After the Trip! TWB Reflections

TWB REFLECTIONS





“I’ve seen more of the US on this 23 day trip than I have in my entire life.”
-Emmie Rushing

“You might miss your family initially but you become a part of an even bigger forever family on TWB.”
-Piper Riley

“You truly will become family.”
-Lexie Hunt

“Enjoy all the moments.”
-Elise Taylor

“Only these 80 people will truly understand this experience as I know it, but what I’ve learned I will take with me and share with everyone I cross paths with from now on.” 
-Maggie Waycaster

“This trip immensely helped my friend making and people skills.” 
-Ella Davis

“I packed way too many clothes…” 
-Lindsey Moerman 

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so thankful to be a part of it.”
-Kara Landi

“Amazing…I never wanna leave.”
-Cooper Sadler

“So many opportunities to see America in so many awesome ways.”
-Kyleigh Patrick 

“Unexplainable opportunities to see so much.”
-Karmen Price 

“TWB is like Breakfast Club making friends with all kinds of people.”
-Anna Robinson

“The best thing you will ever do”
-Ben Balkum

“An experience of a lifetime that will change your life forever for the best.” 
-Shayne Fitzsimmons 

“You may miss your family but live the trip up to the fullest.”
-Berkley Webb

“You think you’ve seen America? Just wait…”
-Titus Davis 

“These are the days you will remember forever so live all 23 days the best you can.”
-Avery Doty 

“Push yourself out of your comfort zone, you could miss so much greatness if you don’t say ‘yes’ for once. Let TWB be your yes!”
-Gabi Maxon

“TWB changed me for the better and I learned to live life open and free.”
-Mikalyn Causey

“This trip was so amazing and it opened my eyes to blessings that I found outside of my comfort zone.”
-Sarah Cope

“This is truly a trip of a lifetime and although there are some hard times on this trip you learn that you always have people to help you and stand by you.”
-Kate Mayfield 

“Best time of my life.”
-Lucas Schuermann

“United States of Awesomeness.”
-Noah Parker 

“Truly kind people make this trip more than just seeing the West.”
-Sims Skaff

“TWB is a trip of a lifetime that you shouldn’t take for granted.”
-Ella Anderson 

“The scenes are beautiful but the friendships you make are even more so.”
-KAP Porter

“Best decision ever!”
-Kendall Sines 

“Unforgettable experience!”
-Karson-Faith Brooks

“The greatest experience that still doesn’t feel real.”
-Grant Martin 

“Trip of a lifetime.”
-Walt Faires 

“Make friends with everyone.”
-Emma Efird 

“Talk to everyone and the trip is what you make it! Have fun!”
-Bella German

“Wipe with your hand!” 
-Pickle Lowery

“Don’t be scared to talk to anyone and read a book.”
-Boone Taylor

“Experience of a lifetime, the moments, good and bad have made me a better person…go on the trip.”
-Grant Edwards

“Be ready to wake up early.”
-Adelyn Loflin

“I met my best friends and I never want to come home!”
-Katelyn Handy

“Something that will definitely stay in your mind forever…unforgettable and incredible experience.”
-Jay Blair 

“TWB has changed my life in ways I could never have imagined and taught me that there are people who love you for exactly who you are.”
-Murphy Miller 

“Absolutely Amazing! I have no complaints, it will be something I remember.”
-Jax Allen 

“Life changing experience, incredible memories”
-JD Henderson

“Super cool and super awesome”
-Oliver Owens


“This is the 1 experience in my life that taught me the most about other Americans and what they think about the world” 
- Andrew Marbais 

“Worth every penny spent!”
-Peyton Young

“A once in a lifetime experience that has changed me as a person”
-Scarlet Hoover

“I don’t even have the words to describe this trip”
-Miles Heaver

“Taught me how to be independent and provided me with life changing experiences!”
-Sophie Martin

“There is nothing I wouldn’t give up to do this trip, Best decision ever!”
-Carson Fincher

“It definitely sucks at many times, but you really meet the nicest people and make unforgettable memories”
-Loren Wilkins

“Loved it, except for the food. Many fun experiences and moments!”
-Logan Parker

“You can just be yourself”
-Holden Williams 

“I can’t express how much I love everyone and everything on this trip, Plus the native was gorgeous!” 
-Ella Hoogenboom 

“TWB taught me to never take a single moment for granted and to live life to the absolute fullest!
-Piper Beeson 

“TWB was a great experience. If anybody has the chance to go, do it!”
-Henry Ficklon

“Absolutely fantastic experience where you make amazing friends and travel God’s Beautiful creation.”
-Wells Brown 

“The best experience anyone could ever ask for!”
-Madison Potter

“Find out who you are and can be, not who you were before!”
-Willa Sargeant

“To experience every moment like it’s my last!”
-  Amelia Castillo

“Hiking down is optional, hiking up is mandatory!”
-  Brooke McGowan

“Never thought I would love it as much as I know I’m going to.”
-Audrey Bell

“When people said it was a once in a lifetime trip I did not believe them until now!”
- Harper Aldridge

“So incredible seeing all America has to offer and making friends along the way!”
-Harbor Taylor

“Life happens all around you, you just got to keep moving-Walgreens security guard from San Francisco
-  Baylee Dockery

“Looking out the window has never been so fun!”
-Carmen Caldwell
  
“Be where your feet are!” 
- Natalie Towery 

“A lot of time spent in Walmart!”
- Morgan Efird 

“ TWB has taught me things I would never learn in a classroom, and my life is changed because of it!”
- Madison Darnell


“A truly life changing experience” 
- Maxwell Gibbons 

“TWB has taught me to love myself and never take another day for granted, because it’s not promised “ 
- Bailey Curlee 

“TWB has taught me to do what I enjoy” 
- Hadley Brannon 

“ Once in a lifetime experience” 
- Ashley Wentz 

“ It has been the trip of a lifetime” 
- Lauren Perry 

“ TWB gave me a lifelong family, who I’m closer with now than anyone!” 
- Eli Williamson 

“ I think it’s a dream come true!”
- Houston Fincher 

“The best 23 days of my life”
- Zac Inman 

“Changed my life and showed me true friendships” 
- Ella Hunter 

“This trip will change you weather you wanna change or not.” 
- Kyle O’Melveny 

“I’m glad I went!”
- Gray Chumney 

“So blessed to see these amazing places, but even more blessed to meet these amazing people!”
-       
Erin Crosby

“Life is happening all around. You just keep moving forward”
- Molly Gallagher

 













Day 23- Return


Day 23: HOME
Grrrr... The Grumpys are back for the LAST TIME!!!!!!!

Today we were woken up at 6:30AM by Dal Dal's famous "Wakey Wakey" song! We loaded up the bus and vans for the very last time in Kentucky to head home!

Our first stop was the truck wash to get the vehicles squeaky clean before we got home! Then we headed straight to Wally-World in Tennessee for the LAST TIME. :(  For breakfast, we had BIG muffins and grapes! After, we signed all of the KFC buckets and journals, all while jamming out on the road. There are all kinds of mixed emotions, like excitement to see our families, but also we can't imagine leaving our new TWB family. We took a potty break at the Marion rest stop and then had chicken ranch wraps for lunch.


Finders keepers!!

Enjoying our last bus ride with our new family, we made our way to the next rest area to clean out the bus and distribute all of the gifts from the gift trailer. Our last stop before coming back was a church for our final special moment. After we made our way back to Mallard Creek, our adventure would come to an end. Returning with new memories and epic new friends, on the same bus but as different people.






            WE MADE IT!!!!


















    TRIP 1 WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!! THANK YOU ALL FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER!




Day 22- Kentucky

Day 22: Kentucky

    Grrrrr..... Happy Fourth of July! It's the GrumpYs once again. Today has been our last full day of TWB Trip 1 2026. 



CAAACAWWWWW!!!

Toby Keith would be proud...

Lauren gets to put the IN sticker up!!

And here's Morgan with KY!!

All girls van!!! Plus Pickle...

This morning we traveled from Illinois to Indiana and then to Kentucky, where we stopped at Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby. While at the Kentucky Derby, we got a tour of the property; we also had free time to walk through the museum, along with the other events. We sat through a brief short film of the preparation and the day of the Kentucky Derby.
Churchill Downs gets invaded by TWB!!!

Wells presents on Churchill Downs

Willa presents on the Kentucky Derby

Zac presents on Kentucky


Wells.. your not Grant! Put the America sunnies AWAY

Classy Ladies

Derby Dayyy

I don't think Maddie got into the lucky #5 slot 

Watching the short film

Our first steps onto Churchill Downs 





YOUR WINNERS PRACTICING!!!!!!


After we stopped at Churchill Downs, we went to the original KFC and ate dinner: fried chicken, green beans, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes!
Our AMAZING cooks hard at work to serve KFC


POV: Henry begging for more food already...










Houston and Jax tearing up the chicken







This chicken is finger-lickin ' good!!!!


Henry enjoying his drink

Well, well, well, what do we have here??

THE LION'S EATING KFC


Bros for life

GIRL DATE!!!!


Ben from Union

Kap and the Colonel 

Besties for life

Holden's newest friend



We got these shirts where it all began!

We are spending tonight in Corbin, KY, for our last night together! We also had a talent show between the dwarf groups where the Grumpys won their third competition in a row, meaning...The Grumpies have officially been declared the 2026 trip 1 champions, so we're obviously the best dwarf group!
Happys!!!!

THE WINNER WINNERS CHICKEN DINNER!!! THE GRUMPY'S!!!!

Bashfuls!!!

Dopeys!!

GRUMPYS WIN ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!

Sleepys!!

Sneezys!!

Celly pic

Celly pic part two

Our last sing-along!

The heat has officially gotten to Houey



Forever friends



poor Houston


Kap and Grant

SELFIE TIME!!!!!!

Feeling the love

Jay Blair and Noah share a special moment

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW!!!!!!