AARHUS: A Danish man who claimed to be the primary to go to each nation on this planet in a single journey with out flying landed dwelling Wednesday after 10 years away.
Torbjorn Pedersen stepped off a Maersk container ship within the Danish port metropolis of Aarhus, after visiting his 203rd nation and closing nation — the Maldives — in late Might.
“I’ve been dreaming about coming again dwelling and having it over with and accomplished. In order that’s at the moment. On the similar time, I’m anxious concerning the future,” Pedersen instructed AFP, describing the return as bittersweet.
“Loads of issues are up within the air and within the unknown, blended feelings,” he mentioned whereas itemizing issues about restarting his profession and attempting to regulate to on a regular basis life.
Often called “Thor”, he has travelled by prepare, bus, boat and even on foot on the voyage he set off on October 10, 2013.
The 44-year-old – who beforehand had a profession throughout the transport sector – is the primary to make the feat.
Leaving Micronesia in January 2020, he continued to Hong Kong, the place he discovered himself caught for 2 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As soon as the borders have been open once more, he set off for the island nation of Palau, then persevering with to the nations of Oceania and the Pacific islands.
Took longer than anticipated
“Three have been to each nation twice. Two have been to each nation with out returning dwelling in between. And now, one has accomplished it utterly with out flying. What can I say? Good luck to the second,” he wrote on his weblog.
Eager to satisfy new individuals, the previous UN peacekeeper by no means employed a automobile, preferring as a substitute to journey on public transport.
Regardless of the geographical distance, Thor and his accomplice have managed to maintain their relationship alive.
In the course of the decade of journey, she travelled to go to him 27 instances. On the tenth event, he acquired down on one knee and requested for her hand in marriage – however sadly the pandemic compelled them to get married on-line.
His spouse Le Gjerum mentioned she discovered his stubbornness in finishing the duty admirable however added she was wanting ahead to having a “each day life collectively.”
The inspiration for the journey got here from an article his father emailed him.
He was first apprehensive however didn’t need the remorse of not doing it, he nevertheless conceded that he initially thought the journey could be accomplished in lower than half the time.
“I assumed it will take a most of 4 years in whole, possibly three and a half if I went somewhat quick.”
Thor, who documented his journey on social media and in a weblog, was additionally an envoy for the Pink Cross.
In line with the Guinness E book of World Data, Britain’s Graham Hughes was the primary particular person to circumnavigate the globe with no airplane, however his journey was interspersed with two returns dwelling, which Thor didn’t do.
