27 July 2005 Dear cousins, In spite of the high gas prices, some of the airlines have big, wonderful flight sales going on. We already have almost 70 cousins signed up for our Gathering of Dutch Cousins in Harrodsburg KY September 23-25. If you have not signed up yet because you thought you could not afford the airfare, take a look. Southwest Airlines specials flying from Phoenix or OKC into Louisville KY. Senior fare, non-stop, is $129 each way, Phoenix to Louisville. Leave Phoenix (PHX) 8:45 am arrive Louisville (SDF) 3:15 pm, (2 or 3 time changes) Only $106 for OKC, the return trip is only two hours! (one time change) The fares from some other cities to Louisville are even cheaper. We may decide to fly and cut two days driving each way off our travel time. Wanted to let ya'll know. Louisville is only 72 miles from Harrodsburg. The roads are great (more than halfway on Interstate), the views are fantastic, and it is only an hour 45 minutes, so you could fly into L'ville, rent a car and be there in no time at all! Frankfort (34 miles) and Lexington (32 miles) are both also close and have good airports. While making that quick drive you could think about how long it took our Dutch ancestors to make the same journey. Remember in the late 1700s and early 1800s, most of our people started overland in wagons, on foot and horseback from Conewago in Pennsylvania to around Wheeling (now WVA) where they tore down their wagons and turned them into flatboats which they loaded with all their household goods, farm animals and families. They waited for the spring rains to raise the river, then pushed their flatboats onto the water and away they went, headed for their "new Amsterdam" in Kain-tuck territory, then still part of Virginia. It was not just a leisurely picnic on a houseboat, they had to worry about Indian attack and the dangers of river travel, such as submerged trees that could wreck their boat. In Vince Akers book, "The Low Dutch Company," page 13 tells about the Westerfield migration in 1785, when the party was fired on by Indians near the Indiana shore. Several animals were wounded and James Westerfield received a bullet in the abdomen. He recovered and they reached "the falls of the Ohio" near present day Louisville. They tore down the flatboats and rebuilt the wagons to haul their goods to the Mercer County Dutch Station. On the way they encountered another Indian attack and James Westerfield Jr, was killed. Pretty peaceful journey now! No danger from submerged trees or Indian attack now. Come and hear more of our family's exciting history at the Gathering of Dutch Cousins. Items to Bring: Family Pictures and/or Antiquity Piece with story. Registration is only $20 for the 3 day event. Need more info or a new registration blank, send an email to Buffalo234@cox.net. Other flights, $29 - $119 one-way, 3-day advance purchase in select markets. For more info, go to Southwest.com For other airlines, check priceline.com, expedia.com or lowestfare.com. Hugs, Carolyn Remember you have a friend in Oklahoma -- endlessly sorting out dead relatives! Researching COZINE in Kentucky, Kansas, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Amsterdam (New York) and the Netherlands.