A handful of mules saw the Kunsts across the world. WasecaCountyhistorycenter
In 1974, Dave Kunst completed the first recorded walk around the Earth, a spectacular journey of nearly 15,000 miles over more than four years. Kunst, a Minnesota native, joined a long line of Caucasians becoming the historic first of a feat likely done many years ago. However, that neither sullies the incredible achievement or particularly bothers the historic earth walker, "I'm doing this for myself mainly. I was tired of Waseca, tired of my job, tired of a lot of little people who don't want to think, and tired of my wife," Kunst said at the time. "The walk was a perfect way to change all that: I just walked out of town."
Kunst’s unimaginable journey saw tragedy, love, multiple mules, and lots of walking. Here are the highlights of his incredible story.
The brothers got the idea the mule from a fellow Minneapolitan.
A Donkey & An Inspiration
Dave got his adventurous side from his mother despite her complete lack of traveling experience. “My mother didn't do anything adventurous, but she had an adventurous spirit,” said Kunst. “She said, ‘David, I want you to look at everything twice. Once for yourself, and once for me.’”
His first idea was to drive to the tip of South America but a co-worker replied that it had been done before. Instead, he should walk around the world. “Well, I never thought about walking around the world myself. But I always wanted to get in the Guinness Book of World Records.”
Alongside his brother, John, and a donkey named Willie-Make-It, Dave left Waseca, Minnesota on June 20, 1970. They traveled with a letter of endorsement from U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey, a scroll for mayoral stamps marking their journey, UNICEF cards, and a $1,000. Upon reaching the shores of the East Coast, they gave up Willie-Make-It before flying to Portugal.
Kunst Brothers on the George Washington Bridge. davekunst1.com
European Adventures
Once they reached Portugal, they received a troublesome donkey who slowed their pace. In Lisbon, they swapped said troublemaker for a more amenable Portuguese Army mule, proclaiming him Willie-Make-It II. Besides helping carry their belongings, their new travel companion became the secret sauce for finding accommodations.
Originally, the brothers planned to work along their journey but they found many friendly hosts thanks to Willie-Make-It II. “Most people asked how they could help. Always the first thing we would say–‘Please take care of our mule,’” said Kunst. “[They’d say] ‘Well, that solves that, now what about you guys?’ And they always put us up for the night.”
Their little troupe adventured across Spain, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Turkey, meeting royalty along with other fellow travelers. They also added two dogs at various points, Drifter I and Drifter II.
The journey would change the Kunsts forever, for better and for worse.
Tragedy Strikes
For their walk through Iraq, John suggested they should try to help people on their journey. As Dave remembered, “He was a little bit more compassionate than me. ‘He said, ‘Maybe we should do something for somebody else when we're doing something for ourselves.’” They agreed to sign people up for donations to UNICEF but did not take any money for fear of robbery.
For the most dangerous parts of the country, the brothers received a police escort but once the escort believed they were out of the woods, their worst fears came true. In the night, robbers struck, killing John and severely wounding Dave with gunfire. After dragging himself to the roadway, a passerby helped him to the hospital where he recovered enough to fly home.
All three Kunst brother participated at various points.
An Unfulfilled Promise
Before John’s untimely death Dave remembered his brother saying, “Dave, I love walking around the world. It’s a great adventure, and I love it. If I die walking around the world, you tell mom and dad I died happily.”
Many might have given up after such heartbreak but not Dave. “I was more determined to finish than ever before because I decided we walked halfway around the world, we’re going to do the rest.” He felt more emboldened than ever when his other brother Pete told him, “Two Kunst brothers started the walk, and two Kunst brothers are going to finish the walk.’” The pair became the first non-Asians to walk through the Khyber Pass since Alexander the Great. After making it through India, the two brothers flew to Australia, leaving their Willie-Make-It II and dog behind.
Love And Controversy
After his employer called Pete back to the US, Dave went it alone Down Under until he met a schoolteacher named Jenni Samuel. Despite his being married with kids, “I told her, ‘I’m coming back,’ said Kunst. She told me later in our lives that she really didn’t believe me.” Apparently, destiny brought them back together when newly adopted Willie-Make-It III died of a heart attack. Together, Dave walked from Perth to Sydney and Samuel idled on in her car, carrying his stuff.
Kunst’s walk from California to Minnesota became a lot more complicated when an off-the-cuff interview and his confession to an extramarital affair painted him in a very poor light. As Dave recalled, “He got our whole town of Waseca against us just by that damn article. I really didn’t care. I knew I was going to make it, and I knew as soon as I made it, I was on my way back to Australia for Jenni.”
Many years later as Dave and Jenni remained together, he reminisced, “I think I've proven how if you decide you want to do something in your life, and you make up your mind, you got to do it.” In 2004, the Kunst Brothers were honored with a sign in Caledonia, Minnesota that reads, “Caledonia: Birthplace of the Earthwalkers David, Peter, and John Kunst.”
