Adele Wolf. 2" x 2 1/4" color photo.

A few minutes after John and Dave and their mule, Willie Makeit II walked through the Royal Palace gates Princess Grace walked out on the balcony that overlooked the courtyard. Then slowly she started down the staircase to greet the brothers. About half way down she stopped, smiled and said, "I've met a lot of people but never two guys with a mule, will she kick" then she laughed. Her Royal Highness continued to the bottom of the stairs and welcomed the brothers to Monaco. They chatted with the ... more

An Italian newspaper reporter captured the brothers and Willie Makeit II having a good mule laugh during their visit to San Remo, Italy. The Russian Orthodox Church is in the background.

The Kunst brothers and Willie Makeit II with Thor Heyerdahl inside a small restaurant in Alassio, Italy on June 12, 1971. The mule caused quite a stir knocking over bottles and glasses while passing tables to meet the Norwegian adventurer. The brothers were invited to the Heyerdahl residence in Colla Micheri for breakfast. He gave them an autographed copy of his Ra expeditions. Another world walk highlight.

July 24, 1971 the Kunst brothers walked into the city of canals. John Kunst can be seen leading Willie Makeit II across the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy. According to officials Willie Makeit II was the first mule to enter the historic city in over a hundred years. The mayor's first reaction was, "That's Impossible, impossible."

John and Dave Kunst with Willie Makeit II in Venice; spent the day in Venice, Italy exploring sites like Plaza St. Mark. The locals had mixed reactions to seeing a big mule in the plaza and on the bridges. Some exclaimed, "Mulla! Mulla! Mulla!" Others called out "No mullas! No mullas! No mullas!" some just said, "Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!" It was an exciting and funny day for the Kunst brothers. A real life experience to be remembered fondly. Italy was the most fun country the brothe ... more

August 2, 1971 the Mayor of Trestle, Italy signed the scroll the brothers carried to record their walk around the world. The document was signed by mayors and village leaders of towns the brothers spent the night around the world. Princess Grace, Thor Heyerdahl and American Ambassadors also signed it. The world walk scroll is now at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The Yugoslavian farmer in the background gave the Kunst brothers their first dog and they named him Drifter. The farmer had read in his local newspaper that the Portuguese gave the two Americans a mule so he wanted to provide them with a dog. John hoped to get a picture of the stork in the nest atop the tree but the bird flew the coop before he focused the camera. Drifter was a friendly and fun addition to the walk for the brothers. He also barked if intruders approached their campsite at night. ... more

The Kunst brothers walked into Sofia, Bulgaria October 2, 1971. Dave and Willie Makeit II posed with the Russian Orthodox Church in background. The Communist officials were unwilling to offer any assistance to the American brothers. Dave and John were invited to stay with the American Embassy Marine Guards for five days. Willie Makeit II stayed at the Embassy stables. A Bulgarian tourist employee who spoke English and befriended the brothers told them that if they had walked across the Soviet Un ... more

October 15, 1971 Drifter, Willie Makeit II and Dave walked passed a large mosque in Edirne, Turkey. Experiencing the first Moslem country on the walk was a real cultural shock for the Kunst brothers. The call to prayer from high in the minarets of the mosques five times a day was a startling reality. A Turkish soldier who spoke English helped them find a place to camp where Willie Makeit II could graze. He then took the brothers to a local restaurant for dinner. He told them that they would have ... more

The Hurriyet Newspaper in Istanbul, Turkey gave the Kunst brothers a 4 foot by 6 foot wooden wheeled supply wagon. It was needed to carry more water and supplies because the distances between towns and villages were increasing. They named their home on wheels the USA Turk-Machine. The Turkish wagon would save their lives down the road when they crossed deserts in Iran and Afghanistan. The brothers and their mule walked across the Afghan Desert of Death during the summer of 1972 and temperatures ... more

Harold Frentz. Material: paper. Size: 2" x 3 1/2". Description: white cardstock; black print across front: phone number, Harold G. Frentz and California address.

Paul Sill's Story Theater. Material: paper. Size: 2 3/4" x 4 1/4". Description: red cardstock; black print: "Waseca High School Drama Department Presents Paul Sills' Story Theater..Central I. S. Auditorium.."

Waseca High School Junior Senior Banquet. Material: paper. Size: 3 1/2" x 4 1/4" (folded). Description: gray cardstock cover; black print graphic of windmill and sailboats with title: "Memories W. H. S."; white inside pages information: May 15, 1937, Lakeside Country Club, ownership page, programme, menu and blank autograph and memory pages.

Esbere, a young Turk they got aquatinted with in Ankara walked with the Kunst brothers for a few days in Eastern Turkey. He enjoyed playing with Drifter II when the brothers stopped to rest during the day. The picture was taken about 15 miles from the Iranian border. Esbere was well educated and spoke fluent English. He helped Dave and John communicate when they entered Turkish villages. Esbere did get frustrated when young men and boys of some villages pestered the walkers. They sometimes threw ... more

Willie Makeit II, John, Dave and Drifter II taking a rest near Dogeibeyozet, Turkey with Mt. Ararat in the background. It is thought by some that Noah's Ark is located on the 16000 foot high mountain. They were getting close to the Iranian border where Esbere who took the picture would have to say good-bye. He didn't have a passport so he couldn't cross into Iran. Esbere painted the head of a mule and the earth on the back canvas of the wagon to leave his mark. April 18, 1972 the walkers thanked ... more

May 25, 1972 Dave walked Willie Makeit II around Shahyad Tower outside of Tehran, Iran. The arch rises from Azadi Square in the shadow of the Elburz (Alborz) mountain range just north of the city. Though not as wondrous as the snowy peaks of Mount Damavand it is a 148 foot tall masterpiece of cut marble. The tower was completed in 1971 to celebrate twenty five hundred years of the Persian empire. It marks the entrance to the Iranian capital city.

Dave, Willie Makeit II, General Ellis W. Williamson, General Louis Walt and John on the American Embassy grounds in Tehran, Iran. Dave got Willie Makeit II to laugh at the generals causing all to have a good mule laugh. May 25th. until June 10th. 1972 the Kunst brothers, Willie Makeit II, Drifter II and the USA-Turk machine stayed in the American Embassy compound. Dave and John were the guests of the Marine Guards. Willie enjoyed the grassy yard. June 11th until July 10th. The brothers were invi ... more

August 12, 1972 the Kunst brothers walked into the Holy City of Meshhed, Iran. They stopped and let the locals, mainly kids pet Willie Makeit II. The desert area was hot and dry and walking in such extreme conditions would have been impossible without the little Turkish supply wagon. It allowed the brothers to carry up to seventy gallons of water, more supplies and the luxury of sleeping off the ground.

August 24, 1972 after crossing into Afghanistan from Iran Afghan border guards presented Dave and John with heavy almond clubs to have as protection against nomad dogs. The brothers were told that big mean dogs guarded the nomad campsites and they would attack strangers. Down the road a few days later the clubs came in handy.

Two Afghan soldiers were assigned to protect the Kunst brothers as they walked across the Afghan Desert of Death from the Iran/Afghan border to Herat, Afghanistan. The soldiers were sent along without water or food. Dave and John insisted they catch rides and wait for the walkers in villages ahead. That way they were taken care of by the villagers. The brothers needed their water and supplies.

September 30, 1972 the Kunst brothers arrived at the American Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan and were greeted by Ambassador Robert Neumann. Dave and John stayed at the Aeirana Hotel as guests of the city September 31 to October 19, 1972. Willie Makeit II was taken care of by an Afghani who worked for the American Embassy. The USA-Turk Machine was parked in the Embassy compound. The Marine Guards were very friendly and helpful during their stay in Kabul. Dave and John spent a lot of time with the ... more

Drifter II, John, Willie Makeit II and Dave three days before Afghani bandits attacked the brothers. John was shot and killed ending his search in life. Dave was wounded but after four months of recuperation in the USA he continued the walk with his other brother. Pete fulfilled his promise to step in and help finish the walk if he was needed. Dave wouldn't have finished alone through Pakistan and India.

A picture of one of the six Afghan Bandits who attacked the Earth-Walkers, and the site of the shooting. The violent confrontation occurred about ninety miles South of Kabul along the Kabul River on the road to the Khyber Pass of Pakistan. After John and Dave were shot and fell to the ground, Dave hollered "play dead." It was too late for John but Dave managed to fool the killers into thinking he too had been killed. Dave survived to walk another day. John ended his search in life.

Dave's brother Pete joined the world walk after John was killed. The Kunst brothers met with Hubert H. Humphrey before returning to Kabul, Afghanistan. The former Vice President then a Minnesota US Senator gave the brothers an official letter of recommendation. Humphrey said he would contact all American Embassies and consulates of the countries still to be walked and ask them to do what was possible to help the brothers. On March 1, 1973 Dave and Pete were on their way to Kabul, Afghanistan to ... more