This website began as a simple travel journal — a place to document a wildly ambitious goal: stepping foot on all seven continents in a single calendar year as a solo, LGBTQ traveler.

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What started as a personal challenge quickly became the adventure of a lifetime — and then, with that journey complete, it evolved again as I launched my first book: "Filling My Bucket: A Year of Solo Travel Across Seven Continents."

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"Would you go?" The Question that Changed Everything

When a friend asked me, "Would you go?" I had no idea how much that one question would shift the entire course of my life.

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In 2023 I circled the globe — solo — touching all seven continents in one calendar year. From Australia to the streets of Europe and the icy Antarctic waters to the vibrant cities of Asia, and many destinations in between.

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71 Flight segments.

110,246 miles flown.

167 nights.

1 year.

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Along the way, I realized I wasn't checking items off a bucket list.

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I was filling my bucket.

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The Story Behind the Journey

The backstory of how this year unfolded is just as powerful as the travel itself. What I learned continues to shape not only who I move through the world, but how I approach life, work, and of course, the "travel game."

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About Cole

Cole Sjoholm is a mortgage lender (NMLS 681575), travel blogger, travel advisor, photographer and public speaker who helps individuals, couples, families, and groups experience the world through curated travel and unforgettable journeys.

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