TWB Trip 1 2007 Experience : Day 22- Kentucky

SATURDAY JULY 7TH, 2007

TWB DAY 22

Hanging out by the Kentucky Derby racetrack. We can't wait to watch a horse race!

Go "My Friend Tuff" (#6), Go!!!

On the second to last day of our Teens Westward Bound experience, we started the day like all the others. We awoke extra early this morning due to our late start yesterday. Slowly but surely, we all managed to pack our things and burn the road on time. We then caught a quick nap before our yummy cereal breakfast. We stopped at a rest area soon after crossing the Illinois state line. After a scenic drive through southern Illinois, we passed into the great state of Kentucky and back into the Eastern Time zone. Our first stop in Kentucky was Churchill Downs. There we had a tour and watched, what was for most of us, our first live horse race. Many of us lost our quarters that we gambled, and a select few won some. After some time in the gift shop, we loaded back onto the bus and vans and had lunch. Venturing farther into Kentucky, our next stop of the day was at the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. This was by far the best stop because we had the greatest dinner of the trip! We rolled into the camp site around 8. We had our last contest, which was a Talent Show. Every group did very well but the Sleepy group raised above all the rest to swipe the competition. Winning the overall competition between teams was the Grumpy group. After the Talent Show, the counselors performed several skits and gave a very interesting lost and found fashion show. They also made a few faces red by announcing couples and claimed the TWB Prom King and Queen Vince Novesel and Haley Conner. After all the fun and games, we joined in a circle and tearfully sang John Denver's--Today. Once we finished, we walked back to our campsite where we had the option to sleep indoors or outdoors. The emotions are rising as the twenty second day of our Teens Westward Bound experience comes to a close. We aren't quite sure if we are prepared to return to life as we knew it more than three weeks ago. All of us will be glad to see our families again, but it will be difficult to leave the family we've acquired while on TWB. The butterflies in our stomach are starting to flutter as we lay down one last time with the people we didn't even know at the beginning of the trip. There will be reunions, countless phone calls, and tons of e-mails but there will most likely never be another time where we will all be together at one time in one place ever again. We will forever cherish the memories made over the duration of our Teens Westward Bound experience and will always love those friends who have entered our lives and changed them for the better. We are all looking forward to seeing our friends and families soon. See you guys tomorrow!!!

Thoughts from some bloggers -
* I want my mama-- Jana Crocker
* I want my mama's cooking--Justin Bowling
* I want my fishing pole-- Dustin Crawford
* I want a decent shower, and a bed-- Jennifer Crawford

Love,
The Happy Group :)

Last Note from Wheatboy: I cannot believe that tomorrow I will be bringing home 84 of the greatest participants I have ever met to Davidson. The other counselors and I have no idea how we are going to return to normality. I wonder how I am ever going to fall asleep without the loud chatter of participants and bugs in the background. I will soon have to return to cooking my own gluten free meals, rather than being provided multiple bananas for every meal. Today, the realization that we are coming home began hitting home with many of the participants. Although they are very excited to see friends and family, they are equally upset about having to leave their new TDUB family. I too am experiencing this same emotional roller coaster. Luckily, I gambled the rest of my spending money on a horse called My Friend Tuff at Churchill Downs, which turned out to not be a friend at all. Just kidding. The Dopey group took the entire group out to have a dinner at the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken. Immediately after, each group performed their Talent Show routine. I must say that every staff member was imitated perfectly. We had a surprise visit from Freddy last night at our campsite who turned out to be the Park Ranger playing a prank on the participants. He brought a whole new meaning to noise control at the campsite. Finally, everyone went to bed and gazed at the beautiful stars for one last time together. Thank goodness tomorrow will be the last time we have to hear Rise and Shine! Can't wait to see everyone's smiling faces tomorrow. I am going to give you one thing to look forward to: all staff will be wearing something very unique. Hope you can figure out what it is.

Lauren, Crimens, and Ashley posing with their favorite jockey!

The Dopey group treated us to a delicious meal at the original KFC! Look at those bucketheads!

While waiting to eat dinner, each group practiced for tonight's talent show. We can't wait for our last competition.

Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, cole slaw, and homestyle biscuits filled our stomachs full!

The talent show was a huge success. We laughed til we cried! Here are the finalists:

The Dopey Group!