Humans have had a long standing fascination with travel, particularly in regards to various attempts to circumnavigate the world. In recent years, attempts have been made in hot-air balloons and various types of vessels. Most recently, Adrian Cross, a self-proclaimed adventurer and master yachtsman, attempted to circumnavigate the globe in his 31-foot yacht, the Gentoo. Unfortunately, Cross had to give up his trip entirely this week after he had made only 200 miles of progress after 130 days. Cross was unable to make it out of the English Channel successfully, and has been bogged down by an oil slick and inclement weather. He is set to make another attempt next month, though the route of his trip takes him rather close to Iraq, which could be even more harrowing.

The first link leads to a news article from the Times dealing with Cross's decision to end his current attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The second link will take visitors to a news piece about earlier setbacks encountered by Cross (and his motivations for the trip), published by the Guernsey Press and Star. The third link will take visitors to a news article about the fastest circumnavigation of the world (by sail), accomplished by Bruno Peyron and the crew of his catamaran, the Orange. The fourth link leads to excerpts from lectures by Thor Heyerdahl, the legendary Norwegian anthropologist renowned for his own adventurers aboard the Kon-Tiki. The fifth link will take visitors to an account of the world's first successful circumnavigation, which took place under the direction of Ferdinand de Magellan. The sixth link leads to a special online report about the first successful circumnavigation of the globe by hot-air balloon, which was finally accomplished on March 20, 1999. The last link leads to an online version of what is probably the most well-known novel about globe-trotting, Around The World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne.