A six-and-a-half month honeymoon in a rowboat may seem impossible to some, but to Colin and Julie Angus, it's not only possible, it's been done.
The couple visited Squamish Tuesday (Oct. 20) to promote the book and video Rowed Trip: From Scotland to Syria by Oar. Although each have individually recorded amazing journeys in past years, the latest voyage from the northern tip of Scotland to Aleppo, Syria, is the first adventure the couple have written about together.
"I think it also gives you the opportunity for an interesting dynamic because you can reflect on the same situation from different viewpoints, or on each other's character traits in your own voice," said Julie, adding their writing method ensured each would be satisfied with the final product.
"It's nice to have your own voice in the book, and if you co-wrote the whole thing, we'd lose that, so writing alternating chapters sort of allows [us] to still maintain that."
The trip was a full-time job for the driven duo, whether it was researching and securing funding for their voyage, building the rowboats they would travel in, or actually completing the journey. That's not even mentioning producing the film and writing the book.
For Colin, adventuring has been an occupation for the most part of the last decade. While documenting his rafting adventures on the Amazon and Yenisey Rivers and his human-power round the world expedition, Colin has created a profession out of his passion.
And, he said, he hasn't let the business side of things spoil the fun.
"With each project it becomes all-consuming, [however] I don't think there's a point when you start feeling that you sort of transitioned from one to the other, I think by nature there's always going to be a little bit of both."
Colin said he's experienced a slight change in perception as he's gained experience and perspective from his travels.
"I think [a social and environmental consciousness] probably over the years becomes more important as you have these opportunities to go out and explore these different places, it also allows you to see how fragile these places are," he said.
"You feel more responsibility to give back when you have had these opportunities to enjoy [natural settings]."
Julie said she's hooked on documenting her journeys, and doesn't see a return to her roots as a biochemist any time soon. But she admits her professional training helped shape her as a writer and documentary filmmaker.
"I try and incorporate things [I] see in a bit of a scientific fashion, whether that's on the Atlantic Ocean, seeing diminished shark populations, or changing weather patterns, or on this journey in the Black Sea and seeing the decimated sea and [] green sludge along the shores," she said.
This time last year, Julie was in Squamish to present her book, Rowboat in a Hurricane. The couple were happy to return, knowing how appreciative the crowds would be, and what recreational opportunities they could encounter.
Julie spent significant amounts of time hiking and skiing in the region, and said she's amazed at the possibilities, adding, "it's just an outdoor playground here."
Colin, on the other hand, knew exactly what recreation he wants to dive into.
"Definitely, I think the whitewater would be the prime draw for me."
