Welcome!

In 2023 I stepped on all seven continents in a single calendar year!

I look forward to sharing the next steps as I publish a book and speak about the most incredible year of self-discovery and solo travel.

Featured Post

My Crazy New Year's Resolution

Welcome to my travel blog Challenge Made. Challenge Accepted. Goal: 7 Continents in the next 365 days To me, life is about choices. We...

Jan 5, 20234 min read

BOOK RELEASE

"Filling My Bucket: A Year of Solo Travel Across Seven Continents"

available as of May 30th, 2024 in paperback and eBook formats

Buy the Book

TRAVEL SCOREBOARD

Countries

Continents

Most Recent Blog Post

The rain lets me know I’m alive

You can feel it pelt your face—a reminder that life surrounds you. It’s easy to forget that when you live in the sun. Don’t get me wrong,...

Anchored in Gratitude

A Chapter at Sea: 42 Nights on the Carnival Miracle I’ve often told the naysayers that I’m not running from something, but rather to...

Having fun is free.

— Gen Maldonado What if your entire life could be summed up by one simple sentence: “having fun is free”? Circumstances shape us all....

Celebrating my own personal independence

Nature gave me plenty to celebrate today. I’ve spent two of the last three 4th of Julys in Europe, and each time has been its own special...

When Being Too Much Is Not Enough

Read that again. I show up every single day. Sometimes I’m not proud of who I am or what I’ve done, but no one can ever say I didn’t try....

Finding my home

Every once in a while, a dream feels just a little too far away—dangling out there on the horizon, taunting you. And then, somehow,...

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NEXT DESTINATIONS:

EUROPE:

Cork, Ireland

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Seydisfjordur, Iceland

Akureyri, Iceland

Grundarfjordur, Iceland

Reykjavik, Iceland

Westman Islands

Invergordon, Scotland

Paris, France

Brussels, Belgium

Copenhagen, Denmark

Warnemunde, Germany

Aarhus, Denmark

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Hamburg, Germany

Tallinn, Estonia

Helsinki, Finland

Stockholm, Sweden

London, England

Instagram

When in Bruges… load up on flowers, sip something sparkly, and never say no to chocolate. #mortgageguytravelstheworld #TravelWithCole #bruges #belgium #cruiselife #dogitalnomad

Giving Icelandic vibes 🇮🇸
#solotravels #cruiselife #digitalnomad #instagay

Iceland 🇮🇸 Country 53 ✔️
4 more days in this wonderland. Can’t wait. 💪

#travelwithcole #mortgageguytravelstheworld #chasewaterfallsnotboys #waterfalls #iceland

Flags have been powerful symbols for thousands of years.

From the Roman standards carried into battle, to medieval banners flown above castles, to today’s national flags raised over parliaments and town squares — flags have always meant more than just colorful cloth. They proclaim identity, mark territory, honor heritage, and unite people under a common cause.

Throughout history, flags have rallied armies, signaled resistance, and inspired hope. They are shorthand for complex stories: a nation’s struggle for independence, a people’s survival, a community’s pride.

So why do some people bristle at the sight of the Pride flag?

Because they instinctively know what flags do. They recognize that a flag says we are here, we belong, and we are not going anywhere. The rainbow flag is a declaration that LGBTQ+ people deserve to live openly and safely, without fear or shame — a message that feels especially urgent in today’s U.S. political climate, where anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric are on the rise.

The Pride flag isn’t just decoration. It’s a statement of solidarity and a beacon of visibility. It reminds us — and those who’d prefer we stay silent or hidden — that love and authenticity are nothing to be legislated away.

That’s why flags matter. That’s why this flag matters. 🌈

#Pride #VisibilityMatters #LGBTQHistory #StandWithUs #travelwithcole #mortgageguytravelstheworld

How cool is this?!?! 25th Milestone Cruise AND Diamond status. 42 nights onboard the Carnival Miracle out of Dover start TODAY! Thank you @carnival + @carnivalcruiselineuk for the warm welcome and celebration. 🎉

Buckingham Palace:
Showed up to see the royals… stayed for the tea and crumpets.
Still no knighthood, but I did master the pinky raise. ☕👑🌈

10/10, would royal again.

#BuckinghamPalace #CrownAndCrumpets #PinkyOutVibes #TeaLikeAQueen #travelwithcole #RoyalWatcherNotStalker #mortgageguytravelstheworld

Did you know? 🌈 Rainbows are a natural phenomenon—and so are we. 💖

Here’s to celebrating love, identity, and authenticity all month long.

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! 🏳️‍🌈✨

#PrideMonth #HappyPride #LoveIsLove #LGBTQIA #QueerJoy #BornThisWay #Pride2025 #CelebrateDiversity #LiveColorfully #InclusionMatters #lgbtqtravelers #lgbtq #lgbtqtravel #mortgageguytravelstheworld #travelwithcole

It’s been a spring of chasing glaciers instead of waterfalls. Happy. No regrets.

#Alaska #ExploreAlaska #TravelAlaska
#GlacierViews #GlaciersOfInstagram #AlaskaGlaciers
#EpicViews #InstaTravel #TravelGram
#SoloTravel #LGBTQTravel #CruiseLife #TravelWithCole #MortgageGuyTravelstheworld #hubbardglacier

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