Sun Run Day 12- The Final Day
The breakfast today was not the regular buffet style fare with the same old, boring bread and cereal. Instead, we were treated with a sit-down meal included with our hotel stay. As with most sit-down meals, the food took quite a while to arrive, steaming hot on platters. The meal was quite appealing, but we didn’t have time to dwell on the finer details of our meal as we shoveled down the food in order to be free to relieve array crew of their duties as soon as possible. Breakfast at hotels only last so long and we wanted to make sure everyone had a bite.
After packing and eating, the car was inspected before it hit the road for the final leg of its journey. The solar car passed through very mountainous terrain with little trouble, making its way to the end location in stride. As the solar car arrived, it accidentally went past the parking lot where we were ending the Michigan Sun Run, prompting a wild chase on foot by members of the team, trying to get the car to turn around. Luckily, our driver got the message and did a u-turn, starting take 2 of the ending sequence. This time, the solar car went to the right location, crossing the finish line amongst cheering from team members and spectators alike.
All of us were happy that we had actually made it to California. Many of us had thought we wouldn’t make it past Ohio, but it’s amazing that we got this far, the team and the car bravely taking on the most challenging of terrain on this route. There was a sense of accomplishment and pride in the durability of the car and the tenacity of this team, which had to go through many ups and downs to get here.
The Michigan Sun Run has really been a wonderful experience, from the people we met, to the places we’ve been, to the challenges we faced, all of it makes the Michigan Sun Run what it is. We were able to collect the data we wanted, connect to many different individuals, and learn so much about ourselves and the car through this journey. However, this wasn’t a journey walked by us alone. From the children to the parents to the museums, we truly appreciate all the support we got from them. Our sponsors were also instrumental in the development of the car, so thank you because without them, there would be no car and no team. We would like to thank everybody for following along on our journey and the support that they have given. Though the Michigan Sun Run has ended, we will be hard at work building out 17th solar car in preparation for WSC. See you there!