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Chris: I can't really put into words how amazing this trip has been, but here goes...
Blame it on the Boom Boom... my new favourite song courtesy of Nick's quite amazing playlist, which he made sure he catered for us all .
Anyway, the trip is over and after 2 years of planning and saving, talking and even sometimes dreaming about all it could offer, I can safely say it was everything and more. I have done some amazing things; some of it that I wanted to tick off my bucket list, like listening to Bon Jovi's ' Wanted Dead or Alive' while looking out onto the desert, walking through an amazing mountain range (even though I would've happily taken a cab) and sitting in a country bar drinking beer and playing pool with 3 of the best men I know... and of course getting blindly drunk.
I am lucky to have such great mates who have managed to put up with me for three weeks . I can be bad tempered, sensitive, snappy, emotional, fiery and defensive; the boys knew this and as always let me off when I lost it every now and again (as they know I don't mean it and I love them.) I like to think I keep these qualities to a minimum, basically I am a pain in the ass. They have all been there to wake me up, fill me in on stuff when I have been asleep in the car, respond to my meaningless questions to which I already know the answers to and understand my need to look immaculate even if we are in a car for 10 hours a day (you never know who could meet!)
Yes, James has worms and could choke a dozen donkeys with his unbelievably smelly ass, Nick's need to control everything and keep his bed neat (don't take the covers out, he doesn't like it) and Marc's obsession with everything tooth paste related. Even with all of these tiny faults we still managed to get through 3 weeks together. There were times when I was close to snapping, mainly by the 10th time I had been locked out of the car or when I woke up with a game boy game stuffed in my mouth, but I held on. As usual Nick was always there to either console me or to say 'shut up' when I needed it, so I was in good hands (he is a Headmaster after all).
There have been so many amazing things on this trip that I am truly gutted are over, and I can't name them all; you've all read the blogs, so most of them are in there and if not we will fill you in in person (although I am looking forward to getting back into training as I have eaten and drunk far more than I thought possible!)
If I was to pick one moment where I thought to myself I was the most content, it would have been in the mountains of Arizona. We had stopped off by a river in scorching heat and decided to play soccer... s***, I mean football! The scenery was stunning, I had my best pals with me, a football and I just thought 'how lucky am I?' Our ability to play was limited, especially as Marc was in flip flops, but it was still so much fun, simple banter and fun, couldn't beat it.
I am returning to the UK a few kilos heavier, with burnt legs, but I have learnt a lot about myself while in the back of the car, pondering life and the universe and how lucky I am to have been able to do a trip like this with the people I have, and generally all my friends and family. I will never ever forget this trip and we will be talking about it for the rest of our lives as that's how far our friendship goes (regardless of what the boys say).
As cliche as this all sounds, I have enjoyed every minute (even the absolutely s*** Valley of Fire) and I wouldn't change anything.
Being the emotional one I'm gonna say that I would always be there for these guys whatever they needed but now the bond is stronger, we did share beds after all. So boys, I love you all - I don't want to come home and may we have many more amazing memories to make together; we can start with Marc's BBQ on Xmas day. I am a pain but I am you're pain, and I wouldn't have wanted to share this trip with anyone else... except maybe Bon Jovi or THE Rock.
One last thing; to all of our friends and families who have read the blog - thank you and a special thank you to the girls.. Annie and Lauren, thanks for lending me you're boyfriends as I know it must've been hard and you're both amazing girls, but you can have them back now - I don't know how you both do it.
Also, we have all put effort onto this trip but none of us have put as much effort into it as Nick. Cheers buddy for all the organising, leading the way consistently and pleasing everyone. I am glad you have OCD as we couldn't have done it without you.
Chris: "Are we going out out, or out?"
James: "The parties down there, trust me" (club in San Francisco)... many, many drinks later...
Chris: "Boys, are we out out yet?"
Boys: "Nah, just out"
I also learnt a new word... Pedantic... Boom!
Defend you till the end, bad boys for life...
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