Karl Bushby Ends 28-Year Global Trek Returning to Hull
Karl Bushby is marking a significant milestone as he nears the end of a 28-year global walking expedition. The former British paratrooper, who departed from his hometown of Hull in 1998, recently returned to England after swimming the Channel and is scheduled to reach home on 1 November—the same date he originally set off. Documenting his arrival on social media, Bushby expressed excitement about reconnecting with local comforts, noting, “We’re in Dover, and I’m about to have my first fish and chips and mushy peas in 28 years.”/p> Mushy peas, my God, I forgot they even existed. See, this is a big chunk of fish and a decent bit of batter, and that’s something you don’t see in other parts of the world. The same date he set off all those years ago, he hopes to get back on 1 November. Aged 29, to walk the world, he planned to be home 12 years later, when the former paratrooper left the army. What accounted for the extra years? “The real world. Pandemics, visa bans, wars and the bureaucracy you have to deal with, you can’t account for financial crises.
His ambitious goal was to complete the longest unbroken foot journey ever recorded, covering roughly 36,000 miles (58,000 km) across 29 countries. He designed the route by selecting Punta Arenas, Chile, as his starting point, aiming to mirror the latitudinal span of his home in the UK. Throughout his trek, he relied on “The Beast 2,” an upgraded customized golf trolley he constructed in Nicaragua that has supported his survival gear for 25 years.
Reflecting on the challenges, Bushby noted that his path was dictated by strict adherence to his original route rather than speed. His journey was far from simple; he faced life-threatening encounters, including being held at gunpoint in Colombia, navigating the dangerous Darién Gap, and surviving polar bear threats during an Alaskan expedition. A BBC filming crew accompanied part of his mission but had to withdraw early due to the extreme danger. He recalled one instance in the Arctic where an ice shelf failed, causing their supply sleds to sink into sub-zero waters.
Bushby, who was 29 when he left the military, faced both professional and personal isolation throughout the years. His decision to leave led to the end of two relationships, a reality he acknowledged with a focus on his “mission first” mentality. Despite the criticism of his self-centered approach to the project, he maintained that he was driven by a deep-seated wanderlust and a need to manage his own mental health through physical exertion. He also found support from strangers globally, including a Chilean family who provided essential provisions during his time in South America. Timing is not one of his greatest traits, although Bushby is a man of military precision.
His travels were not without legal and political hurdles, including a conviction in Siberia on suspicion of spying. Despite these setbacks and the long separation from his son, Adam, with whom he has since reconnected, Bushby described his life on the road as an exploration of the human species’ capacity for kindness. Accompanied by fellow walker Angela Maxwell, who joined him after finishing her own six-and-a-half-year trek, Bushby stands by his life choices, stating that the entire journey was defined by the singular goal of getting from point A to point B. He points his phone at the plate in front of him. “It better be good.
