The Park is Estes, The Place is Colorado!

(YMCA badge that tells me who I am and where I am from)

Lewis Barkway signs in for another wordy blog piece...Teaming up with Jayson Ware, Wesley Hulme from YMCA North Staffordshire, Rachel Dyne YMCA Romford, Colleen Ndhlovu YMCA Bristol, Ken Montgomery YMCA England and the world, then catching up later with James Smith YMCA North Tyneside and strolled in like a don Robbie Cheyne Y-Care International England then last but not least Mr Jackiooo Ahearn YMCA Black Country. (Fortunately for Rachel she had to share the 8 hours flight journey alongside Lewis and Jack....She said quote "It was the best experience ever and wanted the flight time to be extended!!!!" - Rachel

(Rachel's best experience so far)

Well let me update you from top to bottom the best way possible;

I left with Jayson Ware and Wesley Hulme this morning at 5:20am for us to catch the 5:45 National Express Coach from Stoke-On-Trent, it was the worst possible start regarding weather...A random flash flood of rain crashed down upon us on the shortest travel distance out of the day and soaked us and killed my hair...But hey, we made the coach and all was fine from there on, as we made the second coach from Birmingham to London Heathrow where Jayson and Wesley got of at Terminal 2. As they had a different plane to catch going via New York which they were both happy about. So we parted ways and said we will meet on the other side (Other side meaning Colorado) where the time of day will be past midnight/early hours Sunday morning. 

(Just capturing the moment we realise that the WORLD Council is around the corner)

(When I am quiet I am satisfied, this was that satisfactory salad)

So skipping slightly onto the land of FOOD....I had the nicest salad in Heathrow airport where we all had a bite to eat before departure, where food was flying out in quick time, kens face was showing great vibes through such a quick service....and also he has he new gadgets out on show! In his element he most certainly was! 

Oh, so before departure I quickly started receiving messages off this Palestinian princess Watan, who is one of the Change Agents from her YMCA movement The Holy Land Palestine, also with her was the beautiful man Raed also representing the Palestine movement.

We haven't seen each other since Prague festival (August 2013) so was a perfect 20 minutes catch up before I departed.

More catching up will take place once in Estes Park. Eeeeexcited!!!

So...

We departed and got on this BA (British Airways) flight which was suppose to depart at 15:50 but we had a slight delay because of what? Yes you guessed it, RAIN! Well we got underway and only ended up waiting a few moments as it cleared.

Whilst up in flight myself, Jack and Rachel had seats all together and we had that REAL laughter going on, I mean hurt belly and wet eyes stuff. 

The BA staff had a good manner about them as dealing with all three of us (Yes includes you Rachel) when we had some mad moments of asking if the cabin crew were actually British and asking to cool our chocolate! 

The only issue Jack had was that his front neighbor kept on kicking back and slamming their seat in Jacks face, other than that we all loved the food and took the beverages as they came. (They came at a considerably regular pace) 

(Nothing but a good old Apple Juice (Wink Wink) to lift you off the ground)

(That casual wing photo, my clouds are better than yours game)

The other subject that we touched upon was the....Ohhhh Yeah, The real reason we are actually coming here together, The YMCA World Council and also the Change Agents call. Myself and Jack had a little interview taken by Rachel whilst on the plane, yet video needs a bit of brushing up and will post onto my next blog.

Whilst discussing this important matter and sharing concerns and words of creativeness, we then got offered another regular paced beverage ask...We took the offer, shandy was for me and Rachel and Jack took the Wine, they deserved it after all the travelling!

 

After all the odd movies being watched and the toilet breaks we had whilst we we're in the air, oh and the Zzzzzz time. We touched down at around 18:30 into Chicago which was expected and safely, but then out of no where...Capitan of the plane calls out and mentions there has been a malfunction with the systems regarding luggage....So can you imagine our faces!?!?! We were in bits, I more so when I thought HAIR PRODUCTS! But all in all, everyone got their bags and we relaxed into the few hours we had in Chicago and just mingled on into the night of when we had to depart on our final flight to Denver. 
More YMCA guys started turning up at Chicago to get the flight at 22:00 so it was good to see more new and old faces. I also had the chance to have some banter with some local security guards which was a good laugh. (Photo below)

(If you can't be civil, then play to their weakness...Fun with the security at Chicago)

Okay, we have all boarded onto our last flight and hoping that everyone's flights arrive on time at Denver around 23:30 to midnight. 
So then will all collect all bags (again) and then set on a bus for 1hr and 30minutes to Estes Park, to then be greeted and more than likely be blown away but also be too tired for words, so will crash out and get ready, for the start of which means to be something special and true to all our hearts.! 

(Lets put this boarding pass to use and fly with the American)

We all have clear visions on how we see the World Council and the potential it has to offer, but we need to make sure we create that impact we desire so bad, which is...Setting the Youth with the benchmark we've all began to create, being Change Agents and also linking the Local work to the International movement so more can hear! 

As you may tell we and I can imagine the thousands are over excited and feel a buzz in the air already, but that's just the YMCA way and ora we give out to each other, which if we could bottle it and giveaway we would! So more positives and beautiful blogging will follow throughout the week and this will keep giving you an insight to what we are all getting up too, but know this....YMCA World Council 2014 in Colorado is going to be one that will be implementing "Change" and "Strategy" to benefit millions more young people within and out of the YMCA.!

(Errrrrrm..............SELFIE)

So will give your noggin another blogging when all is in full swing, thanks for reading.

.......P.S... (NEWS.... My LUGGAGE IS LOST!) Will I survive without it or will I receive it in time?!!? You'll know if you see a follow up to this blog, so keep your eyes peeled....! Then again myself, Ken and Jack ended having a 55 seat coach all to ourselves on the way back, this blog has now truly been completed.

Lewis Barkway
(With contributions by Rachel and Jack)
Change Agent
YMCA North Staffordshire