I hadn't planned on making my next cycling venture a fundraising one, but then a literacy scheme I've loosely been involved with came to an abrupt end at the end of the summer when funds ran out, and really it would be much better if it could carry on ...

Hackney Pirates is a project based on 826 Valencia in San Francisco ... if you've got twenty four minutes then watch this, one because Dave Eggers is great and two because it  explains what Hackney Pirates is about much better than I can do in a few sentences.  But if this is all you've got to go by, it's simply about helping young people with literacy skills through one-on-one attention with volunteers.  The summer project had local kids produce a graphic novel based on the London skyline, a taste guide to local cuisine, and some poetry and music which they have compiled into a CD.  Now they're looking for shop-front and will be starting with an after-school club which is just the beginning if 826 is anything to go by. 

And a quick note on pedalling ... this time from Berlin to Istanbul.  Googlemaps says its about 1300 miles which means it's probably much more.  Preparation so far has involved circling the cites we might go through and a book on foraging.  Departure date is September 14th, wish us luck! x