Day 33: Homeward Bound

As the bus draws closer to the end of the  tour at the Brookstown Inn in Winston Salem, there is a bittersweet feeling sweeping over its riders. Students are excited to see parents, siblings, other family, and old friends as well as sleep in their own beds and eat homecooked meals.  However, they are sad to say farewell to their new friends who became their Grand Western Tour family these past 33 days. 

As the students leave they will find over time that the friendships formed on this trip will sustain the distance between hometowns. Likewise, the memories made will last forever. Here are a few of those memories:

Suitcases so big students could fit in them.

The Holiday Tour bus that became home away from home.

Clarence Robinson, the hardest working man of the bunch. We were blessed to have such a sweet man keeping us safe on the roads through the summer.

Dinner the first night and the first group picture at Joe Huber's Family Farm in Indiana

Visiting the United States Air Force Academy and Cadet Chapel in Colorado, Springs

Riding the train through the Colorado mountains between Silverton and Durango

Dinner Chuckwagon style at the Bar D Ranch with entertainment from the Bar D Wranglers (Durango, CO)

Playing on the formations at Arches National Park in Utah

Riding the ski lift to the top of Snow King Mountain in Jackson, WY

Seeing the Grand Teton Mountain Range in Wyoming.

Yellowstone National Park (complete with Old Faithful and walking within ten feet of a buffalo)

Horseback riding at the 360 Guest Ranch in Montana

Rafting down the Flathead River near Polson, MT

Rocking out in their own music video at the Experience Music Project museum in Seattle, WA

Fourth of July fireworks in Seattle

The fearless leaders (Amber, Glenn, Nathan, and Molly)

Birthday celebration including karoke/dancing with DJ Deb in Gold Beach, OR

Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco to Sausalito. 

Visiting Alcatraz

Walking Hollywood Boulevard and the walk of stars. 

Hanging out at Laguna Beach, CA...

...And swimming in the Pacific Ocean

Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon in Arizona

Taking the Pink Jeep tour through the Sedona Red Rocks

Experiencing the desert and 100+ degree weather in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.

Visiting the Alamo in San Antonio, TX

Getting overjoyed about the sight of a Chic-Fil-A

Walking down Bourbon Street in New Orleans, LA

The last night as a group spent singing karaoke at the Bourbon Cowboy in New Orleans (the last group picture) 

It was a summer of fun! As sad as we are to see our students go, we can say we were blessed to spend this summer with each one of them and get to know them. May they carry with them forever the memories made on this trip and with each other.

Signing off for the last time- GWT 2015