Bob Pedersen's Trip at a Glance
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|---|---|
| Departure Year | |
| Duration | |
| Route | Multiple destinations |
| Budget | (~ in 2026 dollars) |
| Age at Departure | |
| Occupation | |
Route
Round-the-world journey.
2026 note: Route information from early 2000s travel planning; current conditions may differ significantly.
In Their Words
When did you go on your RTW trip?
May-October 2001How old were you when you took this trip?
55Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
US$14,000Nationality
USAWhere do you live now?
Eugene, Oregon, USAOccupation Before your trip: Restaurant ManagerNow: Starving WriterHow did your travels affect your career when you got back?
I have never really had a “career” to speak of, so my trip did not really cause any interruption. I’ll just have to go out and find another job.What is the route you took/places you visited?
I traveled around the world without ever getting on an airplane. A dream since childhood, I went from Oregon to Los Angeles by train, and across the Pacific by freighter to Hong Kong. From Hong Kong, I traveled by train through China and Mongolia to Russia, across Russia on the Trans-Siberian railway to St. Petersburg, and finally to Helsinki. I then traveled by train south through Eastern Europe to Istanbul. From Istanbul to selected Greek Islands by ferry, and ferry from the Greek mainland to Italy. On the train again for the northerly trip through Western Europe to Liverpool, England. I then boarded another freighter bound for Philadelphia, and trained from Philly to Eugene, Oregon.Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I have wanted to travel around the globe since childhood. After 30 years of travel to over 50 countries, I came up with the idea of doing the trip without ever boarding an airplane. From where does this wanderlust come? Probably too many evenings as a child with nothing but National Geographic for entertainment.Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:Best Moment
Meeting new friendsWorst Moment
Getting struck by a car in Milan, ItalyBiggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
Inter-island ferry travel in GreeceBiggest surprise?
How much I enjoyed RussiaWho is the most
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This profile was originally published on BootsnAll. Budget figures have been adjusted for 2026 context.