Wesley Bell Ringer 2017 Summer tour - DAY 15 - OFF DAY to Montrose Colorado - Saturday June 25th, 2017

Day 15, last day to travel to a host church on this tour & instead of taking the entire drive on the bus today, The Wesley Bell Ringers traveled part way by rail today on the Durango to Silverton train.  3.5 hours in the most amazing scenery to date, the choir enjoyed being together to have this experience.  Once in Silverton, a town created to mine silver,  The Wesley Bell Ringers had a couple hours for lunch & to explore before meeting up with the bus the drive through the San Juan (Rocky Mountain) range on the Million Dollar Highway to Montrose Colorado for their last tour stop before heading home to SLC on Sunday.

An early morning run through Durango led Anna to a delicious find - Local treats. 

ALL ABOARD!  The Wesley Bell Ringers boarding the train in Durango Colorado

Keep your hands & arms inside the train at all times.

Train selfie

Say CHEESE Mady & Jack B!

Some serious conversations happening on the Durango to Silverton train.

How many thoughts must be going through Ed's head at anytime will always be a mystery

The Wesley Bell Ringers made it to Silverton - they mined SILVER there, right Anna?

Looks like they let ANYONE into the town of Silverton.  The Wesley Bell Ringers ran into their most favorite bus driver who took them on adventures last tour & the tour before.  They missed his sassiness & love of the choir. 

Montrose venue

Last tour concert before home

Pamela's family traveled many miles to see her play.  

As did Holden's family.   Aunt Kathy & Amy (sitting on the right) came for the second year in a row! 

The Wesley Bell Ringers finally did it, their music was so incredible, it moved these two to sleep.  After the concert their mom purchased a CD to play to them at bed time.  

Alumni Wesley Bell Ringer - Robin Streeter ringer #42.  She said that her favorite Ed tour memory was when he would say at every concert that someday they would "drive the bus to Hawaii"

Marko & his Uncle John who came to the concert from Grand Junction.

Get to know your Wesley Bell Ringers…
You can call me:	Ella Mittelstadt
If I were a hand bell, I would be a:	B-flat, my favorite bell to play
My favorite Wesley Bell song is:	Gaudet
This tour I am most excited for:	The Santa Monica Pier
What being a Wesley Bell Ringer means to me?	Spreading my love of music with friends.

Wesley Bell Ringer 2017 Summer tour - DAY 14 - OFF DAY Santa Fe NM to Durango Colorado - Friday June 23rd, 2017

Ed in Santa Fe talking to The Wesley Bell Ringers about the Marsha Vilven award

Today The Wesley Bell Ringers had a day of, from bells; however, it wasn't what we all thing of when we think of a day off:

• Back to the St John's at 7:30
• Bus loaded by 7:55
• Bank
• Hike/walk to Old Fort Marcy Park for the view & to allow ringers time to vote for the Marsha Vilven award for this year.  This award is an award given to one ringer each year (peer voted) who demonstrated strong leadership & the ability to keep the culture & tradition of The Wesley Bell Ringers alive & strong.  
• Hike/walk back down the hill to the Loretto chapel & the Miraculous Staircase.
• Quick walk over to the oldest church in New Mexico - San Miguel Chapel
• Tour of the Oldest House in New Mexico, next door to the church
• Walk down the street to The New Mexico State Capital
• Back on the bus for a quick drive to Jackalope (probably the most amazing pottery & local art, craft, cultural things you might ever see!) 
• Lunch
• 2 hours at Meow Wolf - describes as  "an arts production company that creates immersive, multimedia experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of storytelling. Our work is a combination of jungle gym, haunted house, children's museum, and immersive art exhibit."  or  "Pee Wee's Playhouse on steroids"  There really isn't enough room in the blog to describe the experience at Meow Wolf.  Just go & check it out. 
• Back on the bus for a four hour drive to Durango Colorado.  Best naps of the tour for sure.
• Dinner.  Ringers set free in Durango (with boundaries) & Chaperones, Katie, Anna, & Ed dinner. 
• Poker playing - initiated by Mady & Holden who thought up the idea of asking the front desk permission to use the breakfast room to hang out.  Great job guys!
• Lights out at 11pm. 

And this is how The Wesley Bell Ringers have a day off!  For those of us tracking steps - each person, including Ed put in approximately 14,000 steps today.  

Pamela, the master of under the bus loading! 

Anna & her daily banana snap chat photo.  Oh, Anna!

Little did The Wesley Bell Ringers know that this would be the most action packed day off ever. 

Santa Fe is RAD!

Hanging out at the top of the hill.

The Loretta Church & The Magical Staircase

Ed & his keeper

Wondering what it would be like to play bells here.

The Oldest House

Saying Grace & breaking bread at The Oldest House

The Oldest Church next door to The Oldest House

New Mexico State Capital

Today The Wesley Bell Ringers had the great flood of 2017 when a leftover cooler now filled with water dumped over at a sudden stop & rushed down the bus aisle.  Good thing they all had their chaperone gifted beach towels to clean it up!

Jackalope in Santa Fe.  There aren't enough words to describe the wonder of this place.  

There are many of us who have begun to plan trips back to Santa Fe, with  large transportation vehicles to come back to shop

Ed at Meow Wolf

Holden walking out of a freezer

Ella 

One of the many wonders of Meow Wolf

Liam, Connor, Connor,& Jack trying to digest what they just saw at Meow Wolf

This group also digesting

Durango.  Hotel night!

Kids arranged their own meeting place at the hotel for a quick round of poker

Small world, Gina & Ella ran into their host families from Prescott Arizona - Prescott UMC, Dave & Kay in the lobby at the hotel in Durango! 

Chaperone dinner!

Get to know your Wesley Bell Ringers…
You can call me:	Connor /Steve/Joey
If I were a hand bell, I would be a:	A3
My favorite Wesley Bell song is:	Festival Sanctus
This tour I am most excited for:	TRAINS!
What being a Wesley Bell Ringer means to me?	Having fun & trying hard at the same time.

`

Get to know your Wesley Bell Ringers…

You can call me:

            

Connor /Steve/Joey

If I were a hand bell, I would be a:

               

  A3

My favorite Wesley Bell song is:

          

Festival Sanctus

This tour I am most excited for:

        

 TRAINS!

What being a Wesley Bell Ringer means to me?

         

 Having fun & trying hard at the same time.

Day 11 part two - Concert in Abilene Texas & Ringer of the day

The Wesley Bell Ringers made it to TEXAS today.  As we look out the bus, we can't believe what a difference the scenery is today in comparison to driving into Los Angeles last week.  Wide open spaces & bright blue skies.  Tonight's concert was in Abilene Texas & thanks again to the work Emma has put into looking through the magical internet, we had a quick stop before arriving at the church at "the worlds largest buffalo skull" & museum.  Just enough time to use the restrooms & take a few photos outside. 

TEXAS!

Most helpful sign found in the restroom stall at our Abilene & yes, I was using the restroom!

Just a bunch of bell ringers handing out on a giant buffalo skull

Laura & Mary or Mary & Laura?  Modern day Ingall sisters

Bobbie, Charlie, Holden, & Pamela checking out the outside fun in Texas

These skies!

St Paul Methodist Church in Abilene Texas was FANTASTIC & very large.  Our biggest church yet.  Texas, right?  Quick set up (it was really hot & humid outside) & practice tonight which was needed after a day off.  At St Paul, they have been ringing bells for 50 years, 13 adult ringers.  The Wesley Bell Ringer's have very much enjoyed playing to so many hand bell choirs & fans of hand bells.  

St Paul Methodist Church was stunning

Abilene Texas

It wouldn't be a Wesley Bell Ringer summer concert without a visit from Dave, Ringer 56 Haun.  Dave lives in Texas & traditionally travels to a concert each summer.  Good to see you Dave!

Dave & Ed!

Tornado warnings?  Not something we see back home in Utah

And your ringer today is:

Get to know your Wesley Bell Ringers…
You can call me:	Bobbie
If I were a hand bell, I would be a:	Sliver melody bell, Bright & Loud
My favorite Wesley Bell song is:	This year Gaudese.  All time Little Fugue
This tour I am most excited for:	Getting to know everyone better & see new places
What being a Wesley Bell Ringer means to me?	Keeping an awesome tradition alive & spreading smiles through music.