Day 11

Today is Day 11, and it was a memorable day indeed!! We woke up at 5:45am, and headed out covered in dew from the Pacific Ocean!! We made a stop at Wal-Mart, and then started our trip to the wonderful San Fran!

We had a travel breakfast that consisted of a Gogurt packet, and 2 NutriGrain bars. That’s right, TWO!!! No one can get over how great of cooks these Bashfuls are! After we had breakfast, we weren’t allowed to sleep anymore because Grant wanted us to see all of the beauty of the mountains and the beautiful ocean off of Highway 1! And it was WORTH IT! But as Sleepys, you can assume that we weren’t happy with no naps, but it was definitely worth staying awake! It was so beautiful with the ocean out of one side of the window and the mountains on the other side!

Matt told us that we had good news and bad news, and asked which one we wanted first. When we told him to give us the bad news, he gave us the good; we were going to have pudding for dessert! After getting super excited, we started to look around and wonder when we were going to get it, and that’s when we got the bad news; there was no pudding in the first place. After a couple tears (just kidding), we forgave Matt, considering that today is his BIRTHDAY!!! You all know that us kiddos are pretty broke, so we gave him the very best present we could afford. Every single one of us gave him a penny without saying anything, because words would’ve ruined the moment. I mean come on, we’re just kids!

We made a stop on the side of Highway 1, and took in the beauty of everything before us! Grant told us about the history of TWB, and some of us shared stories of how happy we are to be here! When we got back on the road, we looked over to our left and saw hundreds of sea lions just sprawled out all along the beach! The sounds they were making were 10x better than all of the sing-alongs combined! Seeing the sea lions just got us more excited to see the seals tomorrow in San Fran! For lunch, we had peanut butter and jelly (strawberry OR grape; so many options!) sandwiches, chips or cheetos, and bananas!!

As we were making our way to Monterrey, we got some more bad news, for real bad news... We had to skip Monterrey because we ran out of time thanks to traffic!! Even though we were a little upset, we put smiles back on our faces and headed straight to San Francisco because this meant we were all guaranteed to get showers tonight!!!! We had chicken bacon ranch wraps, chips and salsa, and animal crackers for dinner! It was absolutely delicious!!!! As soon as we finished, we got to Lakeside Presbyterian Church, where we were warmly (because it’s a little chilly here) welcomed by the lovely Penny and Jerry! Penny is the secretary of the church and was born and raised in San Fran! They welcomed us to San Francisco and have given us a safe and warm place to stay for the next two days! We LOVE sleeping indoors! We have gotten our bags unloaded, and we are currently taking showers. Everyone gets 10 seconds tops, so the vehicles might smell a little crusty tomorrow! (I’m just kidding, but we really do have a time limit. The boys are really upset about it because they won’t be able to condition their hair and sing their Beyonce songs.) The ultimate struggle…

We are super excited for tomorrow and all the stops we are going to make, so we have to get some sleep so we are ready! (You already know we’re excited for that) 

The sweet secretary, Penny telling us about her church! We are so thankful that she lets us stay here!!!

We can’t wait to tell you all about our adventures tomorrow, so it’s time for bed! We will be exploring the city of San Francisco and walking across the Golden Gate Bridge!!  Goodnight, we love you!

***Today was a lot of driving, with very limited stops so there aren't as many pictures as usual.**

Day 10

Hey y’all! It’s the Sleepys reporting live from El Capitan State Beach in beautiful California!!! This morning we were woken up at 6:00am to the beautiful sound of our wonderful counselor Jon banging an empty water jug around our heads!! We are feeling the love!

After struggling to pack up our dew-ridden bags and tarps, we loaded up the bus and set out on our next wonderful adventure, waving goodbye to Disneyland Anaheim RV Park! For breakfast we were served a gourmet traveling assortment of cinnamon buns that came in the flavors of cinnamon, strawberry and raspberry along with an actual whole banana per person!!! WOW!! We love the Bashfuls being the cooks! Unfortunately, Carolina Girl didn’t realize that the food was right under their legs and they went almost until lunch before they finally realized the treasure trove they were sitting on.

Lizzie Love found John Wayne's footprints!

Brogan Brown found Harrison Ford!

Michael Jackson memorial on his Hollywood Star!

We regret to inform our parents that the Hollywood bowl was closed thanks to the presence of one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, Queen. There are two sold out shows tonight and tomorrow night with Queen headlining and Adam Lambert as a guest! We arrived there at 9am and even though the concert wasn’t until 7pm, they still were not having us. Some people were able to glimpse the outside of the bowl while others had to settle for downtown Los Angeles since the GPS in Miss America decided to take us on a wild detour. Since we were not allowed entry to the bowl, we headed straight to downtown Hollywood to perform a legendary TWB trick on some unsuspecting tourists.

We held auditions to discover who the loudest and wildest screamers on our trip were!!! Rylee Gaus and John Gray Blount emerged victorious after performing some of the most ear piercing screams we have ever heard. Our celebrity, the amazing Hannah Tulloch pretended to be an actress in 13 Reasons Why and the upcoming Pitch Perfect 3, so we headed to the Chinese Theater with a plan in mind!

Screaming contest!

One of our winners of the screaming contest, John Gray Blount!

Everyone scattered along the street to make sure we were all spread out to try to not look suspicious. Matt Harkey was the one who gave the signal to tell Hannah and Jon to start walking down the street. With Rylee and John Gray providing the first screams, other TWBers proceeded to swarm and scream for Hannah and Jon Alliss, who filled the part of her bodyguard. After a few moments of screaming and getting Hannah to sign body parts and papers, us TWBers faded back and let the unsuspecting tourists beg Hannah for pictures and signatures. Hannah proceeded to sign everything from foreheads to booklets and took countless pictures with her fans!!! Jon was keeping everyone at bay; making sure people didn’t touch her and getting people to hurry up and take pictures! Many of us had conversations with other tourists about Hannah and what she had starred in; it was hilarious. People started to look her up and kept asking what show she was from. With 82 TWBers, anything is possible!!!

Jon tackling John Gray!

After the prank, we proceeded to walk around for one hour and shop! We didn’t need too much time here, since all of the stores were your typical tourist shops. Many kids came back with souvenirs that we’re sure everybody back home will love!! Many of us even came away with several mixtapes that were given to us on the street. Our very own Seth McCachern even paid $20 for one!

After leaving Hollywood, we started the drive to UCLA!!! It took WAY longer than it should have, thanks to LA traffic but we survived!! Upon our arrival, we caught up on research starting with Laura Parris on Hollywood Studio, Sarah Whalen with UCLA, Callie Matthews on Hollywood, Caroline McCrorey had the Hollywood Bowl, Isaac Allison on Beverly Hills, and Mary-Anna Chewning with Hollywood (Part 2).

UCLA group picture!

Sarah Whalen presenting her research on UCLA!

Callie Matthews filling us in on Hollywood!

Isaac Allison telling us about Beverly Hills!

Laura Parris telling us about Hollywood Studios!

Mary-Anna Chewning talking about Hollywood!

After research was over, we ate an amazing lunch of sandwiches that included everything from pepperoni to cheese puffs while relaxing on UCLA’s beautiful campus. After lunch was finished, we were given until 2:00pm to explore the campus and visit the bookstore. We even had coupons for 10% off!!! All of the parents will love that!!!

Group picture with the BRUIN!

While many of us browsed around the bookstore, others darted for the mini Apple store within the bookstore to call and FaceTime home!!! Several of us found the food court and filled up on smoothies and more Panda Express!

UCLA - Rylee Roller, Griffin Law, Lillie Griffin, and Kirsten Tevepaugh!

When we left, we made our way to the campsite but we encountered a few bumps in the road… The anti-freeze on the bus was leaking and we were forced to take a slight detour to the nearest auto part store to find a quick fix. We were stuck on the side of the road in the burning hot bus for about 30-45 mins while our counselors helped Mr. G fix the bus!! After this incident, we continued our lovely journey down the scenic Highway 1 where we were awed by the beautiful sights with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other!

Everyone faking a smile because the bus reached 83 degrees inside!

Matt Harkey and Grant assessing the problem!

Now that we are at the campsite at El Capitan Beach State Park, some are taking the opportunity to wade into the Pacific Ocean and explore the beach! The cooks made us all an amazing dinner of chicken alfredo with bowtie pasta, Caesar salad, and garlic bread! Many of us even got seconds!!! SO yummy!!! Tonight we had a sing-a-long and made s’mores around a REAL CAMPFIRE!!!!!! We will all be wrapping up in our tarps tonight, since there is a heavy dew that will come off the ocean upon us tonight. We head to Monterrey on Highway 1 tomorrow and San Francisco for the night!!!

Our wonderful Bashful cooks!!! Jordyn Burrell, Taryn Jenkins, Baylee Willis, Logan Mantooth, Cody Haigler, and Lucas Bonomo!

Bashful cooks!!

Kristina Sellers and Erin Sherrill making pasta!

Lillian Sumner and Aubrie Miller at El Capitan Beach!

Andrew Prachar, Ian Stines, Bennet Estes, Eugene, and Jordan Carlson!

Caroline McCrorey and Mackenzie Wright!

The girls at El Capitan!

Signing off for now, the Sleepy group is about to go have some fun. Catch y’all later!

*more pictures coming, stay tuned*

Day 9

Hello, this is the waterlogged Sleepys talking to you after a long day of exploring the one and only Disneyland in California!! This morning at 12:30am, water sprinklers rudely awakened us and we are convinced the maintenance workers purposely left on to ruin our wonderful sleep! Many of us were left to sleep on concrete driveways with wet tarps and bath towels, but hey, what else can we do??? For breakfast, we had an array of cereals and blueberries to fuel us for the long day at Disney!

TWB takes on Disneyland!!

After this incident, we arrived in Disneyland at 8:00 in the morning after a 2-mile walk to the park! As a huge group, TWB all rode the Indiana Jones and Space Mountain rides, such classics!! We were then let loose with zero adult supervision to go to other rides like Astro Blasters and Autopia!! A whole day in Disneyland by ourselves, this is what dreams are made of y’all!!! For the most part, everyone stayed in Disney until they got hungry and left the park to find a cheaper option outside of the Disney craziness!

Mickey ice cream!!1

Many TWB participants repped trip one with leather engraved bracelets that said “TWB ’17.” A little after lunchtime, one of our very own Kirsten Tevepaugh was getting a little “sleepy”, so Jenna Bright and Rylee Roller took her on a magical trip to Starbucks, where Rylee got four shots of espresso… It looks like she won’t be sleeping anytime soon!!

TWB bracelets!

Nick Richard, who is recovering from his heel injury, coped with a giant turkey leg, which he ate in five minutes flat. Nick was also in a wheelchair all day to keep the weight off of his injury, which allowed him to skip the lines and ride as many of the rides as his heart desires!!! Logan Mantooth lasted the whole day without having to shove tampons up his nose, after not being able to fit his 6’ 6” body into a kiddy roller coaster. Congrats, Logan!!!!!

Nick Richard always staying positive!

Nick Richard and his entourage that got to skip the lines with him! Mary Helen Alford, Kirsten Tevepaugh, Jenna Bright, Jessica Turney, Jada Prichard, Sarah Bass, Alex Mariscovetere, and Caleb Bozard!

Aubrie Miller, Anderson Crowder, Lillian Sumner, and John Gray Blount with their Mickey ears!

Alicia Hutchins, Nate Craven, Caleb Mann, Carly Kurtiak, and Bryce Curtis found GOOFY!!!

Abby Copeland, Rylee Gaus, Kacie Barrett, Lillian Sumner, Aubrie Miller, Camryn Bernhardt, and Lillie Griffin!

Sarah Bass, Jessica Turney, Caleb Bozard, Alex Mariscovetere, Jada Prichard, Mary Helen Alford, and Nate Craven!

Looks like Caleb Mann, Bryce Curtis, and Nate Craven LOVE Disneyland!

Selfie with Dallas!!

After riding Indiana Jones!!

Nicole Fortin, Liza McIntrye, Cam Ray, Kenley Hazel, and Olivia Kafer at Disney!

The Wright twins, Ashlee Hamrick, and Taryn Jenkins met CINDERELLA!

Snow White with Ashley Weinstein, Jordan Burrell, Taryn Jenkins, and Ashlee Hamrick!

Cayla Gregory, Logan Swain, Emma Parson, Olivia Kafer, Kenley Hazel, Jordan Carlson, and Brogan Brown! All smiles in the happiest place on Earth!

Kacie Barrett and Abby Copeland in front of the famous Walt Disney and Mickey statue!

Bailey Sloop, Lizzie Love, Cole Frederick, and Alaina Wallace!!

Olivia Kafer, Emma Parson, and Brogan Brown enjoying Disneyland!

Kenley Hazel and Jordan Carlson goofing off in the giftshop!

Jordan Carlson and Brogan Brown met a Storm Trooper!!!

Carly Kurtiak and her many balloons!!

Anderson Crowder!

 

Carly Kurtiak and Alicia Hutchins met Pooh!

 

Jenna Trantham and Gia Lash having the time of their lives in Disney!

We ended our Disney experience with a fascinating firework show at Disneyland, which everyone “ooed” and “awed” at. There were lots of great people who we met at Disney as well! For example, Mike from John Boys Tacos was super friendly and gave some of the group some killer T-shirts.

Another great person we met was Johnella, who was a worker near one of the rides who was super hype and took pictures with the group!! Disneyland was lit with some new friends and even some celebrities. A group of participants heading out of the park met Hank Green, the brother of the author John Green!!

Emma Parson, Cayla Gregory, Kenley Hazel, HANK GREEN, Brogan Brown, Logan Swain, Jordan Carlson, and Olivia Kafter!

Rylee Gaus, Tyler Sellers, HANK GREEN, Camryn Bernhardt, and Lillie Griffin!

Jordyn Burrell, Ashley Weinstein, and Ashlee Hamrick left the park and went to Pizzaterian, which wasn’t that great, and after they left they sprinted back to the park to catch a shuttle. A sketchy bus driver that let them ride for free greeted them, and Ashlee was looking for the emergency exit the whole time. On the way out of the bus Jordyn and Ashley ran so fast from the bus that they caused Ashlee to drop her expensive gluten free pizza (RIP) but they made it out alive!!

Gia Lash with a Grumpy mug!

Natalie Tillis and Gia Lash found the cutest princess of them all!

Jordyn Burrell found Belle!

Ashley Weinstein, Taryn Jenkins, Jordyn Burrell, and Ashlee Hamrick met Ariel!

Richard Fernandez and Leah Mosher!

 

Jada Prichard and Jessica Turney sharing a turkey leg!

Emma Parson loves Stich!!

We are all back at the campsite, extremely sleep deprived, and praying that the sprinklers don’t wake us up again tonight. You can save the sweet dream wishes because today dreams and wishes came true. Peace out!