Hey y’all! Sleepy group here! Starring: McKenna Caudill, Josie Crooks, Sophie Andrews, Shelby Auvil, Cailin Baldwin, Annalee Decker, Alex Garrigus, Brooks Godbold, Claire Quiggle, Katie Shepard, Ryan Phillips, McKenzie Auten, and Rhiannon Smith!! We can’t wait to share our adventures with you for the next five days and we promise it won’t make you go to sleep.
Our sleeper of the day goes to......Brooks Godbold. Congrats Brooksie
The bus and vans were very quiet as we made our night drive from Las Vegas to Santa Monica. Although, the sounds of snores were interrupted by deep conversations between our drivers (Mr. G and the counselors) and participants who stayed up to copilot and engage the night drivers to make the drive a little less painful. Jake Studebaker stayed up all night on the bus getting to know Mr. G, while others took shifts including: Rhiannon Smith, Luke Edwards, Shelby Auvil, Sophie Andrews and Sofy Saiz. As we drove away from the brightest city in the world those who stayed up were enthralled by the beautiful lights from a distance. When we took our first rest stop at 3:30 A.M., most walked like zombies into the building while others pumped gas. Nonetheless, our night drive was successful and we arrived at our destination at 5:30 A.M.
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| Grant Swicegood and Hunter Wood could not wait to get into the Pacific Ocean...not realizing how cold it would be |
Most of us woke up around 6:00 and some stayed on the vans to catch up on some sleep. We spent the day at the beach and around the Santa Monica pier. Although the rides were closed, we spent our time playing volleyball, exploring the town, taking a swim, and catching some rays.
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Brad Olson showing off some skills on the beach
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| Not everyone was crazy enough to get in the water at 6 AM and were content in their sweatshirts |
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| Looking forward to a day in the sun! |
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| The famous Santa Monica Pier |
While waiting for the awesome cooks to finish making breakfast, some boys started a sumo-wrestling ring in the sand. Brooks Godbold and Ryan Phillips had the most memorable match that ended with Ryan on Brooks’ shoulders. Afterwards we enjoyed a great breakfast of French toast, an assortment of fruit, and orange juice or water to drink.
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| They said I did no work...now their is PROOF!! Good job Tristan Benson |
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| Chef Kate Inabinet getting prepped |
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| Matt Harkey feeding the wildlife at Santa Monica...He better be careful and not get bit. |
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| The bashful group getting all french toasty up in here |
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| Teamwork makes the dream work....or makes breakfast... |
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| YUUUUUUUUUUM!!!!! |
We were playing such an intense game of volleyball that bicyclists had even stopped by to take pictures to witness the large feat of “athleticism”. Our director Matt Harkey and Nolan Beaty had proved to be a dominating duo for their team while counselor Josh had relied on dancing to distract the other team. Alex Cormier (Mooresville) had learned the hard way that Josh has a hard spike. Brooks Godbold went to go hit the ball and it flew straight up. He was the only one able to get to it so he hit it again. To avoid this from happening again our director Matt Harkey (Durham,NC) provided us with the quote of the day by telling Brooks “Hey Brooks, after you hit it……fetal position.”. This was in order to avoid hitting the ball twice. Brooks quickly learned this tactic and quickly became MVP of the volleyball game. We broke for halftime around 11:30, we took a break from the beach to a good lunch of pizza wraps, more fruit, and some fruit snack gummies.
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| Don't worry mom, we aren't forgetting to brush!!!! |
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| Nat Warner and Emily Maxey getting some rays |
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| Toes in the sand |
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| Even Mr G is enjoying the beach with us. |
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| Natalie Royal, Hannah McAferty and Cailin Baldwin |
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| Emily Davis, Sctolyn McDowell, Analee Decker, Sam Russel and Katie Shepherd being beach bums |
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| Ladies pose (and Alex) |
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| Righteous, tubular, cowabunga dude. Mr G might as well be a local |
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| Beach volleying |
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| Emily Davis, Katie Shepherd, Analee Decker, and Sam Russel trying to brave the cold water. |
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| Santa Monica is a beautiful beach |
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| Bryson Bingham rocking on and hanging loose |
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| Emilio Blair, McKenna Caudill, Caroline Swaim, Bryson Bingham, Allison Roney, Josie Crooks and Trey Dry hanging on the famous peir |
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| Scotlyn McDowell, Ana Ramsey and Katey Taylor trying to find some shade |
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| Such a great day to chill and relax |
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| Posing instead of cooking....hope nothing is burning!! |
Another amazing event that happened today was as we were leaving, counselors Dallas Godbold and Sarah Henderson showed great compassion and surprised all of the girls with lavender flowers. The counselors reminded the girls that they are all beautiful and special and it was also used to freshen up some of the smelly day bags.
Our campsite, Anaheim RV park, is within walking distance from the magical Disneyland amusement park so we were practically camping in “Mickey’s backyard”. Shortly after we arrived, the Sneezy group had unloaded the bus and vans so we could spread out throughout the reserved campsite spaces without disturbing our friendly neighboring campers. We had the Bashful's prepare another amazing meal of taco’s/taco salads. While we waited we goofed around in the grass and caught a quick nap.
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| Our campsite outside of Disneyland |
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| Sam Russel and Emily Davis catching up on some summer reading |
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| SOOOOOO TIRED!!! |
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| Can't wait for DISNEY TOMORROW |
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| Getting situated and comfy |
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| Landyn Gray is all smiles |
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| Blogging and cooking |
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| I think they are giving him CPR??? |
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| luxury at its finest |
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| Ok so apparently it is a way to discover your real laughing sound |
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| STUD! |
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| STUDLIER |
After dinner we got through our research and had a "golf clap level" sing along to avoid disturbing our RV park neighbors.
Olivia Comer (Charlotte, NC) had presented to the group some interesting facts about the state of California like how over 60% of peaches come from California.
Emily Maxey (Salisbury, NC) and Logan Schultz (Whiteville, NC) had both shared information about one of California’s state parks The Santa Monica Beach and Pier.
Mckenna Caudill (China Grove, NC) had wrapped up research for the day by giving a presentation about the Pacific Ocean and taught us that the deepest point was 35,287 ft. deep.
Before bed we proved how much we have grown to love and trust one another.
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| It only took 8 days of getting to know one another for Ethan Manning to trust everyone with his life |
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| Avery Biber too! |
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| Practice makes perfect! |
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| WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE |
We are all excited to be in the most magical place in the world in the morning and were surprised with a fireworks show to let us know that tomorrow is going to be truly amazing.
