Meet Tom Fremantle, an author, and adventurer from England, who, now in his early 50s, decided he wanted to walk around the world. Tom has now covered over 4,300 miles of his world walk but still has a long way to go. To complete an official world walk in accordance with the rules laid down by the World Runners (and Walkers) Association, Tom needs to cover over 26,230 kilometres (more than 16,300 miles). This would be equal to covering at least four continents coast to coast, every step of the way. We meet Tom during his journey while in Austria.

‘Sadly, humans are becoming increasingly scared of each other,’ said Tom. ‘But from my previous experience on the road, I was shown immense kindness.  I think we can trust one another much more than we think and hope to prove this is still true. ‘Hiking across the wilds of the Mojave Desert in California to the lush hills of Ireland, on through Germany’s Black Forest and down the swirling River Danube, Tom has now covered over 4,300 miles of his world walk but still has a long way to go. To complete an official world walk in accordance with the rules laid down by the World Runners (and Walkers) Association, Tom needs to cover over 26,230 kilometres (more than 16,300 miles). This would be equal to covering at least four continents coast to coast, every step of the way.

His incredible journey

Tom started his journey at the US-Mexico border near San Diego with a Juarez street dog named Einstein. Though the logistics of walking a dog through the desert proved too tricky. “It was unfair on poor Einstein, who was soon struggling, and naive of me to think it was possible to take him through that terrain”, said Tom. On the bright side, Einstein is now living happily with a dog-loving family in California.

The first part of Tom’s journey covered 2,700 miles across America from California to Savannah in Georgia facing some wild conditions along the way.  “Now I’m about midway through Europe, hoping to finish the European stage in Istanbul. Next is likely to be Africa. The whole walk will take over three years. It’s quite a mission but, other than losing a few toenails, dodging rattlesnakes and the odd fierce storm, so far, so good.”

Kindness all the way

Tom recalls the great kindness he has received on his journey, often being put up by complete strangers. He has spent nights everywhere from “churches to Mexican restaurants, from barbershops to horse and cattle ranches”. The same for Europe too, especially the pubs in Ireland, who often let him camp in their gardens.

Tom wild camps most of the time but loves meeting families who put him up or other travelers in campsites and youth hostels. Tom met me (@MohamedNawaz) in the dorm of a hostel in the little Irish town of Killarney. What were the odds? Tom tells me he is no great athlete or survival expert but does have walking stamina. ‘I’m like an old mule,’ he laughs. ‘Never stop plodding. Keep on keeping on is my motto!’.

On his world walk Tom is raising money for three charities that mean a lot to him. They are – The Alzheimer’s Association, The Puzzle Centre and Medical Detection Dogs. For more information on the charities and how to donate please visit: tomsworldwalk .com/donate/

You can follow Tom’s journey on his website Tomsworldwalk .com and when you see him in your town, do say hi.

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Photos Supplied by Tom Fremantle