beauty, the character and characters, and the fun
quirks of the state, too," Penner said.
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