TWB July 10th 2021 Experience: 2021-07-11

Day 7: VEGAS!

Good morning from the Sleepys!

Faith Johnson, Emily Koehler, Grace Robertson, Gabe Skeete, Gracyn Hilliker, Carson Faulkner, Cate Polston, Lexie Rell, Haley Overcash, Trinity Skipper, Kack Harris, and Samuel Wynkoof.

We were FINALLY able to sleep in for the first time. No crazy wake ups this morning. Gracyn, Lexie, and Faith decided to wake up early at 5:00 to be first in line for showers. Everyone else in the group woke up around 6:00 to get ready as well. After showers and getting ready we had our first sit down breakfast that consisted of french toast, sausage patties, and lemonade. After everyone completed all of their tasks, we had a group meeting about VEGAS!! Then, we loaded up by groups to practice for the “Chant Competition”, which is where you create new lyrics with your chosen song. We had a lot of bonding while trying to create our chants. After the sleepys finished brainstorming, we all jammed out to some good tunes. While driving, we had a traveling lunch. We had ham and cheese sliders that were delicious, just like Kack said. When eating our lunch we could feel the heat rising very quickly. The highest temperature on the dash read 143 degrees. It was then that we all realized we were getting closer to sin city. Before arriving at Vegas, we stopped by a Flying J’s.

Bashful's busy cooking our very first sit down breakfast...French Toast and Sausage!

Who knew french toast could be so delicious?

We decided to leave our mark at the Grand Canyon via a rock sculpture.

Our second rock masterpiece of the morning

Happy's working hard to get our tents packed up before heading off to Vegas!

Our daily morning lecture

Kack catchin' some Zzzzzz's

Lexie and KS showing how well they can clean up

Shoutout to BANG for keeping us sane

Krazy Kenzie ft. Evan's BANG once again

When we arrived in Viva Las Vegas, we all had a meeting and each got a map of the city. Grant gave us some ideas of different places to visit, especially the affordable shops in Caesar’s Palace like Fendi, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry. The first sight that we stopped to see was the inside of Caesar’s Palace. We all walked to the Poseidon statue and took a group photo before splitting off in our own groups. Time to explore! Cate and Trinity’s group first walked all the way to New York, New York, with the guidance of Zac. They arrived and rode the “Big Apple” rollercoaster, which was very fast, had lots of drops, and went upside down multiple times. Many other groups ventured over to the Big Apple to take in the sights by coaster or to the big sky wheel claiming it is the largest in the world. It was a TWB favorite all around! Paige, Patrick and Zac did not ride the coaster, but instead, held bags and got some seats at a Mexican restaurant nearby. Others went to eat at Italian restaurants, Gordan Ramsey’s Grill, Margaritaville, and Palms. After dinner, many groups went shopping. The girls spent too much money on American Eagle outfits for the upcoming rodeo. Yeehaw! After the big spree, groups stopped at souvenir shops nearby. Many participants took in the show at Bellagio fountains where they took some cool photos. The song “24k Magic” by Bruno Mars was playing as the show began for some groups while others heard “God Bless the USA” or “My Heart Will Go On.” Zac even took his group to the botanical garden. Cate’s favorite part was her group that she got to spend time with. Grace R.’s favorite part of the trip was dinner at Hash House. After our 8 hours we packed into the vehicles and headed overnight to Santa Monica.

Remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

-Sleepys

Headed to Caesar's Palace in the 108 degree weather

Night life!

Sam and Trinity with their bright smiles

Fun pics with an amazing background.

Beautiful lights on the Las Vegas strip

Group Selfie!

The boys and the Old Spice

We spotted Grant and Dallas!

Group pic with Mr. Caesar himself

silly moments

More group photos

Group photos are the best.

Charlie and Sanders in awe of the beautiful ceiling

Will was clearly psyched to be in Vegas

Crowded escalators all day long

Pit Vipers for the win

Grant lecturing...once again

Sheeessshhhh

The angles are the most important.

Day 6: Grand Canyon

The morning at the Grand Canyon had the teens at TWB excited to see the beautiful sunrise. We woke up at 4:18 in the morning and hiked a mile and a half to see the long anticipated sunrise the counselors have told us so much about. Larkin says, “It was more beautiful than any painting could capture!” and man, was he right! Most of the teens like Caitlyn, took pictures with Dallas and KS while others like Sophia, took a time-lapse of the sunrise. Ethan says, “At the end of the day, pictures won’t do the canyon justice.” After we walked back, the ladies charmed the laundry lady, Torrey, to open up all twelve of the showers and some more of the washers! It was probably the best shower we’ve had so far! After our warm showers and laundry day, the hiking began. We all took different routes. Ethan, Grace and Riley went on the Rim Trail while Zac and his group hiked three miles round-trip. Some teens even walked to a neighborhood while Abby L. had her quiet time in the Canyon.

Later in the day, we took naps dreaming of calling our parents. Then, it finally came! Eleven o’clock was the time we were allowed to call home! We all miss our parents. Especially Ethan. If Ethan’s parents are reading, he misses you and please answer! Zac didn’t call his parents, he says, “hi.”

Ready for the sunrise

Can you even tell its 5 am?

Gabe is super excited to see the beautiful sunrise over the canyon.

Camille and Lillie pose for a cute picture with the sunrise

Everyone loves selfies with Dallas

Emily approves of the sunrise

We are all just taking it in

Friends pose for a picture while sitting on the rocks

Sunrise watching group

Cate is super excited for the sunrise

The most amazing view

Paige and Kenzie pose for a picture in front of the most beautiful landscape

Zac and Morgan are enjoying the sunrise, look at those smiles!

Caitlyn, Ella, Faith and Mallory take the cutest selfie with KS while watching the sunrise

Breathtaking view!

Larkin and Katy pose while watching the most amazing view

Smiling while enjoying the greatest view

Taking it all in

Sofia is surprised at how beautiful the view really is

Dallas and Patrick take the cutest selfie

Abby smiles while enjoying one of God\"s greatest creations

Birthday girl Paige at her sunrise for her 17th birthday

Grace and counselor Aubrey pose for a photo

Dallas and all her kids

That\"s a big elk!

Evan\"s pet lizard, Mau, scared Anna a little

It\"s time for laundry!

Abby AKA "Agape" is loaded with laundry goods

Abby lays patiently while waiting 3 hours for her laundry

One of our hiking groups!

The girls are already for hiking today

Seth gets to call home!

All smiles as Mason gets to call home for the first time

Most of us hiked the Bright Angel Trail

This was after our hike

Will loves his ice cream

Done hiking, now time for ice cream

Paige with her birthday ice cream

Just out of the canyon

In the afternoon, we all went to lunch. Sophia, Larkin, Ashton and Thomas went to the Tavern to get pizza. And while our entire day was happening, John went on a ten-hour hike by himself! After our amazing adventures, we had the World Famous Deaton Stew, it’s supposedly makes you poo. Today was also Paige’s Birthday! During the sing-a-long, we sang songs like Happy Birthday, Today, Our Song and a song dedicated to our bus driver, Michael. We all got shirts that say “I hiked the Grand canyon” and went to bed staring at the stars. Next stop, Las Vegas!!!

Peace out,

Dopeys