At the age of 19, St. Paul-native, Andrew Siess, set out to bike from Minnesota to the southernmost tip of South America and back. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, the momentous trip would be the first of a series of expeditions the young adventurer would later embark on – from a canoeing excursion down the Mississippi River to his latest and greatest endeavor: a walk around the world.
For the past two years, that’s what the 24-year-old has been doing – traversing the globe by foot, always with a camera in tow.
His incredible journey began with a rough trip across the Atlantic. A minor set back, caused by a boating collision with a sperm whale, almost threatened the entire excursion right from the onset. After being rescued by a German cargo ship, however, Andrew eventually found his way to Italy, where he stayed for a brief period of time, teaching tennis and earning money. From there, he traveled to Tokyo, then flew out to Alaska and momentarily visited home in the south, before heading out again to make his way to Winona on day 809 of his journey.
Now, all he has left to do is to cross the Atlantic Ocean once more and walk from Portugal to Italy, where he initially set out on his trip. Altogether, he has clocked in more than 12,000 miles, traveled through 20+ countries and worn out three pairs of shoes, one pair of sandals and four pushcarts to date. He has also been invited as the guest of honor for a wedding in Kazakhstan, was interrogated by foreign police officers and welcomed into the homes of strangers, who offered him a place to stay and food to eat.
The memories he has collected along the way are documented in the photos he takes and the journal entries he writes. They serve as constant reminders to himself of the amazing adventure, but also as a source of inspiration for young, eager would-be travelers around the world.
To follow Andrew’s adventures, check out his Facebook and Blog.
