Email update from Eleanor Moseman, a women traveling around China to raise funds for Girls Education International

Dear All,

Hope everyone is having a great summer and keeping cool - I know many are seeing record breaking temperatures.

I pedaled my way through record breaking temps in Hulun Buir (the China side of Siberia and the land of NOTHING) just 2 weeks ago. 40 degrees C, a hell of a headwind, and a blazing sun. You would not believe the sun's intensity that far north - the beautiful crimson sunsets make up for it. At that latitude you get approximately 5 hours of night...yeah, no sleeping in and you can possibly ride over 16 hours a day. That is, if your body can handle it. It's not the aches of your body per se, it's the sizzling of your skin, that cuts those mid afternoon hours out. I can not explain the sun to those who have never experienced this...it's insane.

Thanks to those loyal followers of my blog and hope if you haven't yet visited, you'll take a couple minutes and go on over to www.2wheels4girls.com

More importantly - I hope you take some time to read about the 2 charities I am raising money for. There will be a book and I am currently discussing with some American men currently traveling clockwise around China about a collaboration book project. A percentage of sales of book(s), along with sales of photos (I've already received some requests), will be going directly to Girls Education International.

I've traveled along the Grand Canal, looked out into Russia, climbed mountains, sank knee deep in mud, suffered from dysentery for a week, cycled through sand with dunes as my only company, met random Russian cyclists - one only wearing a pair of shorts with flower stickers on his bike, rode along galloping wild horses, ate dog?, held against my will for 3 hours with thousands of death threats, barely pushed 9km/hour because of headwinds, tastes of baijiu, daily laundry in sinks, went days without a shower, snuck into crumbling Japanese forts, sunburns, fought with a a drunken motorcyclist that wouldn't leave me alone, butt bruises, bloody nose (wind I believe), ran out of water, slept behind bushes on the side of the road, spent my first night in a real yurt.....

.....speaking Mandarin every.....single.....day....fortunate to speak English once a week....and experienced authentic loneliness.

Recently I was interviewed by BUST Magazine. Never would of imagined this honor - as I've been a loyal reader for many many years. Keep a look out or I'll keep you posted.

My biggest thanks goes to all the wonderful people I have met in the past 2 months. As much as a solo Explorer attempts to be self sufficient - I wouldn't have made it past 1000km without the kindness and generosity of strangers. These are the people that have made this ride a success - and have helped to maintain my safety. Truly.

Tailwinds,
E Moseman

Cycling Across China for Girls Education International

We are excited to share the news that Eleanor Moseman, a girls education advocate, is embarking on her bike tour across China to raise funds and awareness for girls education everywhere! Eleanor contacted GEI about a year ago to announce her plan to ride her bike throughout China. She shared her commitment to riding for organizations that promote girls education - and she chose two organizations to support: Girls Education International and Stepping Stones, an organization based in Shanghai, China that promotes educational opportunities for migrant children.


In a recent interview, this is what Eleanor had to say about why she chose GEI as an organization to support:

I chose Girls Education International because it's a foundation run by women for young girls all over the world. They are outdoor enthusiasts, rock climbers, etc. and I felt a common interest with them. It's a great foundation because they do not go to other countries and force a Western way of life on them, but rather train locals to help their own girls.

Eleanor Moseman has been living and working in Shanghai, China since 2008. She works as a photographer and lives as an outdoor enthusiast and cultural explorer, which naturally led to the idea of embarking on a bike tour through China while creating an accompanying photo essay. Her drive to promote access to education for all girls stems from her acknowledgement that as an American woman she has been afforded endless opportunities for education. She hopes that through her ride, her blog and her photography she can join the ranks of other catalysts for change in the lives of girls around the world.

You can read more about Eleanor and her bike tour on her website - which includes the blog roll she will share as she rides and rides and rides! You can show your support for Eleanor and the girls she hopes to impact by 'chipping in'.

Way to go, Eleanor! Have a fabulous time. You have the energy of all girls at your back, giving you a little nudge up the hills and stamina on long days.

2 Wheels 4 Girls

September note from Eleanor regarding the prep for her fund/awareness raising trip though China ... to be followed by additional updates.

After my late night email to you both, I tried to go to sleep but my mind
was swirling with ideas for a website. Right now - I am re-doing my photo
one but I hope to be finished by the end of September.

I was thinking of building a pretty basic site that would incorporate the
blog so people in China can see it.

maybe:
cycle4girls.com
cycle4girlsed.com
2wheels4education.com
girls-ed.com
girls-edu-intl.com

I'll buy the domain and throw it on my server this month...get those promo
cards made with the website address - along with girlsed.org website. The
main page can have direct links to the blogs and girlsed.org in the
meantime. I was looking more into Firstgiving.com and what's nice is that
people can have their names listed for donation - I think people find that
appealing. Maybe we can look more into that, and give people the option to
donate through that or contact you all for the "tax deduction".

As for sections, I was thinking of breaking it up as so:

-Girls Ed (you all can send me an html page or just text/pics
-Blog
-Financial Goal, link to the Firstgiving page
-Sponsors & Gear Review
-Thanks. A page for those fellows/websites/books that have helped with my
planning thus far and list of donors of $100+
-Pics / Video (to be after trip)
-Contact page

I'm multifaceted and can usually put a basic HTML site together in a
weekend.

Would either of you happen to have a "Sponsorship Form" or a place where I
can download one?

Also, do we have a financial goal? What's an amount that could finish the
work on a current project for you all and get you started onto another?