American Man Walked Around the World with His Dog for 7 Years

 Tom Turcich (NJ, USA) walked 48,000 kilometers with a dog named Savannah, through 38 countries on 6 continents.

Few people travel the world, and even fewer complete the journey.

However, on May 21, Tom Turcich (33) became the 10th person to achieve this remarkable feat. His four-legged companion, Savannah, was the first dog to circumnavigate the world.

They returned home to a warm welcome from family, friends, and even fans. Many people stood on both sides of the road waiting for the boy and then walked with him for a while to go home.

"It's hard to describe the feeling. I've been fantasizing about the end of the journey for a long time," Turcich, who now lives at his parents' home in Harden Township (New Jersey, U.S.), told CNN.

Bumpy Journey

The tour was inspired by the sudden death of Ann Marie, Turcich's best friend for many years. This unfortunate girl was involved in a jet ski accident when she was 17 years old.

“Mary’s death had a huge impact on me. It reminded me that I too could die at any moment. Then, I started to observe and reassess everything,” he recalls.

After that, Turcich decided he needed an adventure and gradually learned all the ways he could.

He sketched out the itinerary for the trip while trying to raise funds for the trip. He worked hard and saved enough money to travel independently for the first two years. After graduation, he also moved in with his parents.

His globetrotting luggage included a shopping cart and some camping equipment and tools.

About nine years after coming up with the idea, Turcich embarked on a circumnavigation of the world on April 2, 2015, just days before his 26th birthday.

His luggage included a stroller with a walker, a sleeping bag, a laptop, a DSLR camera, and a plastic container of food.

Especially the day before departure, the boss of a local company discovered the boy's plan and decided to sponsor him. Turcich said the businessman happened to know Ann Marie and her family, so he wanted to offer him some support.

Turcich's trip aims to "reach every continent and avoid getting into trouble."

Originally, he planned the trip to only last about 5.5 years. Ultimately, the journey ended after 7 years mainly due to 2 major delays.

The first incident was when Turcich was infected with bacteria, it took him months to recover. Then the next event was the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originally, Turcich had no intention of finding a four-legged companion.

After 4 months away, Turcich adopted Savannah from an animal shelter in Austin (TX, USA) and made the bitch his mate.

He feels it's right to have a 4-legged friend as the dog helps him "watch" at night.

From being invited to local weddings in Turkey and Uzbekistan, to being attacked with a knife in Panama, the young man has experienced various ups and downs along the way. He documents his journey on his channel and blog, according to The World Walk.

Turcich admits he often asked himself "should I continue," but never considered giving up.

"Of course, I've had some bad times. I thought I could be with family and friends instead of braving the cold rain in Germany. But, I don't think I can stop. I've been thinking about walking for almost 9 years, so if I It was fun to just start for a few years and then give up," he shared.

In 2018, the couple stopped in an orange field in Valencia, Spain.

The Guinness Book of World Records calls for traveling 18,000 miles (approximately 30,000 kilometers) around the world on foot and crossing at least four continents. Turcich and his dog crossed that threshold. They walked an average of 29-38 kilometers per day.

"Savannah has always had more energy than me. On my days across the desert, I just want to lay down at the end of the day, but Savannah still wants to play the chase game," he said.

After 7 years of walking, I want to "repair"

When the couple returned to the United States, Turcich was more eager than ever to complete the trip.

“Seven years is a long time. The moment I got to the finish line, I was so excited. I no longer wanted to clean the tent every morning, just look forward to being close to family and friends again,” he shared.

Ann Marie's family was among those who welcomed Turcich home. He said he wasn't necessarily on the adventure because of his late friend, but "she was the catalyst and inspiration behind the trip".

"Mary's death inspired me to live. Her family felt a little less pain when I wrapped up the trip," he said.

Currently, Turcich is in his hometown, meeting friends and spending time with his family with the girlfriend he met at the end of the trip.

He's focusing on writing a memoir of his travels while his dog Savannah settles into a permanent home. He has no plans to go anywhere in the future.

"I want to enjoy life. Even if you don't have to walk or even travel, that's a good thing. I don't like it anymore. I want to stay in one place and blend in with the rhythm of life around me," he shares.