Wayzata cyclist fundraising for medical research on ride from Alaska to Argentina

(KMSP) - For more than 60 days, Ian Andersen of Wayzata, Minn. has had an open road with a spectacular view and an opportunity to experience the unknown as he travels to Argentina on a bike.

"I, you know, biked south from the top of Alaska and I'm currently in Santa Cruz, California,” said Andersen. "The first few weeks, I was totally alone, I didn't see a cyclist."

Along the way, he's met some pretty interesting people.

There was Allie from Germany and he shared moose with Marleen and Ludo from Belgium.

"There's so much generosity and kindness that you are exposed to when you're on a bicycle," said Andersen.

He also met up with his uncle, who just so happened to be among the first group to cycle from Alaska to Argentina 30 years ago. 

"It was really cool to have him along for the ride for a little bit,” he said.

There are a lot of people out there trying to find themselves, but Ian is trying to find help by raising money for the United Spinal Association.

His college friend, Natalie, was hit by a drunk driver and paralyzed from the crash. Fox 9 first spoke to Ian and Natalie this summer before he embarked on this trip.

FIRST REPORT: 23-year-old to bike from Alaska to Argentina for spinal cord research 

So far, he's raised about $10,000.

"Everyone has a similar adventure mindset and I would say I've met more cool people in the last eight weeks on the road than I have my whole life,” said Andersen. “It's been really, really cool."

You can share the ride with Ian by following him on Instagram, where he posts each day.

As he says, the real adventure is yet to come.

"It's kind of an ‘Argentina or bust’ kind of situation for me," he said.