British adventurer Karl Bushby has concluded a 28-year, 31,000-mile journey from Punta Arenas, Chile, to his family home in Hull, UK. He set out in November 1998 with the goal of completing an unbroken path without returning to the UK or using any form of transport to advance.
Crowds gathered in Hull's city centre to welcome Bushby before he completed the final miles to his mother's home. Upon reaching the front door, he described the feeling as "surreal" and "good to be home." His mother, Angela Bushby, who had not seen him for a decade, expressed her joy at having him back.
Bushby's extensive route spanned four continents. Significant challenges included navigating the Darién Gap jungle, crossing the frozen Bering Strait, and most recently, swimming the English Channel.
Delays to the journey were attributed to difficulties obtaining visas, the 2007 global economic crash, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Bushby spent approximately 15 of the 28 years actually walking, often retreating to Mexico for extended periods. He adhered to his rule of not returning to the UK to meet family, though he occasionally met his son and parents in other countries.
Initially setting off as a "penniless backpacker," Bushby often relied on donations and at times had to eat discarded food. He later secured sponsors and a book deal. Near the end of his expedition, he also made a deal with filmmaker Werner Herzog.
Bushby was met by his 36-year-old son, his 12-year-old granddaughter whom he had never met, his father, and his brothers when he crossed the Humber Bridge into East Yorkshire shortly before reaching his final destination. He called this reunion "amazing."