Day 5- Painted Desert

Day 5: Painted Desert and Petrified Forrest 

Today we woke up at an early 5:15 AM and started our amazing journey to Arizona. Three hours into our trip, we stopped at a Love's gas station. After we loaded the bus and vans, we had a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls and Yoo-hoos (shout-out to the cooks for splurging this morning). We continued on the road, and we eventually made it into the great state of Arizona! We passed by many beautiful views, including rocky mountains, wild horses, and even a tumbleweed! Eventually, we made it to the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert. We watched multiple presentations learning about the state of Arizona, the Petrified Forest, and the Painted Desert. At the Painted Desert, we saw a multitude of colors, such as red, orange, blue, and yellow. After the unimaginable Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, we went to Walmart so our cooks could get ingredients for tonight's dinner. Tonight, we'll arrive at the Grand Canyon for sunset and set up our sleep equipment at the campground. We are so excited to hike the Grand Canyon tomorrow, do laundry after a long and hot six days, and call our families! Be on the lookout for our calls. We'll talk to you tomorrow!!

Pictures from today will be posted tomorrow.

Day 4- Carlsbad Caverns

           Day 4: Carlsbad Caverns

What's up, it's the Dopeys! Specifically, Noah Parker, Sarah Cope, Carson Fincher, Baylee Dockery, Shayne Fitzsimmons, Elise Taylor, Kate Mayfield, Ella Davis, Ashley Wintz, Jax Allen, Titus Davis, Maddie Potter, Emma Efird.

    This morning we woke up at a crisp 5 am! After packing up, we made it to our first gas station stop of the day. After a long three-hour stretch of dry, abandoned desert land and oil rigs, we made it to the second gas station stop, a Pilot in Texas. It was one of the coolest drives we've been on, seeing lots of hills and windmills, cacti, and an occasional cow. 

Early mornings on da bus

The guys with their silly worms

Wonderful meal prepared by the finest chefs the Grumpy's

From there, we went straight to Carlsbad Caverns, where we broke up into our groups and hiked 750 ft down below ground level. The Dopeys, goated as usual, decided to add an extra length to our descent and viewed the bottom pit.

Dopey squad picture at the Carlsbad Caverns 

Grumpy group at the Carlsbad Caverns.

Sleepy group at the Carlsbad Caverns.

Bashful group at the Carlsbad Caverns.

Happy group at the Carlsbad Caverns.

Sneezy group at the Carlsbad Caverns.

After a sketchy elevator ride back to civilization, we hopped back on our bus and made it to Wally World. On the way to Wally World, we encountered many extraterrestrial sights featuring a ripped alien and UFOs.

Met this cool dude in a Walmart in Roswell, NM!

Emma Efird telling us about the state of New Mexico.

Ella Davis telling us about Carlsbad Caverns.

Emmie Rushing telling us about the New Mexico Military Institute. 

Best research presentation so far given by Titus, extremely informative on the possibility of aliens

Finally, after the cooks picked up their essentials, we made it to NM Military Institute, where we will be enoing and camping under the stars for the night.

Making nachos and burritos for tonight's dinner.

Thank you SO much to the campus police for getting us ice. We missed ice cold water so much!!

Our second sing-along of the trip!

Eno Village at New Mexico Military Institute!

The boys are all tucked in and ready for bed.

We will talk to you again tomorrow to tell you about our time at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. See ya later!