Breakfast in Perrysburg
Tuesday’s morning round-up was pushed back to 8:15, giving us some time to sleep
in. Our hosts brought us back to the Carranor Hunt & Polo club, where we grabbed a
continental breakfast, assembled our bikes (storage in the truck involves removing the
front wheel), and got final directions. Thanks again to the Perrysburg Rotary for its
tremendous hospitality and support!
Today our numbers were boosted to 19 by the arrival of Sylvania Rotarian Stephanie
White despite still recovering from an emergency appendectomy only four weeks ago.
Also re-joining us was Vermilion Rotarian Bill Matajasic, who had ridden Saturday and
Sunday but had work commitments yesterday.
Although temperatures were predicted to reach the 90’s, we enjoyed tailwinds out of
the north as we headed southeast toward Elmore. Surprisingly, despite yesterday’s
downpours, humidity was quite tolerable.
Bike Repairs in Elmore
In Elmore, we stopped at the bicycle shop of Fremont Rotarian Dan Waggoner, who
operates shops in both towns. Waggoner provided refreshments, adjustments to
some bikes, and discounts on some necessary equipment purchases, including new
sunglasses to help Bill Pepple look faster.
From Elmore we followed the North Coast Inland Trail into Fremont, home of our
intrepid rider Angelica Foos-Rinehart. At the outskirts of Fremont we were met by a
police escort, which shepherded us to the Birchard Public Library. An inspirational sight
along the downtown route was signs placed by Fremont Rotarians welcoming the 2011
Tour for MESA.
Baby quilt donation in Fremont
At lunch Fremont club president Dick Binau presented MESA with a check for $1,000.00.
Additionally, MESA committee chair Pam Hoesman—who organized Fremont’s
promotions, fund-raising, meeting, and lunch—also presented more than 60 hand-
quilted receiving-blankets to send to Honduras. The quilts were inspired by a report
from a visiting Rotarian who had noticed that Honduran hospitals were sending mothers
home with their newborns swaddled in newspaper, due to a shortage of blanket
material. It was an eye-opening reminder of the needs in other communities, and the
effect one Rotary club can have. Thank-you, Fremont Rotary!
Fremont RC President Binau presents a donation
We finished our 63-mile trek into Tiffin along the picturesque Sandusky River. We
arrived in Tiffin in time to join a MESA committee planning meeting, with a pizza dinner
provided by Tiffin Rotarian Dave Langendorfer. We were also met by newly-installed
Tiffin club president, Elaine Whitman-Daugherty, who provided instructions and
directions for our overnight accommodations at a local hotel. Our riders were delighted
to learn they would have the refreshment of a swimming pool. Thanks, Tiffin Rotary!
On the Road from Tiffin to Upper Sandusky
Over the past four days, we have averaged 65 miles per day, visited 13 Rotary clubs,
and collected contributions pushing total MESA Tour receipts to date over $24,000.00.
While we still have a long way to finish our goal of $65,000.00, we are enthused by the
participation, hospitality, and generosity of Rotary clubs throughout the district who are
helping us toward a goal, both as a riding Tour and—far more importantly—a service-
sustaining fund-raiser for Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad. We look forward to
furthering that goal over the final 3 days of the Tour, and are grateful to all the clubs
who have contributed or made commitments so far.
Kurt Anderson
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