Justine Tibesar’s Global Adventure

In an era when few people—and even fewer women—traveled far from home, Marie Justine Tibesar embarked on a remarkable global journey that would take her across continents, oceans, and some of the world’s most challenging terrain. Born in 1909 in Ell, Luxembourg, Justine’s wanderlust would carry her on an extraordinary circumnavigation of the globe that combined multiple modes of travel, cultural immersion, and unprecedented adventure.

A Spirit of Adventure Unleashed

Justine’s global odyssey began in the late 1920s when, barely out of her teens, she left Europe with minimal resources but maximum determination. What started as a young woman’s desire to see the world evolved into a series of interconnected journeys that would ultimately bring her full circle—from Europe to America, across the Pacific to Asia, and back to Europe on a motorcycle journey that would cement her place in history.⁽¹⁾

Her global adventure unfolded in several remarkable chapters:

Early Adventures

Justine’s independent spirit manifested early in her life. After a brief stint at a boarding school in Arlon, she set off with borrowed money and made her way to Dunkerque, France. There, her resourcefulness shone through as she earned money selling oranges before joining a traveling theater troupe bound for America—the first step in what would become her around-the-world journey.⁽¹⁾

The Work Around the World Educational Club

In 1929, Justine’s path intersected with Walter and Aloha Wanderwell’s Work Around the World Educational Club (WAWEC). This fortuitous connection provided structure to her travels as she joined their global expedition. On November 1, 1929, she sailed from Le Havre aboard the S.S. Ile de France, arriving in New York six days later to begin her American adventure.⁽¹⁾

American Travels

As part of WAWEC’s Unit 27, Justine traversed the United States, documenting the journey through photography and participating in lectures about global travel. Her team’s journey took them through parts of the southeastern United States, offering diverse cultural experiences that expanded her worldview and honed her adaptability.⁽²⁾

Pacific Crossing to Asia

By mid-June 1930, the WAWEC Unit 27 had dwindled to just Justine and Captain Hinterhauser. Despite the changes in team composition, they remained committed to their global mission, planning to sail from San Francisco to Japan to continue their educational expedition. This Pacific crossing would lead Justine to Asia. It is not known what happened to Captain Hinterhauser. Did he depart for Japan? Also, we don’t know how exactly Justine crossed the Pacific. Did she depart from San Francisco or Seattle? Where did she arrive in Asia? Japan or perhaps Vietnam? Did she depart America with Captain Hinterhauser?

The Motorcycle Journey

In March 1931, standing in a motorcycle dealership in Saigon, Justine made the decision that would define her legacy. With no prior motorcycling experience, she purchased an FN M70 350cc motorcycle and embarked on a 22,000-kilometer solo journey back to Europe. This remarkable expedition took her through Southeast Asia, India, Persia, the Middle East, and Europe, before finally arriving in Arlon, Belgium on January 22, 1932.⁽²⁾⁽³⁾

A Journey of Firsts

Justine’s global circumnavigation stands out for several reasons that make it historically significant:

• She traveled as a young woman at a time when female solo travelers were exceedingly rare
• She adapted to multiple modes of transportation—from ships to automobiles to motorcycles
• She documented her journey through photography and correspondence
• She traversed regions that were considered dangerous or inaccessible, particularly for Western women
• She completed her journey during the early years of the Great Depression, when international travel presented significant economic and logistical challenges

Her philosophy, borrowed from Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, guided her throughout these adventures: “Everything is possible, you just have to want it with all your heart, then it succeeds.”⁽³⁾

Legacy of a Global Pioneer

Justine Tibesar’s around-the-world journey represents an early example of female global adventure that predates many better-known expeditions. Her combined experiences—from selling oranges on a French quay to riding a motorcycle through the Persian desert—demonstrate an extraordinary adaptability and perseverance that transcended the limitations often placed on women in the early 20th century.

Through these pages, we invite you to explore the remarkable chapters of Justine’s global adventure—a journey that began with a young woman’s dream to see the world and culminated in an achievement that deserves recognition among the great travel narratives of the 20th century.

References:

(1) “Justine Tibesar: Pioneer of Solo Female Motorcycle Adventure (1909-1932)” – Comprehensive biographical profile

(2) “Artikel Justine Tibesar englisch.pdf” – Report from the magazine “FN Sports” / October-November 1931 by Paul Destoc

(3) “La fabuleuse histoire de Justine TIBESAR.pdf” – Le fabuleux raid de 22.000 km, en 1931, de Marie Justine TIBESAR, à moto du Vietnam à Arlon by Jean-Marie Zimmerman