Colin Angus: Scotland to SyriaFrom time to time, I like to let Mountaineers know about interesting things going on in the world. This is definitely one of them. Colin Angus is an adventurer in the truest sense. Raised on Vancouver Island, Angus has spent the better part of his adult life seeking adventures that not many would attempt. He has crossed the South American continent, hiking from the Pacific Coast to the source of the Amazon, then following that river to its outlet on the Atlantic. He paddled the Yenisy River in Mongolia, the world's fifth longest river. Over the past five years, he has made it his goal to traverse the globe using only human powered conveyances (boats and bikes). And now, as you'll read below, he and his new bride are paddling from the northern tip of Scotland to middle-eastern country of Syria.
Colin Angus is posting updates of this seven-month journey on his website (given below) and I know that more than a few of your outdoor enthusiasts will be interested in following this latest adventure. We have been talking with Colin about giving a talk here, so stay tuned for your chance to hear from this intrepid explorer in person.
Enjoy.
- Webmaster
For the past five months, Colin and Julie Angus have been designing and building two rowboats to withstand a journey of 6500 km (~4000 miles) from the Northeast tip of Scotland to Aleppo, Syria. On February 26, they will meet their boats in London, then travel to Dunnet Head, the northernmost point on mainland Britain. Facing an average March temperature of 4 degrees, and relentless gales off the North Sea, they will begin their journey.
The seven-month adventure takes the Angus' through 3 seas (Black, North and Mediterranean), 3 major rivers (Thames, Rhine and Danube) and a plethora of canals. They traverse 15 countries, including Britain, France Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Turkey and Syria. The trip takes Colin and Julie through their ancestral homelands - his parents are from Scotland, and her parents are from Germany and Syria.
Within the boats are folding bicycles and a trailer system, allowing the travellers to tow their boats behind them for on-land explorations, fetching supplies and the occasional portages.
Once the journey starts, Colin and Julie wil post weekly updates on the website www.rowedtrip.com, which will also feature pictures and video. If your cable provider has CBC, you can also follow the trip on the national program "As it Happens."
Be sure to check your local library or favorite bookstore for copies of Colin Angus' books, "Lost in Mongolia" and "Amazon Extreme." You can also find out more about Colin and Julie's adventures on their website, Angus Adventures.
