A man who claims to be the first to have been to every nation on earth without taking a single flight or turning around to go home has finished his journey.
In his native Denmark’s harbour city of Aarhus, 44-year-old Torbjorn “Thor” Pedersen says he has just completed a 10-year voyage around the world that was totally completed by rail, bus, boat, and foot.
“I’ve been dreaming about coming back home and having it over with and done,” he said, describing his arrival as “bittersweet.” The day is over, then. I’m concerned about the future at the same time.
He said, “There are many things in the air and the unknown, mixed emotions.”
On October 10, 2013, Mr. Pedersen, who had previously worked in shipping and for the UN as a peacekeeper, left.
Had the pandemic not kept him in Hong Kong for two years, his voyage may have taken less time.
I figured it would take a total of no more than four years, maybe three and a half if I went a little quick, he added.
Le Gjerum, who flew out to see him and travel with him about 30 times during his journey, and he also kept up a long-distance romance.
Due to COVID-19, Ms. Gjerum, who is now his wife, said she admired her husband’s resilience but was looking forward to starting a “daily life together.”
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Graham Hughes, a British citizen, was the first person to travel to every nation without using an aeroplane; however, unlike Mr Pedersen, Mr Hughes made two home visits while on his journey.
Not all records have been broken this year, though.
Heidi Crowter, a resident of Coventry in the West Midlands, set a Guinness World Record earlier in June by recalling the birth dates of 70 celebrities in less than 180 seconds.
The Down’s syndrome-afflicted 27-year-old said: “I am feeling very proud of myself.” I have been writing a birthday list and practising a lot because I love to share my delight of birthdays with other people.
The oldest living dog in the world, Bobi, celebrated his 31st birthday with 100 guests a month earlier at his owner’s property in Portugal.
For the second time in 13 years, a woman in the US broke the record for the largest natural afro in April.