Day 4: Carlsbad Caverns
Guess what? We actually got to sleep in today—extra 15 minutes of dreamy bliss! That’s practically a luxury compared to yesterday’s crack-of-dawn wakeup call at 5 AM. But our counselors? Oh boy, they didn’t just wake us up, they blasted a million wake-up songs like our personal hype squad. Talk about starting our dopey day with a bang!
The Texas oil fields were our backdrop as some folks were still deep in dreamland. But fear not—the Grumpys had our backs with a nutritious breakfast of donuts and apples that fueled our epic journey! Then, like an oasis of hydration, we stopped at Loves gas station for a pit stop. Ice-cold water refills? FREE! It’s like Texas knew we were coming and rolled out the red carpet.
But hold onto your hats—Emma and Lucy spotted an emu going full speed ahead on the roadside! How did it get there? Nobody knows, but it added a wild twist to our already legendary road trip.
As we cruised down the road, the chatter turned into a wild mix of crazy stories—yes, including some cringe-worthy ex tales. Talk about bonding! And hey, when nature calls on a road trip, there’s no holding back (we’re practically family now, right?).
Then Caleb dropped the bomb: Boston Celtics clinched the finals—GO CELTICS! But wait, drama alert: we also learned that Justin Timberlake reportedly got into some trouble with the law and I think we were all beside ourselves!
But the highlight? Our dynamic cousin duo Dallas and Reed stole the show with an epic rendition of "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine (maybe it should stay that way.) We're just kidding! What an awesome performance that kept the bus on the edge of their seat... we wonder who will be on the mic next! Oh wait! It's Tucker! He provided the bus with a beautiful rendition of the song "Love" and left the crowd in awe.
Meanwhile, as the vans played mafia and we soaked in the vast, mesmerizing landscapes of flat, dry sand stretching for miles, the Grumpy's worked real magic with lunch. Sourdough bread took those chicken sandwiches to gourmet heights—it was like dining at a five-star restaurant on wheels! Talk about a bougie meal!
Katelyn keeping Miss America nice and clean. Riding in style as always!
Later on, we made a pit stop at Flying J where everyone stocked up on snacks and took a much-needed bathroom break. Then, as we entered New Mexico, we were treated to breathtaking landscapes and stunning architecture that blew our minds.
A time change gifted us an extra hour to soak up the company of our big dopey family—talk about a bonus round of fun! But the real highlight? Carlsbad Caverns awaited us, where Mr. Parkranger greeted us with a smile and a whiff of guano (fancy for bat poop… or as the girls like to call it, "mascara").
We embarked on a 2-mile, 750-foot descent into the depths, exploring wonders like the green lake room and the awe-inspiring big room adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. And yes, we took the elevator back up of course! Of course, no adventure is complete without a pit stop at the gift shop—where we may have splurged a bit (sorry, Mom!). But hey, memories are priceless, right?
We FINALLY made it to highlight of the day which was the Carlsbad Caverns!
With bellies rumbling, we revved up and zoomed over to Wally-World so the Grumpy's could snag our taco dinner. To round out our Walmart stop, Carson and Grey surprised our girl counselors with some pink and red roses! Talk about setting the bar high, gentlemen!
Next stop: the magnificent Military Academy in Roswell, New Mexico. But before we dove into exploring, we indulged in some mouthwatering tacos. After all, it’s Taco Tuesday—let the fiesta begin!
We wrapped up our taco eating (no pun intended) and ended the night with our best sing-a-long to date. We sang This Land is Your Land, Party in the U.S.A, Wonderwall, and Today. The TWB staples!
Now we better get to bed so we can look at the stars instead of the computer screen. These skies out west are simply breathtaking and we can't wait to show you guys more. Sending you all peace and love from the Dopey's—because with this crew, every moment is an adventure worth celebrating!
