DFR Travels: A bit about Keith

January 2, 2020.

As you may know we are making a stop in Melbourne on the way to join the ship in Cairns to meet with old time Aussie Friend Keith Stafford. I emailed Keith the other day wondering if we should avoid the visit because of the fires, here is his reply:

"G'Day mate. Whilst the fires are extremely vicious, they are not into Melbourne itself. It may stop us going for a day trip nearby but only
time will cover that. I do not think the smoke will affect our airports in the city so all should be safe here. Extending the issue, you are going to Cairns which means you are passing all the other fires that abound the East coast." So, we are going!

I went to Europe, when I was laid off at work, to meet up with the son of my parents friends. As families, we had spent a weekend or two together some years before. He was travelling in Europe and we agreed to meet and travel together, on his scooter [which I paid him 1/2 , $300, for when I arrived].

We two did not really get along too well, [personality clash]. We only stayed together as a necessity, economically.

Early in the trip we met up with Keith in France who was travelling alone, we kept bumping in to him at the various hostels we stayed at. Keith and I got along very well and that worked for some considerable time. The two scooters got separated, or lost sight of each other in the traffic as we were heading for Vienna after Yugoslavia. We found out later we were staying at different hostels in Vienna but lost contact until we each got home some months later.

Keith and I have kept in touch all these sixty years, mainly because of Keith in his earlier years, 55 years ago, being a prolific writer, each year sending a typed record of their activities. As the decades rolled by E-mail made it easier.

Keith and Jenny visited us at the Farm in the 80's and we have seen them five times whilst in Australia.

When we see each other this coming Monday it will be the seventh time.