Scotland to Syria by rowboats and, when necessary, bicycles

Colin and Julie Angus are two adventurers who are taking a 4,000-mile rowboat and bicycle expedition across Europe that you'll be able to follow online beginning in March.

The two experienced travellers from Canada are rowing down rivers, coastlines and canals from Scotland to Syria. When it's time to portage over passes or around dangerous rapids, they'll use the foldable bicycles and trailers stowed on board to tow their watercraft.

That makes it a completely human-powered expedition on old trade and migration routes from the Scottish highlands to the deserts of the Middle East. The trip also includes a component that enables children in classrooms around the world to interact with the travellers.

Larry Lagarde at the RideThisBike.com website tipped me off about this adventure. He also donated through his website the two full-sized folding mountain bikes the pair will use. Colin Angus will be riding a flat black SwissBike LX; Julie is riding a baby blue Montague CX.

Experience

Colin and Julie are experienced at outfitting and completing expeditions. Colin is the first person to circumnavigate the globe by human power and July is the only woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland.

Their website includes many helpful tips on preparing for expeditions, including advice on how to choose a bicycle and equipment for a bike tour.

Rowboats

But rowing is what they'll be doing mainly on this trip across Europe. They designed rowboats for this trip that are as seaworthy as a kayak yet can carry as much supplies as a canoe. They're propelled by oars and a sliding seat, and can carry lots of supplies, including a foldable bike and trailer.

The trailer pieces can also connect the rowboats into a catamaran and platform on which users and cook and camp.

Colin and Julie also are involving schoolchildren in the adventure by letting them vote on decisions they need to make, such as, “Do we row across Loch Ness or bicycle around it?” Read more about the adventure learning initiative.

You can read all about the preparations and equipment for their upcoming trip at the website Rowed Trip. Updates will be posted at Rowed Trip Updates.