Elspeth the Architect, the first English woman to ride a motorcycle around the world. (Image from 1stwomenuk.co.uk)
Now that many women are speaking out about their lives, and receiving some (overdue) justice, and at the same time revealing themselves as victims, let's take a look at a woman who charged ahead, decades ago, accomplished the breathtakingly unexpected, and is not also a victim.
Let us give thanks.
At the age of twenty-three, Elspeth Beard became the first woman to motorcycle around the world. 35,000 miles with just a tent, some tools, her savings and a ton of determination, she reveals what she learnt about herself on the road...
Interview with Elspeth Beard at First Women UK.
Image from In Venus Veritas.
She now runs an architectural business in Godalming, Surrey.
Image from In Venus Veritas.
From her web site...
Elspeth Beard specialises in creating or remodelling interesting and unusual buildings, both old and new. When working with old buildings, she likes to give them a new lease of life by mixing conservation with contemporary design; the clean lines and modern feel of new elements contrasting with the original features of the existing building. Much of her work involves the conversion of listed buildings such as water towers, lighthouses and barns into striking and unique family homes. She also creates all kinds of new houses, varying from traditional timber-framed constructions to modern buildings with rendered walls and large areas of floor-to-ceiling glass.
More info:
ELSPETH: Vanguard, interview In Venus Veritas.
Elspeth Beard - One of the Early Globetrotters at Motorcyclist Online (dog story, old photos).
Elspeth Beard is one of a select band of bold women to ride a motorcycle around the world, and she was the first Englishwoman to do so.
Around-The-World by motorcycle, misc info, old photos.
Another woman: Tamara Raye Wilson, rock bassist, photographer, motorcyclist, motorcycle racer, mechanical engineer at Disney.
Tamara Raye Wilson on the course. (Cicadawheels)
Interview with Cicadawheels: "Tamara Raye Wilson, Just Smiling, Having Fun And...Ride!"
Tamara Wilson: A Disney Engineer's Perspective on Quality Motorcycle Protection.
Snapshots from the Hell On Wheels Moto Scramble
Yeah, well, she chose to compete this way too. (Todays Cycle Coverage)
Tammi Tibetan, musician.
Moto Lady: Posts Tagged 'tamara raye'
At Born Free 6 Chopper Mania. (The Moto Lady)
Tamara On The Burly Brand Jackrabbit. (The Moto Lady)
Another woman: "Sarah Marquis (born June 20, 1972) is a Swiss adventurer and explorer. From 2010 to 2013, she walked 20,000 kilometres (12,000 mi) alone from Siberia to the Gobi Desert, into China, Laos, Thailand, and then across Australia. In 2011, she gave a TED talk and in 2014 she was named one of National Geographic's Adventurers of the Year." (Wikipedia)
From her web site.
Why walking is the ideal speed to see the world
How do you walk 500 miles? Extreme hiker Sarah Marquis explains how pain gives way to pleasure during an epic trek through the wilderness.
From Siberia To Australia: Sarah Marquis' 10,000 Mile Walk
"This story, it is my story," Sarah Marquis says. "And it is a story of a woman." Marquis is an explorer, but she doesn't scale mountains or jump off cliffs. She walks.
The Australian: Sarah Marquis faces her toughest test on epic Australian adventure.
On Point: Her Long Walk: 27,000 Miles Adventurer Sarah Marquis has walked from Siberia to Australia. Alone and fearless. She shares her story. [audio]
BBC World Service: The Documentary, Sarah Marquis, Explorer In a classic Aboriginal walkabout, Swiss explorer Sarah Marquis fished, foraged and gathered food from the wild. She discusses her Australian odyssey with Steve Backshall – himself a world-class adventurer. [audio]
3 years Alone On Foot: An Interview With Sarah Marquis Hear her tales of survival, nature connections, perseverance, various encounters, and learn about an overall amazing spirit- all documented in her book, Wild By Nature. [audio]
I usually don't post photos belonging to others, but this is all too good to pass up, so I'll chance it. Enjoy.