It’s hard to believe this trip is coming to a close today. it seems like just yesterday the team was arriving in Miami for orientation. Even though the trip has flown by, it is incredible to see how much the team and all the guys have grown and changed. We had a long 90-mile day from Live Oak to Tallahassee. The cyclists and crew were exceptional on the road, as usual, and I could tell the anticipation of finishing on the Capitol lawn pushed everyone to fight through the final miles. I cannot express the pride I felt watchingt my team line up in picture formation of the Capitol steps, smiling from ear to ear. The reception at the Doubletree Tallahassee was a nice way to wrap up our journey, as we recognized all the team members and gave away a few awards. The team met after the reception at the Beta Eta (Florida State University) chapter house to celebrate a job well done. Gear Up Florida 2017 will forever stand out in my memory as a spectacular team, and I feel extremely lucky to have had such an exceptional group of young men to lead this summer.– Tim Schlachter (University of Toledo)