Bike For MIMA

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Hi! My name is Bill Wagner and I live with my dog in rural NC. I hope to pedal my Mountain Bike from Banff, AB Canada to the US/Mexican border at Antelope Wells, NM in an effort to raise money and awareness for the MIMA Foundation. MIMA is a small, grassroots non-profit that is involved in a variety of humanitarian projects in both Africa and South America. I'm a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and have worked extensively with their Surgical Program and can personally vouch for the necessity and quality of their work. Each year MIMA screens hundreds of poor and remote villagers who need surgical procedures but have no means to pay. If it weren't for MIMA, thousands of children and adults would be denied basic surgeries merely on the basis of access to health care. Not a single member of MIMA receives any monetary compensation and EVERY volunteer has to generate the funds necessary to travel with the group each year.

Please join me in my adventure along The Continental Divide by opening your heart and your wallet for a great cause. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is the longest off-road bike route in the world. It is over 2700 miles long, has over 200,000 feet of elevation gain (equivalent to summiting Mount Everest from sea-level 7 times) and crosses the Continental Divide 30 times. Take a moment to explore the site if you'd like and I look forward to seeing or hearing from each of you! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I'm sure I'll need them.

NO SPONSORS: Please know that I had to personally buy the bike, gear, maps, airline flights, etc for this fundraiser. ALL the money goes to MIMA.

Blessings,

Bill

Day 51

Written by Bill Wagner

Monday, 23 August 2010 08:11

Day 51--47 miles

One might wonder what all of the rain we got yesterday might have done to the "dirt road surface" today. Don't wonder, heck, let me simply tell you!

It could've been worse, at least most of the road was rideable, but how does one define rideable? I think it means 'not-pushing', so then it was a semi-mud-sand fest that was...rideable!

A big scare today came when I realized all the shaking that was going on behind my butt was a broken bolt...that was supposed to be holding the rack to frame. the rack holds all my gear to the bike, yeah, you get the picture. Luckily I found a bit of shade and was grateful I had the foresight to bring some extra bolts and nuts. In less than an hour, back on the mud.

I arrived here in Pie Town, NM just in time to get a shower at The Toaster House and three pieces of pie at the Restaurant. the Toaster House is this amazing place, no house, that let's people (hikers and bikers) stay for free. It is a huge dose of unbelievable hospitality that is re-charging my dwindling batteries. Less than a week to go...

Day 50

Written by Bill Wagner
Monday, 23 August 2010 08:10
Day 50--44 Miles Hand is markedly better, another thing to be grateful for. I arrived at the visitor center, after eating to oblivion in Grants, 8 minutes before the Monsoon hit. the timing was literally mystical. the rain came down like it's written in The Old Testament, so I talked with Mickey who is 70 years old and is a volunteer there. Another moment that I couldn't have planned the timing if I tried. an hour later I pushed on...yeah, you guessed it, guess what fell out of the sky? But it wasn't for long and I found a place off the road to put up for the night. It was in a canyon of sorts which was pretty cool, not to mention a meadow of wildflowers near a gully, even if I wasn't supposed to be camping there.

Day 49

Written by Bill Wagner
Monday, 23 August 2010 08:10
Day 49--104 Miles A long day in the saddle ends with sleeping behind the bar, not so bad. Today was all on pavement which made the miles go by quicker but I don't need, want, to do another century. It was necessary for water and camping options and it showed me what I'm capable of but I would have slept just fine if it remained a mystery. Today was a hot and sunny one and did have some nice spots along the pavement to get cold drinks and apple pies. the horses and goats are always a welcome to the desert landscape. Really tired.

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$17.89 pays for postage to ship three boxes of suture.

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