NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — One man arrives at homes completely unannounced, leaving residents in sheer amazement when they discover why he’s there.
"I get super nervous," said Jonny Beardmore as he approached a house in Nashville. "Is anybody going to be home? Are they going to be friendly?"
The homeowners have no idea who Jonny is or that he’s coming.
"I don't think they're here," Jonny said, knocking on the door.
Jonny then checked with neighbors, determined not to give up after coming so far.
To catch you up, there’s a place called Post Office Bay in the Galapagos Islands. People leave letters in a barrel box for others to hand-deliver to the recipients.
"Postman always delivers, never stops!" Jonny shouted, running across a yard.
Jonny, a man from New Zealand, took 50 letters from that post office and since March, has been on the Galapagos Postman Challenge, hand-delivering letters worldwide from South America to Antarctica.
"The plan is to go to all seven continents," Jonny said.
On Wednesday, Jonny carried a postcard through a Nashville neighborhood. Some grandparents had left it at Post Office Bay for their grandson Milo in Nashville.
There’s something about Jonny that makes people want to join in.
"Thanks very much for helping out," Jonny said to neighbors Kurt and Amanda as they walked house-to-house trying to find Milo's family.
"Guess you don't know too many Kiwi postmen rocking up in these parts!" Jonny laughed.
This adventure is partly a tribute to Jonny's father, who passed away from ALS.
"Once he passed I wanted to do something in his memory," Jonny said.
Amanda got a number for Milo's family and sent a text after no one answered immediately.
As it got late, the hope of meeting Milo's family on Wednesday faded.
Finally, responding to Amanda's message, a car pulled up to the house. Jonny introduced himself.
"I've been to South America, Central America, Antarctica, and now North America," he said. "I've come all the way from the Galapagos Islands to bring you a letter."
The postcard for Lauren, Dejan, and their child Milo had finally arrived.
"Well, welcome!" Lauren said, stunned. "A postcard?! That's amazing. I'm Lauren!"
"I know who you guys are!" Jonny smiled. "I've been imagining who you are for months now."
"All of my journeys, all the commonality is people and connections, and I love doing that," Jonny explained.
Jonny continues his stops worldwide, raising money for motor neurone disease charities along the way. You can donate through Jonny here and follow his journey on Instagram at @bigoadventures.
