<strong>Surprise meeting:</strong> In 2004, 28-year-old Liesbet Collaert met 33-year-old Mark Kilty while she was on an overland journey across North America with another long-term boyfriend. The sparks flew right away, and Liesbet wasn't sure what to do.
Surprise meeting: In 2004, 28-year-old Liesbet Collaert met 33-year-old Mark Kilty while she was on an overland journey across North America with another long-term boyfriend. The sparks flew right away, and Liesbet wasn't sure what to do.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Spontaneous decision:</strong> After knowing Mark just three weeks, Liesbet decided she had to leave her ex to be with him. Here's Mark and Liesbet pictured on a beach walk on the island of Carriacou, Grenada, in 2009.
Spontaneous decision: After knowing Mark just three weeks, Liesbet decided she had to leave her ex to be with him. Here's Mark and Liesbet pictured on a beach walk on the island of Carriacou, Grenada, in 2009.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Traveling together:</strong> Mark and Liesbet began traveling together. Here they are with their campervan in Costa Rica in 2006.
Traveling together: Mark and Liesbet began traveling together. Here they are with their campervan in Costa Rica in 2006.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Watching the sunset: </strong>There were some ups and downs early on, but Mark and Liesbet persevered. Here they are watching the sunset on a beach in Martinique in 2010.
Watching the sunset: There were some ups and downs early on, but Mark and Liesbet persevered. Here they are watching the sunset on a beach in Martinique in 2010.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Sailing adventure:</strong> The couple ended up spending several years living on a sailing catamaran. Here they are pictured in the Galapagos Islands in 2013.
Sailing adventure: The couple ended up spending several years living on a sailing catamaran. Here they are pictured in the Galapagos Islands in 2013.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Incredible experiences:</strong> Here's the couple with a giant tortoise on Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands in 2013.
Incredible experiences: Here's the couple with a giant tortoise on Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands in 2013.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Ups and downs:</strong> The couple have experienced some trying times. Here they are pictured in Tahiti, French Polynesia, in 2014, right before Mark flew back to the US for cancer treatment.
Ups and downs: The couple have experienced some trying times. Here they are pictured in Tahiti, French Polynesia, in 2014, right before Mark flew back to the US for cancer treatment.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Teamwork: </strong>The couple say they always handle things as a team. "These are big, life-changing emotional things that happened to us," Liesbet tells CNN Travel. Here's the couple in the Netherlands in 2015.
Teamwork: The couple say they always handle things as a team. "These are big, life-changing emotional things that happened to us," Liesbet tells CNN Travel. Here's the couple in the Netherlands in 2015.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Growing closer:</strong> "I think because of the downs that we've had, we did grow closer and we can face pretty much everything right now, to be honest, and I know that sounds grand or whatever -- but I think we can handle a lot as a couple right now," adds Liesbet. Here's the couple at The Wave sandstone formation in the Vermilion Cliffs of Utah in 2019.
Growing closer: "I think because of the downs that we've had, we did grow closer and we can face pretty much everything right now, to be honest, and I know that sounds grand or whatever -- but I think we can handle a lot as a couple right now," adds Liesbet. Here's the couple at The Wave sandstone formation in the Vermilion Cliffs of Utah in 2019.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>On the road: </strong>The couple are still on the road today. Here they are at Santuario de Las Lajas, Colombia, in 2023.
On the road: The couple are still on the road today. Here they are at Santuario de Las Lajas, Colombia, in 2023.
Liesbet Collaert
<strong>Adventuring together:</strong> "I can't imagine anyone else that I would have ever gone on the last 20 years of my life with, and this adventure we've been on," says Mark. Here's Mark and Liesbet in front of their campervan at Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador in July 2023.
Adventuring together: "I can't imagine anyone else that I would have ever gone on the last 20 years of my life with, and this adventure we've been on," says Mark. Here's Mark and Liesbet in front of their campervan at Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador in July 2023.
Liesbet Collaert