Welcome to the TWB Travel Blog!   This will be your inside connection to what is happening out west on TWB!!!  This page will be used to post updates to the rest of the world during the 2023 TWB Experience.  Please come back often to find out the latest!

June 20th, 2011 Experience

(Click the link below to go to each day of the trip)

Before the Trip  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23   After the trip


Monday July 11th, 2011


  Bashful

"Make most of the trip, learn about yourself, learn about others and carry the new friendships and your new out look on life home with you. " -James Kay (York)

"These 23 days I've been through were a lot of things but most of all AMAZING. All the people on this trip have impacted my life in a great way. We are going to miss these lives at home. But we will remain friends and always remember the summer of 2011."
-Mika Simpson (Monroe)

"I wish there were words to describe these past 23 days we've experienced, but there isn't it has been the greatest experience of my life. Although we will soon part ways, the friends and memories made on TWB will remain in our hearts forever! I am so grateful to God, my parents, and Dennis Deaton for giving me this life-changing experience!" -Mackenzie Bess (Gastonia)

"TWB was an amazing experience that taught me so much about myself and others. The past 23 days have been the best of my life and I wish I would have it over again. I'm going to miss seeing all these amazing people and I can't wait until we have our reunions!"
-Cameron Fetner (Raleigh)

" Twenty-three days. 23 days of seeing an amazing country God provided. 23 days of meeting extraordinary people. 23 days of unforgettable events. 23 days that flew by. 23 days..."
-Caroline Davis (Gastonia)

" TWB honestly has changed me forever. I've learned to appreciate the small things such as my bed, home cooked meals, and a warm shower considering I haven't had one in 23 days, but I wouldn't go back and change one thing about this amazing trip. Trip 2 is literally the best group with some great people I have grown to love. TWB has given me the chance of a lifetime and if I could I would do it all over again." -Ali Morgan (Laurinburg)

"TWB is an experience that will stay with me the rest of my life. I've had the opportunity to see our amazing country and meet some great people. TWB is full of adventures, counselors falling into a cactus, and purple drank. What more could a person want?"- Shannon Diggs (Mooresville)

"I will never forget the TWB experience! It definitely changed me. It taught me how to easily make new friends and live life to the fullest. Trip 2 is so much better and has the nicest group of counselors and participants. I have made so many new friends in the last 23 days it is unbelievable! Everyday we encountered new things or adventures...like Chinese tourists, running across the street trying to avoid cars, and bison in the middle of the road. The counselors are just amazing. Thanks for all you guys do to get us on this trip."
- Luke Truluck (Chapin)

" What do you even say about an experience like this? There are no words really. This has truly been the experience of a lifetime. I am glad that I have been blessed by God to see this amazing country that he created. TWB: 23 days, 83 students, 6 counselors, 1 amazing bus driver,one experience of a lifetime. I love my awesome TWB family!" - Victoria Lee (Union)

"This trip is the best thing that I have done. Everything about this trip is amazing. The people on this trip are amazing and the counselors are even better. It doesn't matter whether they had 2 hours of sleep, they would have tons of fun and still do their job. There are billions of trips similar to TWB, but TWB is the best trip you can take. T-dub."
-Chandler Davis (Newport News)

" At first I was really nervous about TWB but after a few days the butterflies were gone and great friendships began to form. The sights throughout our country were beautiful and I'm so thankful I had the chance to meet all of these amazing people!" -Sara Maxwell (Wilmington)

" It has been so much fun. I will miss it." - Noor Kaur (Belmont)

"What can I say about TWB? That it's changed me? That it's opened my eyes? Or that it's defined me? These last 23 days have been more than an adventure. It's been more like an experience that will leave me wanting to see and do more in life. The person who made it all happen has made such an impact on all who have participated. All because he had a dream, Dennis Deaton is a great man and I would like to thank him, the councilors, and all of my fellow participants for making this so amazing. But I'd also like to thank my parents for sending me." -- Shane Taylor (Mooresville)

Sleepy
"TWB gave me the chance to meet so many great new people that I love. The friends I made on this trip mean a lot to me and I'm so happy to have met them. I have learned that America is such a beautiful country and we are so lucky to live here."
-Ginger Dawdy (Wilmington)

"TWB was an amazing experience that I will never forget, ever. I now have developed friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. I would give anything to come back and go on this trip again...and again...and again! -Taylor Shellman (Gastonia)

"Over the past 23 days I have made friendships that will last so much longer. I have learned so much about myself because the bonds between really allows you to be yourself."
-Connie Lutzs (McAdenville)

"This is a trip I know I will never forget. Calling TWB a trip would be an understatement, it's an adventure of a lifetime. Coming from a place where true friends are scarce, I have 82 new ones. Within these 82 people I found my true best friend who lives in my town, 81 more people I will never forget, and I have also found my future wife." -Michael Imbimbo (Moorseville)

"TWB has made an impact on my life that nothing can hold a candle to. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience and will never forget the people I met or the memories I made. I absolutely love TWB." -Rebecca Klingenschmidt (Red Springs)

"T-Dub Trip 2 showed me that lowering your walls will help you have a great time doing anything, especially with about 90 kids you've never met!!!" -Garrett Cox (Gastonia)

"TWB has made a huge impact on my life. I have met so many amazing friends that I will keep after these 23 days are up. The last few days with everyone had made me realize how fast time flies. It is definitely an experience I wont forget." -unknown-IS THIS YOUR CHILD?

"TWB. What could I say....that it was an awesome experience and the best experience that I will never forget in my life. Especially meeting new people, seeing new places, and having Purple Drank. -Trey Edwards (Union)

"Teens Westward Bound has given me the opportunity to make mercies that will last a lifetime, friendships that I will cherish forever, and the ability to truly appreciate my own bathroom! If you have to opportunity to partake on this amazing 23 days experience, do it! I love TWB!" -Victoria Wendell (Laurinburg)

"TWB was the best experience of my lie! If you ever get a chance to be apart of it in anyway, do it, you won't regret it! I have made great friends and many memories to last a lifetime! I love Teens Westward Bound!" - Jessica Millwood (Cherryville)

"TWB has been one of he greatest opportunities to meet new people and realize who I am. I will never forget the amazing people that I have spent 23 days with. This trip has also showed me how awesome our country really is." -Aidan Warner (Greenwood)

"After 23 days, I've become family with the 82 other teenagers on TWB. I'm starting to wonder what I will do at home without my new found friends." -Sarah Frierson (Orangeburg)

"Well, TWB was definitely the experience of a lifetime. I loved almost every minute of it. Forget camping in Kansas or Illinois ever again. This summer has and always will be the most meaningful summer I will ever experience. All the places, friends and memories a forever and I wouldn't trade it for anything."-Leo Brooks (Mooresville)

"Wow... I never thought that this could change me so much. I've made lifelong friends...no one will understand until you go on the trip...its life changing. I LOVE TWB!" -Maegan Simpson

Dopey
"I thank my parents, Dennis Deaton, and most importantly God for giving me the opportunity to see the beautiful country of America in 23 days. The friends I have made will last forever as well as the cherished memories.to everyone on TWB Trek 2: PURPLE DRANK!" -Karin Abernathy (Mooresville)

"I feel extremely lucky to have seen our beautiful country with some amazing people. There are truly no words to describe the TWB experience." -Holly Caudill (Wilmington)

"There are no quotes that can even come close to explaining my experience on TWB. TWB has given me the chance of a lifetime to see my country, discover myself and start lifelong friendships. My TWB experience will forever be engraved in me!" -Michael Wallace (Gastonia)

"TWB was on of the best experiences of my life! It was a 23-day change! God certainly had fun creating some of the places we saw. It made me realize just how great America is and just how lucky we are to live in this Beautiful Country." -Dawn Bird (Little Mountain)

"The TWB experience is comparable to nothing in the world; the fantastic people you meet and the adventures that the 23 day trek into the best 3 weeks of your life." -Ben Allen (Newport News)

"There are no words to describe the experience that myself and the 82 other participants have experienced, over the past 23 days not only have friendships been made, but family has formed. TWB was an amazing experience!" -Hailey Smith (Laurinburg)

"TWB has changed my life. I have seen and experienced so many new things with new amazing people. Without TWB this could not be possible. I thank my parents, Dennis, and God for allowing me to be apart of this great adventure!" -Mallory Simms (Mooresville)

"I will never be the same; TWB has changed me forever! Being surrounded by God's beauty has made me a stringer individual. The amazing people on this trip are not only my closest friends but my family! I love this trip and everyone on it! You will laugh, you will cry, and you will sing!" -Ada Roberts (Union)

"TWB is an unmatched experience and showed me the United States in a cool, great way. It is something I will never forget and I have met friends that I will keep up with after the trip. I found out a lot about myself, others and life." -Jake Burton (Raleigh)

"TWB gave me the opportunity to meet new friends and help discover who I was. I wish I could go on TWB a million more times!!" -Kevin Smarr (Hickory Grove)

"TWB is an amazing experience that I will never forget! I have made lifelong friends in just 23 days. TWB has made me appreciate everything God, my parents, family, and friends have done for me!" -Anna Johns (Sanford)

"TWB was such a fun trip, and I am so glad I got to meet so many new people, and make new best friends! I am so excited about reunions!" -Paxton Shaw (Belmont)

"The gorgeous sights I've seen, incredible people I've met, and the unforgettable experience that was provided for me has all contributed to make TWB one of the greatest opportunities of my life." -Hope McIntosh (Gastonia)

"TWB was a different experience, and was unlike any other trip we will ever go on." -Josh Mitchell (Columbia)

Happy
"An amazing experience with 89 new best friends! I thank God, my family, and Dennis for this once in a lifetime experience!"' -Harrison Moore (Monroe)

"TWB helped me become more responsible, and realize how lucky I really am. I lowered my walls and made new friends, and I don't have one regret." -Sydney Hinds (Wilmington)

"TWB was a life changing experience that I will never forget, from the friends I have made to all the funny and crazy memories. This summer will be the summer that I will never forget!" -Davis Jones (Laurinburg)

"I'll always remember the friends I made on this trip." -Jess Harrill (Cherryville)

Take every opportunity you get to build memories, so that you will have no regrets in the end." Zach Connor (Gastonia)

"Family is an incredible thing to begin with but to have two of them, one that you developed in 23 day, that's amazing." -Abbie Henderson (Raleigh)

"I'm so glad Lauren Yatko was on my trip. I so in love with her. She made TWB 2011 Trek 2 an amazing trip! I made 82 best friends, saw my beautiful country, and lowered my walls down all in 23 days." -Kelsey Smith (Morresville)

"TWB was an amazing experience that I will never forget, I made 82 new best friends that I will never forget!" -Jerrica Garrison (Belmont)

"TWB was an amazing experience and everything that I was hoping for. I've made friendships that I know will carry on after the trip is over. The trip makes you appreciate things more and it teaches you to truly live each day to the fullest"
-Emily Weeks (Laurinburg)

"Teens Westward Bound is the most amazing experience that I have ever been given. I will never forget this trip; the locations we visited were amazing, but the people I met and relationships I built will last a lifetime. TWB 2011 Trip 2 Family will last forever." - Matt Hill (Faith)

"Applying for TWB was the best decision of my life. If I did not apply and was not accepted not only would I have missed out on all the amazing sites, but also miss out on making 89 close friends.." -Matt Kos (Mooresville)

"I feel so honored to have been accepted to attend TWB. This experience has been amazing and I have been able to make one of my best friends and so many others. The trip makes one truly appreciate everything and live your life to the fullest! I am going to miss my TWB family!" -Kelly Presper (Irmo)

"TWB gave me the unique opportunity to meet people and experience the west in an indescribable way that most people will never understand." -Jane Voss (Gastonia)

"TWB not only gave me the best summer of mu life it helped me meet some awesome people and see America in a whole new light! TWB was the most amazing experience and I know because of it I've made some lifelong friends and have learned so much about my self and about life in general go all out everyday living life to the fullest!! I love TWB Trip 2 2011." -Kelley Strong (Union)

Sneezy

"Wal-Mart. Purple Drank. Flexibility. Bagpipes. Flying J. Patience. Bathroom lines. New friends. Reid's black girl voice. Food. Van rides. Group showers. Sing-a-longs. Sleeping more during the day than at night. Pretty much sums up TWB." -Summer Rivenbark (Wilmington)

"Mind blowing! Best summer of my life." Nick Yorick (Belmont)

"It has not only been the time of my life but one of the best learning experience's I have ever had." -Marin Williams (Sanibel, Florida)

"I never thought 23 days across the country could be so changing. Meeting some amazing people, and seeing God's creations was SO rewarding." -Lauren Harrison (Union)

"Trip has changed my life, and me as a person. Thank God, thank my family, and thank Dennis Deaton for this. It has been indiscernible, and I will cherish this experience until the day I die." -Ryan Rayfield (Cherryville)

"TWB made me a different person. After enduring the wilderness for 23 days I am virtually a giant callous." -Martha Carter (Gastonia)

"TWB was a great experience and I am glad I got to enjoy it. Over 23 days I saw the United States and met 82 new friends." -Tristan Griffiths (Cherryville)

"The definition of TWB is priceless." -Hal McLamb (Laurinburg)

"The TWB experience is an opportunity that only comes once in life. The 23 days across America, sites, memories, and friendships made will forever be a part of who I am. I'm very thankful I as able to be involved in this journey." -Caitlin McCormick (Laurinburg)

"There truly no words to describe TWB. The very first day is the scariest; all you want to do is go home. Right now, I'm on day 22 and I don't want to be anywhere else. I want to be with these people, my new friends. I never would have imagined we would all become so close and I know I'm going to visit them very often. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world." -Kaitlin Davis (Columbia)

"The past 23 days have been an opportunity of a lifetime. Friendships that have been formed will last forever and out family has bonded more and more every day. I've loved every minute that I have spent on TWB trip 2." -Kathryn Braswell (Winterville)

"To come on the trip=$2,200
to pay for soda at every Wal-Mart=$2.50
to buy clothes at all the places we visited=$20.00
all the new friends you get=PRICELESS"-Bryan Kos (Mooresville)

"TWB is a life changing experience I have seen America for al l it its, and I have learned so much about myself. Every teenager should have the opportunity to go on TWB."-Mitchell Cook

"TWB was incredible trip where I made many new friends and saw America at it's best. It was the best experience of my life"-Will Harris

"I never thought 23 days could change my life so dramatically. 23 days sounds like a long time, but when you're spending time with amazing people time flies. I've gotten the opportunity of a lifetime and I wouldn't change one thing I love everything about TWB, and even though it's over the friendships I made are just beginning"-Karley Edwards

Grumpy
"There aren't really words to explain what TWB is or does to a person. In just 23 days I've discovered more about myself than I thought I would and have met my best friends. This trip across America is amazing and has been so fun! I love this trip and everyone on it!"-Bekah Stine (Belmont)

"TWB was honestly the best thing that has happened to me. I have seen myself transform into the person I have always wanted to be. To travel my country for 23 days and to see all the great wonders God has offered was amazing. I will never forget all the incredible individuals I have met. They have truly become more than just a friend in my heart. There is no way I could thank my parents, Dennis, the staff, and last but not least, God, for this outstanding experience!" -Tallon Turnage (Laurinburg)

"TWB is a once in a life time experience I believe everyone's s life has restarted in a new and better way after these amazing 23 days. Not one out of the 87 of us will ever be lonely again, we are now 2011 Trip 2 Family" -Taylor Pechuekonis (Mooresville)

"This experience is such a great way to see the country and these beautiful places. My TWB family will always be important to me and I could never replace the memories we've made. TWB is a landmark in my life that has changed the way I see my country and myself." -Megan Mallonee

"TWB is a 23 day eye opening experience I can honestly say this trip changed me. Seeing the beautiful country that God created is the best way to spend a summer. Because of TWB we all have new friends and all are like a family!" -Erin Kayton (Waxhaw)

"This has truly been the experience of a life! I have made some amazing new friends, and I never dreamed that America could be this beautiful! It has definitely been an eye-opening 23 days!" -Olivia Whitehead (Laurinburg)

"I wouldn't trade these 23 days for anything. I've made life long friends with amazing people. TWB is a high light of my life for sure." -Caleb Fenner (Greenville)

"My friends have filled my heart with joy. The memories we made will stay with me forever and the TWB experience we had together and the TWB experience we had together has changed my life. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have a new family of 90 wonderful people." -Virginia McCully (Orangeburg)

"TWB has been the most amazing summer experience of my life, I've made so many new friends and wouldn't trade this time for anything." -Aaron Watts (Union)

"TWB is a priceless experience. It may cost about 2 grand to on TWB. But with all the places I saw, friends I made, and memories I made, TWB is priceless. I will remember the experience for the rest of my life." -Nick Tennant (Davidson)

"TWB is the most amazing thing I have ever done in my entire life. It bonds people like you couldn't imagine. The journey teaches you so much about yourself and makes you a better person and friend." -Lauren Pendleton (Lincolnton)

"TWB was a completely life changing experience. The people completely made the trip. I have made best friends that I know will keep forever. It made my summer a 1000 times better!" - Caroline Paquin (Wilmington)


"There is so much to say about the TWB experience and it is so hard to sum it all up. One of the things I can say about it is how I made 82 new best friends who will be with me for the rest of my life, and also all of the responsibility it has taught me. The only other thing I can think to say about the trip is, if I could do it again I'd do the same not one regret I wouldn't change a thing. I believe that this truly describes, not just mine, but all TWB participants experience on the trip." -Caleb Ballard (Cherryville)
 



TWB Itinerary For Today

After the Trip

We had another great year out west. Time to start getting ready for next year...
 

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