Adventurer Completes 28-Year, 31,000-Mile Global Journey
Karl Bushby concludes his epic circumnavigation of the world on foot by swimming the English Channel.
British adventurer Karl Bushby has completed a 28-year journey spanning 31,000 miles around the world, culminating in a swim across the English Channel. Bushby, 57, arrived at Shakespeare Beach near Dover on Monday, marking the final leg of his ambitious circumnavigation which began in Chile in November 1998.
Bushby's goal was to be the first person to continuously circumnavigate the globe entirely on foot. His journey has taken him through 29 countries, and he is now set to return to his family home in Hull, East Yorkshire.
"Feels good to have UK soil under my feet after all these years," Bushby stated. "It hasn't been easy, and that's part of the point. Proving I'm more capable than I give myself credit for. All of us can accomplish more than we will ever imagine."
Upon his arrival, Bushby was greeted by family, friends, and filmmaker Werner Herzog, who is directing a documentary about his expedition titled 'Walk of Life'.
Navigating Obstacles
Bushby encountered a final hurdle at the French border when attempting to cross the English Channel. Eurotunnel denied him access to its service tunnel, citing safety risks and maintenance requirements. French officials also noted a 2018 prefectoral order that only permits Channel crossings from the UK to France, not the other way around.
After securing the necessary permissions from relevant authorities and coordinating with French and UK coast guards, Bushby was able to complete the swim. This followed another significant challenge in 2024 when he was compelled to swim 186 miles across the Caspian Sea to avoid entering Russia or Iran due to geopolitical tensions.
Earlier in his journey, Bushby traversed the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama and became the first Briton to walk across the 58-mile Bering Strait between North America and Russia, a feat that also involved some swimming.
He identified securing visas and gaining approval for transit routes as the most challenging aspects of his expedition, more so than the physical demands of the trek.
Bushby's mother, Angela, is expected to greet him at their family home as he concludes his 28-year endeavor, which he had previously estimated would finish around November 1.
