Rowed Trip: A Journey by Oar from Scotland to Syria Paperback – November 24, 2009

This is a superb book about rowing (not paddling, really) and peddling through Europe. The husband and wife author/trekkers contrived to manufacture two boats which would accommodate bicycles under their decks and trailers which could carry the boats behind the bicycles when the water got too thin or too bureaucratic. Scottish lock keepers are unhelpful but English lock keepers are much more accommodating. French lock keepers fall in between but truck stop food in France is superb. The best country in Europe for both bicycling and rowing is Germany. The Germans actually have parallel canal locks to service both the big bulk carriers and the little pleasure boats. Also excellent bike paths. From Germany the cyclist-aquanauts descended the Danube to the Black Sea then on to Syria. What a triumph of athleticism! There is only one mention of back pain and that is taken care of with aspirin. Perhaps next they will fly to the moon.

I like the way they trade off writing their accounts of every other country they travel through. Both good writers and you can see the differences in their personalities. I have lived in Europe and I expedition kayak, so their accounts of the good and bad parts of the trip were meaningful. Reading it makes me want to get out there and do my own trips.

Husband and wife decide to do a long self propelled trip together from Scotland to Syria, following water ways as much as possible. Sharing some of their inner thoughts about each other during the journey was amusing. Passing through many countries and encounters with the locals also reminded me of an adventurous version of a Bill Bryson book. They also faced many obstacles, but managed to carry on, and despite knowing that they eventually reach their goal, it created suspenseful reading.

Well written but not much action. Rowing through canals is not much of an adventure. I very much like their other adventure books, but this one falls short. Might as well talk about my day at work.

I have put this book to one side after reading up to arriving at Dover.....just cannot get into it....seems that this book was written in haste without any real thought or polish....very monotone...it's a shame because I was really looking forward to this book's release only to be disappointed."The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow" by A.J.Mackinnon is a far better read.

Well told story

Great book, right price, good service!