When best friends from Texas, Ellie Hamby and Sandy Hazelip, turned 80, they decided to celebrate their milestone birthday by traveling the world’s seven continents in 80 days.
The adventurous octogenarian from Dallas later rose to fame on Tiktok and Instagram after charming tens of thousands with their warm friendship and great spirit of adventure.
Beginning in January, the “traveling grannies,” who have been friends for 23 years, began their journey in Dallas, Texas, where they made their way to Antarctica, where they explored a land of ice and penguins.
For many it would have been the trip of a lifetime – but not for Hamby and Hazelip, who set out to explore the other seven continents of the world.
“We went to the North Pole in Lapland, saw the Northern Lights and went sledding. We were in Zanzibar. We went to Egypt, India, Nepal, Bali, Japan, Rome and of course London,” Hamby told NBC5.
The couple poses with the Northern Lights – just one stop on their inspirational Around the World in 80 Days adventure
The couple, both widows, have posted pictures of themselves on their TikTok account, which has amassed 50,000 followers and 900,000 likes.
Users spotted Hazelip and Hamby in matching outfits on a swing in Bali, dancing in Nepal, riding a rickshaw in India and on a hot air balloon in Egypt.
“People asked us, ‘Do you have TikTok?’ Well no. Maybe we should get that going,’ said Hamby.
“Even when we got to LAX, two people came up and said, ‘You guys are the traveling grannies of TikTok.’ Yes! This is us.’
The duo also made their way to Easter Island, saw the Northern Lights and posed with wildlife like elephants and lions.
People around the world stopped by the seniors and told them they were an inspiration they would both hold onto as they adjust to their lives in Abilene and Eastland, Texas.
First, the pandemic postponed the trip, so the friends actually celebrated their respective 81st birthdays on all seven continents.
But they say the trip they’ve been planning for years was worth the wait, all they needed was a minor itinerary name change: “81 and still on the run” became the official name of their tour.
Ellie Hamby poses with a lion in Zambia during her mammoth – but slightly COVID-delayed – 80th birthday celebrations
Ellie Hamby poses on a camel in Egypt during the mammoth trip she and friend Sandy Hazelip took to celebrate her 80th birthday
Posing in matching red dresses on a swing in Bali, the duo embark on adventures that many people much younger than them would discourage
The first stop on the journey was Antarctica – but rather than settle for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, Hamby and Hazelip just kept going
Both agreed that their favorite part of the trip was the people they met along the way
“What excites us both is how we’ve made people happy by following us on this adventure,” said Hazelip.
The pair, who landed back in Dallas late last month, exactly 80 days after their departure, hope they’ve inspired members of future generations to realize it’s never too late to embark on the expedition of a lifetime.
After the trip, Hazelip said the pair were far from exhausted.
“Holidays are exhausting. You get exhausted on vacation,” she told USA Today. “This is not a vacation, this is an adventure, and an adventure only keeps you going.”