Beyond the Horizon: The Great Race to Finish the First Human-Powered Circumnavigation of the Planet

By Colin Angus

Book Overview

In June, 2004, Colin Angus left Vancouver on his bicycle. Nearly two years later, he rolled back in, looking like a castaway, and having completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe.

Angus cycled, skiied, and rowed a route that took him to Alaska, across the Bering Sea and the Siberian winter, across Europe from Moscow to Portugal, then across the Atlantic to Costa Rica-a 156-day rowing odyssey. From there it was a short 8,300 kilometre ride back to Vancouver. Along the way he burned through 4,000 chocolate bars, 72 inner tubes, 250 kgs of freeze-dried foods, 31 dorado fish (caught from the sea), 2 offshore rowboats, 4 bicycles, 80 kgs of clothing. And he showed the world that if he can travel 43,000 kilometres without polluting the planet, then the rest of us can get off our butts, and clean up our own acts.

"We lay in the rowboat cabin as the seas swelled and the sky boiled like a devil's cauldron. Slanting yellow sun beams cut between black squalls, and corrugated cirrus clouds interlaced the remaining areas of blue. Huge anvil heads roiled and billowed, like slow-moving atomic explosions. Flashes of lightning illuminated the IMAX screen of the horizon. Such energy and volatility would have been breathtakingly beautiful, if we had been watching from nearly anywhere else, and if it weren't for the fact that it was all just a prelude to a killer storm.

It was hard to believe that yet another tropical cyclone was heading our way. We had chosen the worst hurricane season in recorded history to make our five-month, 10,000 km unsupported rowboat crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Now, two months into our voyage, it looked very likely our expedition might come to an abrupt end.
Our voyage across the Atlantic was only a part of a much larger expedition: an attempt to complete the first human-powered circumnavigation of the planet. So far we had trekked, skied, cycled, canoed, and rowed non-stop across three continents and were half-way across our second ocean. Now, as I huddled in the dog-house sized cabin with my fianc e waiting for the Hurricane Epsilon to reach us, I cursed myself for ever believing I could achieve such an impossible quest."
--From Beyond the Horizon

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385663641
• ISBN13: 9780385663649
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Anchor Canada
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A triumph of spirit and fortitude

The story of Colin Angus' two-year quest to circle the world on human power starting in mid 2004 is captivating. "Beyond the Horizon," his travel adventure, reads like a thriller. I felt as if I too had endured 26,700 grueling miles rowing across the Bering and Atlantic Seas and cycling, hiking and skiing across Canada, Asia, Europe and North and Central America. I too felt the painful rift between Angus and Tim Harvey, his first team mate, and the joy of completing the second half of the trip with Julie Wafaei, his fiancée. Angus survived getting lost in sub-zero temperatures in Siberia, a life-threatening kidney infection in Russia, the Atlantic's most severe hurricane season in recorded history and a scary encounter with a grizzly. It was lovely reading about Angus' accidental meeting with Rosie Swale-Pope in Siberia on her own around the world run. I'd just read "Children of the Horn," her second book, about sailing around Cape Horn in a 30-foot catamaran in 1973. I can see why Outside Magazine named Angus one of 25 "bold visionaries with world changing dreams" and National Geographic named him and Wafaei the 2006 Adventurer of the Year.

Great read, will hold your attention

I purchased this book as I enjoy reading about cycling adventures and knew that Angust used a bicycle over much of this journey. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reading stories of human struggle against the elements and tales of travel amound different cultures. As for a true story of cicumnavigating the world by human power, this one falls just a little short. Angus made this circumnavigation entirely in the northern hemisphere, did not touch antipodal points, and had the aid of his friends while rowing. Overall, read this book and enjoy the journey.

An epic adventure!

Colin Angus set out to complete the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe, setting out from his home in the Vancouver B.C. area. Partnering with a friend, their relationship in this two-man team fissures in Siberia and Angus forges ahead solo before meeting up with his fiancé Julie in Moscow. Aside from the physical strain, the interpersonal challenges loom large in pulling off a feat like this. Angus undertakes this monumental task in order to highlight human-power, to raise consciousness about the environment and the perils of global warming. The book is an entertaining adventure read, though oddly paced. With about 40 pages left, Colin and Julie are barely half-way across the Atlantic, which they crossed in a rowboat. In the remaining pages, they must complete their trans-Atlantic crossing and bicycle up through Central American, the United States and part of Canada. The balance of the book suffers somewhat by this once over lightly treatment. Overall, though, BEYOND THE HORIZON is an uplifting and inspiring true life tale of persistence and endurance. RECOMMEND!

Passion for adventure

As a full time polar explorer and adventurer myself I admire the way Angus has had the guts to step out and make his dream a reality. If you as a reader are looking for inspiration and that push to get up and get out then this book is your read this year.