Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011
THEN
Oct. 5, 1974, American David Kunst completes the first verified walk around the world when he returns to his hometown of Waseca, Minn. David’s journey covers 14, 450 miles and takes four years to complete. David goes through 21 pairs of shoes taking more than 20 million steps during his trek. David’s brothers, John and Pete, help him walk the ambitious journey. However, only David actually completes the entire trek. John is killed by bandits in Afghanistan and, while in Australia, Pete decides to return to California. After Pete’s departure from the journey, an Australian schoolteacher named Jenni Samuel volunteers to tow David’s wagon with her car for a portion of the journey. David and Jenni subsequently fall in love and get married. David uses his walk to raise money for UNICEF.
NOW
Today, Canadian Jean Beliveau, 56, expects to arrive home in Montreal, Canada, on Oct. 16 after taking 11 years to walk around the world. Beliveau has walked through six continents and 64 countries wearing out 53 pairs of shoes along the way. During his journey, Beliveau was detained in Ethiopia, became very ill in Algeria, and was mugged in South Africa. However, considering quitting, Beliveau decides to continue. He has stayed in about 1,600 homes, and nine countries provided him with escorts "to guard him against terrorists or local criminals," Canadian news agency Cottage Country reported.
