Three Parts of the Epic Journey West!

Posted by Alyssa Howlett , Sunday, May 23, 2010 11:43 PM

Hello, I have made it. I am here. And woah baby it has been a journey.

Part 1: The journey to Rapid City South Dakota (our stop on night 1)
Mom and I woke up at 5 am and got ready, snagged some cheerios and left for ISU (after stopping to get ourselves a pop of course) at 5:50. Mom helped me unload my 2 large duffels and my sleeping bag and hung out with me. We scoped out the crowd and were just our regular mom and al (HI) selves. Then after mom left ☹ we got in the vans and BAM I was driving! It was crazy, I felt like I was in a truck/coach bus! We had to pick some other people up and we ended up leaving around 7 am north on I-35. We became quite a spectacle on the interstate 4 white 15 passenger vans all in row. But in them was nice, we only had about 3-5 people per van, so it was quite roomy. (We had to bring that many vans out to haul the students at camp).

But we went north for a while, jamming out and I got the swing of driving, it was pretty fun, I actually got compliments on how my passengers were glad they got me as a driver because I was cool! Score! We went west on I-90 and were rockin in MN. (fyi: I honked and cheered as we crossed into every new state, I am that cool) Right as we got into South Dakota (SD) we stopped to fill up and ate at McDonald’s. We stopped and ate and got to know more people and bonded. I moved with Lisa (my friend) into the head ladies car and road with her the rest of the way out with her. There is nothing in SD by the way… it made me think of the Dixie chicks song cowboy take me away :0) but it was kinda cool that it was open fields of nothing. At about 2-3 pm… I started to die- we had no AC in our van and it was super hot. I ended up laying on the bench with my shirt rolled up, capri’s rolled up, listening to jonas brothers, drinking from my camelpak, trying to be cool. I was tired and hot and bored and not into the journey to the edge of earth that it seemed we were embarking on. But after a quick pit stop Lisa and I watched Sweet Home Alabama. It passed the time for sure but was hard to hear with all the windows down and people going crazy singing on the walkie-talkie but again it was cool.

But then… we made the epic decision to stop at WALL DRUG!!! It was being advertised for the past 300 miles with ridiculous signs... it advertised free ice water! Wooo! So we stopped, I was pumped. We walked around for a bit, I tried on some hats… it was nice. Back in the car we drove and there were some intense storm (thank goodness I was not driving!) We made it to our campsite about 6 ish and it was pretty nice for a campsite. It had real bathrooms and showers with a cool “play area” we played knockout and hung out it was really nice. Dinnertime came around and we decided to ‘go big’ and take a trip to “On the Boarder”. We got margaritas and actually got to know more people and tell stories it was fun! When we got back to camp we played card games, and one called mafia. It is more of a role-playing game and we were laughing and we got to know all 15 people real well. Once it started to rain we ran to the tents, but your friend here, me, ran to the van were I slept. I busted out my sleeping bag and got all cozy.

Part 2: To Wyoming Driver!
We woke up the next morning and got our $3 pancakes from the fancy camping site. The cool old man in-charge made me a special Sponge Bob pancake holding an ISU sign, gave it to me and winked. I guess I have the charm. He was great. :0) We then… WENT TO MOUNT RUSHMORE!!!!!!! My first time ever! It was sooo cool! I was so excited! We drove 30 min to get there and then I took picture galore! It was really cool! We took a big group pic and walked around together. My group was so much fun! But of course all I was thinking about was National Treasure 2 and finding treasure. We then got back to camp and hit the road. I drove with two boys in the car! We jammed in the car and had a great time geeking out about rocks! It was really great! And the trip got more fun too since it was more rolling hills then flatness. And BOUNUS it was 75 mph woo! Party! Once we where in Wyoming it was like a whole new place! Wide Wide Wide open spaces, so pretty! I could imagine cowboys riding like the wild west! We stopped for lunch and I rocked the van, I am pro, really, mom and dad I want a van for school, thanks. I then took the passenger site for the end of the trip. We saw mountains and again so cool! We then made the treck up the big horns. Cool, but scary ahhh! So twisty and almost barfy. Once we got to the top it was snowing. Great. It reminded me of Narnia. Cause it was. We reached 8000 ft and then after like a zillion hours started are journey down. Again, SO PRETTY! Then at 4pm (mtn time) WE MADE IT TO CAMP!!!!!!

Part 3: I so can’t do this
We pulled in and started unloading our things… I am in VERY VERY VERY rustic baric. With port-a-potties and shower room on each end of camp. I was putting my things in my room and had a slight freak out. It is EXTREMELY different then what I am used to and will be a for sure challenge and adventure. I am excited but boy will I have stories.
For dinner we had chicken and beans, pretty good meal! We hung out and then talked about camp from 7-9. After that we ran back to our baric in the pouring rain. And then journeyed to the wash-house (with my HEAD LAMP) to wash our faces. We have no hot water so yeah on going on day 3 with no shower!!!!! Meet the new Alyssa! We are now sitting in our baric talking and hanging out. Start tomorrow at 8 am and we are just getting lectured to.

More about my first night and first day later! Have to head to bed so I can get up at 6:30! Woo! Night LOVE YOU!!!! ☺