Day 11 Rapid City, SD to Sheridan, WY

On Monday (June 18), we left Rapid City, SD on our way to Sheridan, WY.  We started in the Black Hills worked our way through the prairie grasslands to Sheridan (near the Big Horn Mountain Range). In the morning we stopped at Mt. Rushmore. It was absolutely breathtaking. After an hour of exploring the visitor center and museum, we traveled on to Devil’s Tower for a short stop. Forrest told the story of his parents climbing to the top on their honeymoon. Very cool! We arrived in Sheridan, WY for the evening concert at Sheridan HS. This concert was sponsored by the Sheridan Arts Council and the Sheridan Ministerial Association. We were able to eat dinner with our hosts. Tomorrow morning we leave for Lander, WY by way of Thermopolis, WY.

Thoughts from the Ringers…

We are currently traveling through this beautiful mountain pass in Wyoming. There are still some bits of snow outside and groves of evergreen trees among the rocky ledges and curving road. The landscape is spectacular and distinctly reminds me of traveling through Glacier National Park on my first tour.

The Wesley Bell Ringers has been a remarkable journey these past four years. I have seen, heard and been immersed in all different kinds of culture. I could not imagine a better way to spend my high school years; I have made friends with people I adore, and accomplished things I would have never even seen as possible.

I am going to be attending Haverford College next year, so these are the final days to my final tour. At Christmas time I was sad and reflective, but now I do not feel that way. Bells has been a major part of my life the past four years and I am so grateful to have been a part of this, but it is time for me to move on in my life. I will forever cherish my time in the choir, but it is time to pass on this wonderful opportunity to next year’s kids so they may learn to love the choir and have their own fond memories.

Thank you to all of the alumni who have kept this tradition going for so long, to the older kids I have idolized and later tried to emulate, and of course to Terry for dealing with me all this time and making this journey possible.

Kristin

This is my first tour and it has been a really good experience. I love traveling and seeing different things. Today on our way to Wyoming we saw Mount Rushmore. I was really excited to see Mount Rushmore because I have always seen it in pictures and movies but I’ve  never seen the real thing. It was really exciting. All of the states we have traveled to I have never been to so it was really new for me. I have also loved getting to know everyone better. Host homes are when the most bonding happens. I have loved tour so far but I am also really excited to go home and see my family.

Shannon