Somewhat reminiscent of an intimate Lonely Planet Travel Guide, Along Dusty Roads explores the adventures of Andrew and Emily’s “slow-travels”. They get to “live, breath and fall in love with every country” they’ve ever visited. Prior to this interview, Andrew and Emily worked with us on a sunglasses collaboration. And what was gathered from their unsurprisingly characteristic and genuine responses is that travelling was (at least for them) an experience that one should definitely fulfil in their lives. Andrew and Emily talk epic experiences, working as a team and travel essentials.
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SBG: What motivated the both of you to start Along Dusty Roads?
In the months before we headed out on our two year trip to Latin America, blogs played an integral part in our planning process. Emily was already a fan of food blogs, but travel blogging was a completely new concept; the medium really appealed to us.
Finding your passion…
We’re both mildly creative people but had never really shared it in the open. And so, having an outlet or a platform for that whilst we travelled really appealed to us. I think most people who know us weren’t really aware of how deep our passion for photography and travel ran. Setting up Along Dusty Roads provided a perfect space to express and develop it out in the open.
We also want to help and inspire to travel more and to travel in, hopefully, a better or more meaningful way (like we try to do with our travel philosophy).
Who tends to focus on either the photography or the writing a bit more? And how do you two manage to share the load whilst travelling?
We get asked this a lot, and in all honesty, we share almost everything. We are lucky in that we both have a very similar eye for photography, in fact, we often head out with two different cameras and end up taking the same shot without even realising it! Our writing styles complement each other too, but if one of us has a certain passion or perspective for an article or guide, then we’re happy to make the post a little more personal and individualised.
Finding a balance…
When we’re on the road, producing content becomes a careful balancing act. You need the time to go out and explore, learn about where you are visiting and take beautiful photos, but then this needs to be translated through real-time social media. To be honest, we don’t always have this balance perfect – it’s a tricky task!
What advice would you give to new travel bloggers that you wish you knew yourself?
Understand why you want to start a blog from the beginning. Is it for family and friends, for personal exploration or are you wanting to create something a bit more professional? Make it beautiful. When we look back at some of our old content, we can’t help but cringe, but we know we wouldn’t be where we are today without that period of development.
Additionally, don’t go into blogging for the wrong reasons and don’t underestimate how much work, learning and time goes into a lot of the important work behind the scenes.
We’re curious about your personal style! Would you say that travelling has in some way influenced how you dress now?
When we were travelling non-stop, ‘style’ became a pretty loose concept – and clothes that may once have looked fabulous looked, frankly, terrible. That’s been one of the great things about having a base. We have a wardrobe, we can buy nice clothes again, and take ‘outfits’ to new destinations.Unfortunately, in the world of social media, how you look matters, and we have learnt to embrace the ‘Instagram hat’, and Emily has definitely become a bit more of a ‘girl’!
@Emily, do you have a favourite pair of sunglasses that you usually travel with?
I won’t go anywhere without a pair of Ray-Bans. After several years of loving the Aviator style, I’ve recently made the switch to the Ray-Ban Clubround 901 – and couldn’t be happier!
@Andrew, which pair of sunglasses do you wear the most?
I recently acquired a pair of Persol PO8649S sunglasses in Black, which I loved! Unfortunately, within four days they were lost at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea after a particularly spectacular dismount from a kayak!
Do you think that eyewear, in general, is essential for travellers like yourself?
Absolutely. Even in traditionally colder countries, protecting your eyes from the sun is incredibly important – whether that’s on a beach in Brazil, hiking in Peru or exploring beautiful cities in Europe! And they can also turn a half decent travel photo of you into something a lot more aesthetically pleasing.
Can you describe the best experience the both of you have had in a country that you’ve been to recently?
Earlier this month, we spent a wonderful week in Menorca on a brand campaign. Yet, aside from all the wonderful meals, fantastic sunsets and epic experiences, the most incredible day of the trip was just us two on a scooter exploring hidden beaches and country roads. Discovering a new place independently, with no schedule or expectations really is our favourite way to travel – and proof that you really can find adventure wherever you go!
Follow Andrew and Emily’s travels and find inspiration for your next adventure at alongdustyroads.com
