WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of six veterans, including three from Florida, have departed on a cross-country biking journey from Washington, D.C. to Washington State. It’s a 3,700-mile ride of a lifetime that’s expected to take three to four months to complete.

Jayson Goetz, who served as an Air Force Rescue Pilot, is one of the three Florida veterans making the trek, along with Justin Abramo, who served as an Army Combat Medic, and Patrick Smith, who served as an Army Infantryman.

The bike ride is put on by Warrior Expeditions, which does outdoor therapy programs for veterans, and Rails to Trails Conservancy, which promotes converting old rail lines to trails.

“Once you leave the service, the brotherhood goes away in the civilian sector a little bit, and I think we all kind of miss that, and this was an opportunity to kind of get together with a collective group of people that have gone through the military experience, and then, now moving that forward to going across the country,” Abramo said before taking off on Thursday.

“All you have to do is get up every day and ride your bike, so you’re living in the moment every day. Your mind is really focused on what you’re doing all day long, not on other problems or issues you might have,” Goetz said.

The veterans will be traveling on the ‘Great American Rail Trail’ across the country, which is now more than 56% complete. This year will feature a special America 250 stop.

“We aligned this with America 250. We’re leaving on Memorial Day weekend. We’re actually going to be meeting up with them in Nebraska on the 4th of July… we’re going to be in a parade in Norfolk, Nebraska. Excited to celebrate them, celebrate America,” said Great American Rail-Trail Project Director Kevin Belle.

Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower are among some of the top destinations the group is hoping to see along the way. But they say they’re also excited to wind down and enjoy the ride.

“We’re going to have a lot of camaraderie keeping us going, but seeing the country, especially the 250th birthday on a bicycle… 10 miles an hour, just taking it all in is going to be wonderful,” Smith said.