How This Man and His Dog Spent Seven Years Walking Around the World

Although that sounds like hyperbole, Turcich really did it.

He completed the on-foot circumnavigation, which Guinness World Records defines as walking 18,000 miles and crossing four continents.

The seven-year journey, which started and ended at his home in New Jersey, began in 2006.

I latched on to that phrase and it’s been a guiding principle for me ever since.

Inspired by these men, Turcich decided to take on the challenge himself.

Turcich spent years preparing for his trip.

The first stage of his trip took Turcich from New Jersey to Panama.

Adopting a dog wasn’t in his original plan.

It didand Savannah turned out to be great company, too.

She’s been fantastic, he says.

It’s just nice to have someone to share moments with.

In September 2017, he returned home to the U.S. to fully recover.

There were definitely times when I was just really not in a good place, he says.

And I was thinking, what am I doing out here?

I’d been thinking about the walk for eight years before I even began it, he explains.

So it just would be insane to give up after a couple of years.

Turcich then continued through North Africa, where his route included Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

The strict travel restrictions ultimately meant Turcich had to abandon plans to visit Australia and Mongolia.

This [walking from country to country] is all shes ever known.

As for his homecoming, It was very surreal, Turcich says.

Notes were written in chalk on the sidewalk.

Coolers of water and beer were waiting.

As were hugs from loved ones.

Hesaysthat, strangely enough, his dominant emotion at crossing the finish line was a relief.

It’s been seven long years.

In truth, they felt like 20.

I’ve had wonderful adventures and have grown beyond recognition, but I’ve missed my friends and family.

I’ve longed to wake in a bed and not need to expose myself to the elements each day.

Those days are finally here.

I couldn’t imagine a better ending to The World Walk.

The walk was a dream, Turcich says, reflecting now on how the experience has grown him.

By the end I longed not for discovery, but familiarity.

The homecoming, though overwhelming, was the flood of friends and family I ached for.

Four hours passed by in a blink.

It’s important to leave, but it’s just as important to return.

Love, growth, and life are all meant to be shared.

I owe every bit of this adventure to my friend Annemarie, he says.

It’s important to leave, but it’s just as important to return.

Love, growth, and life are all meant to be shared.