Walking the world: Karl Bushby's 27-year journey heads for the finish line

British adventurer Karl Bushby is just 2000 miles (3218kms) away from completing his monumental journey: To walk an unbroken path around the world without ever taking a car, plane or even a bike. 

After 27 years of trekking through rainforests, icy terrains and the crossroads of continents, Bushby is ready to return to his mother’s home in Sutton Park, Hull.

Starting his adventure on November 1, 1998, in Punta Arenas, Chile, Bushby called his adventure the Goliath Expedition.

While he thought it would only take him about 12 years to walk 36,000 miles (57 936kms), complications forced his expedition to stretch far longer than he ever imagined.

Bushby has been walking through wars, a pandemic and even visa troubles. 

Speaking to “BBC Radio Humberside” recently, Bushby said that he hopes to continue his trek, via Turkey, in August before entering Europe.

It will take him another year before he is on home soil and is aiming to arrive in Hull by September 2026.

“On 1 November 1998, you’re literally looking down at a road that’s 36,000 miles long and have no idea how you’re going to do it. We’ve run into a lot of complications with visa problems, financial crises, and the pandemic; we’ve had it all.

“It’s been extremely difficult, but we’ve always stuck to our guns and never been willing to compromise on the route,” Bushby shared. 

He continued: “Getting home, I just don’t know, it’s weird, it’s a very strange place to be in where suddenly your purpose for living will have a hard stop. I’m hoping to transition into other things as quickly as possible, keeping mind, body and soul on the move.” 

He said reuniting with his family would involve getting “to know each other again”.

Bushby’s epic path has led him from the jungles of Central America to the frozen stretches of Siberia.

He even walked across the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia. He had to wait for the sea ice to solidify and faced detention with the Russian authorities, which put his ambitious plans on hold.

After a five-year delay, Bushby continued pressing on, re-choreographing his steps through China.

At the moment, he finds himself in Mexico, anxiously awaiting a visa that will allow him to continue his journey.

His next move is to Turkey, with hopes of entering Europe by August.

With less than 2,000 (3218kms) miles to go, he expects to arrive back in Hull by September 2026.