Day 8-Santa Monica, CA

Day 8: Santa Monica

 Rise and shine, everyone! It's time to meet the Sleepy's – the coolest blogging crew this side of the internet universe! Imagine Bella, Reed, Scarlett, Ren, MC 2, Kelsey, Charlotte, Blair, Anna, Savana, Evan, Garrett, and Taylor bursting onto the scene with our infectious energy and quirky charm!




That Vegas drive hit hard

Our counselors cheesin, but when are they not

beach here we come!




our stadium of fans awaiting the singing competition



After rising from our BUS beds this morning, following a night of adventurous sleep, we finally made it to the sunny shores of the west coast. Captain Dallas, also known as the master lock picker, successfully decoded the parking lot puzzle and led us straight to the beach. Despite some of us feeling fried from the canyon adventure, we all lathered up with SPF 220, determined to stay sunburn-free and ready for our Disney adventure tomorrow!

Gather 'round, beach buddies, for the tale of our epic Beach Bop adventure! This morning, the sun's golden rays were dancing on the waves as we settle into the sand, ready to rock our TWB-style Beach Bops. From beach rap battles to Christmas carol showdowns, our seven teams belted out tunes that could wake the dolphins!

But guess who stole the show? The Bashful's, with their genius "Party on TWB/Grant's Plan Mash-up"! They had us grooving and laughing with their infectious energy. It was like a beach bonfire turned into a full-blown concert!

Our big winners... the BASHFUL'S!

Dopey's! (how we are feeling after a long overnight drive)


The happiest Happy's!

Our not so sleepy, Sleepy's!

Go Grumpy's Go!!!

What a production from the Sneezy's!

After a breakfast fit for beach champions (those yogurt parfaits were practically medals, right?), we set off in groups of six or more to conquer Santa Monica like true TWB explorers!  We made waves in the water, spiked like pros on the volleyball court, and devoured epic eats right on the pier. Fish tacos? Check. Ice cream that melted our worries away? Double check. And don't forget the obligatory shopping spree where we snagged souvenirs and rocked those T-shirts like local celebs.


But the real highlight? The reunion at noon back on the sandy shores, where the TWB magic continued with the ultimate Hawaiian roll ham & cheese sandwiches. It was like a taste of paradise in every bite, fueling us up for more adventures and belly laughs.

pre pacific polar plunge 


ana wins the prize because she surprised dallas with ICED COFFE!




if you cant tell, weve been eagerly waiting for the beach

luis being a good citizen and not standing in the bus lane, good job Luis!


After Captain Dallas's sunscreen mandate (gotta protect that glow!), we hit the streets for round two of epic adventures. Time seemed to warp as we surfed through Santa Monica's vibrant scenes—shopping, snacking, and soaking in the California vibes like true pros. And let's not forget navigating the wild Los Angeles traffic, where Sean's mastery behind the wheel was nothing short of legendary. Our favorite dude was in his element! 

We have now arrived at our camp for the next two nights. As we sit here and write this, we are currently eating Bella’s whole bag of goldfish and all the other lost and found snacks. (You snooze you lose!)


Pre-sunburn reed!

the shops at santa monica peir had some fantastic souvenirs!

we were spoiled with! ham sammies and real cheese for lunch! 

volley ball tourny done!

ean with his mystery stick of the day

to tan or not to tan?
 to tan obviously

thank you dallas for keeping our stuff safe as we explored santa monica!

getting some much needed shut-eye after our overnight drive...

... and possibly getting burnt at the same time



.5s with dallas never disappoint


beach besties


and beach buddies

We rolled up to our campsite and immediately realized our vans and buses were in desperate need of a spa day! Ian and Sean took charge, whisking them off to the car wash for a makeover while the culinary wizards of the Bashful's crew whipped up a feast fit for royalty. Ccrispy chicken nuggets, creamy mac 'n cheese that warmed our souls, juicy green grapes for that refreshing crunch, ice-cold lemonade to wash it all down, and zebra cakes for a sweet finale. Talk about a balanced diet of protein, carbs, and sweets!

With our bellies happily content, some of us made the most of our last phone calls to friends and family before diving headfirst into the whirlwind that is California. Now, fueled up and buzzing with excitement to meet the mouse (Disneyland, here we come!), we're hitting the sack early. Tomorrow's full of promise, and we're ready to seize every magical moment! 


who wouldnt be smiling after a beach day?


had a fantastic day and exited to settle down!

Which one of you was lucky enough to receive this phone call?!

cold water is always a bonus on TWB

#hacked

#hackedagain

post beach slump

The perfect gift for our Patriotic temporary-parent!!

the grind never stops on TWB

Behind the scenes 

cooks working on a FANTASTIC meal of mac and nuggets!!

working hard or hardly workin?

claire never stops smiling when theres mac and cheese!

You know I like my chicken fried

Ouch... post sunburn reed

Eliza Green with the green grapes!

Proud Bashful leader and her cook's!
We love MC!



Many argued this is the best dinner we've had so far!

dinner was pretty quiet... for all of 5 minutes

beach day + good dinner = happy campers



now thats a good lookin plate

we chowed down

smiling because dinner was fantastic!

dallas happy because everyones bellies are full



empty plates & happy bellies

tuck tuck tuckin that food away

thumbs are all up for this dinner





dishwashers hard at work

selfies on counselors phones never let down

Addison presenting her research on the State of Nevada

Breanna's research on Santa Monica Pier

Luis telling us about Santa Monica Beach

Charlotte on the state of California

Cooper with the awesome Disneyland

Last but not least, Brady telling us about Anaheim, California