Public attention was low at the beginning of the tour .
He soon attracted international media attention as he progressed on a 26 - month trek , logging more than 40,000 km through 34 countries on four continents before crossing Canada .
Although public attention was low at the beginning of the tour , he soon attracted international media attention as he progressed on a 26 - month trek , logging more than 40,000 km through 34 countries on four continents before crossing Canada .