Man Completes 28-Year Circumnavigation on Foot, Faces Family Reunion

Karl Bushby, a 57-year-old former British paratrooper, is nearing the end of a 28-year expedition to circumnavigate the globe entirely on foot. His journey, which began in 1998 from the southern tip of South America, is set to conclude approximately 250 miles from his starting point.

Bushby left behind an 8-year-old son when he embarked on the Goliath Expedition, which he initially estimated would take about 12 years. That son, Adam, is now 36 and a father himself, living in Belfast. Adam told the Yorkshire Post that his father's imminent return "doesn't seem real."

Bushby acknowledged the impending reunion will be difficult, stating, "There’s distance between us, and I think we need to patch that up, and move on." He expressed eagerness to reconnect with his family after nearly three decades apart.

On October 5, Bushby completed a significant leg of his journey by swimming the English Channel to reach Britain. After approximately 20 hours in the water over three days, he landed at Shakespeare Beach near Dover, marking his first time on British soil since 1998. He had coordinated the swim in advance with French and British officials and coast guards, as an attempt to use the Channel Tunnel's service passage was denied.

Bushby left the British army in 1997 after 12 years in the Parachute Regiment, seeking to prove himself following a divorce. His expedition followed two strict rules: never use a vehicle for forward progress and do not return home until the walk was complete. He began his trek from Punta Arenas, Chile, with less than $1,000. His route took him through South America, across the perilous Darien Gap into Central America, and eventually to Alaska.

In 2006, Bushby crossed the frozen Bering Strait into Siberia, navigating ice floes and open water. Bureaucratic hurdles, including visa issues and a five-year entry ban from Russia in 2013, caused significant delays. He rerouted through Mongolia and China, swam across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan, and eventually reached Europe the previous year. By June, he was in Belgium, preparing for the final leg toward Hull.

When asked about the most challenging parts of his journey, Bushby cited the Darien Gap and Alaska. He found his favorite terrain in South America, particularly Colombia and Chile's Atacama Desert. He described numerous triumphs, including escaping the swamps of Panama, reaching Russia, arriving near Baku, and finally landing in Dover.

Despite the physical toll of tens of thousands of miles, Bushby maintained that his consistent pace kept him in good condition, with only the expected aches and pains for a 57-year-old. He expressed no regrets about the expedition, stating, "It worked, so no, I wouldn’t change a thing."

Bushby's mother, Angela, has seen him only three times since he left in 1998. She has kept scrapbooks of his journey at the family home in Hull, which he has not entered since departing.

Filmmaker Werner Herzog greeted Bushby in Dover and is directing a documentary about the expedition titled "Walk of Life." Westward Productions has supported Bushby's trek for the past 16 years and archived his footage.

Bushby is expected to reach his mother's home in late October or early November. He anticipates a future focused on filmmaking and public speaking. He reflected on the kindness of strangers encountered along his journey, noting, "People are amazing, despite what we think the world looks like. Humanity is worth the effort."