After nearly three decades on the road, British adventurer Karl Bushby has finally walked back through the door of his mother's house in Hull, bringing to a close an extraordinary 28-year, 50,000-kilometre journey that began in the southernmost tip of Chile.
Bushby, who set off in November 1995 from Punta Arenas, Chile, with little more than a backpack and a stubborn determination, has become the first person to circumnavigate the globe entirely on foot. His route took him through South America, across the frozen Bering Strait, and then through North America, before he crossed the Atlantic and continued through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, finally returning to the United Kingdom.
The 56-year-old former paratrooper described the moment of arrival as "surreal" and "overwhelming," telling reporters outside his mother's terraced house in Hull that he had "dreamed of this day for so long." He added: "I've walked through deserts, jungles, and war zones, but nothing prepared me for the feeling of seeing the Humber Bridge."
A journey of extremes
Bushby's odyssey was marked by extreme hardship and remarkable resilience. He endured temperatures as low as -40°C in Siberia, crossed the Bering Strait on foot during a rare winter freeze, and navigated through conflict-affected regions in the Middle East. He was detained by authorities in several countries, including Russia and Iran, and at one point was forced to take a detour through the Caucasus due to visa restrictions.
His route through Europe was particularly poignant, as he traversed the continent during a period of profound change. He walked through the Balkans in the late 1990s, witnessing the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars, and later crossed into the Schengen Area, where border controls had all but vanished. "Europe felt like a patchwork of histories," he said, "but also a place where borders are becoming less important."
Bushby's journey was not without controversy. He was accused of "cheating" by some purists because he used a boat to cross the Atlantic and a sled across the Bering Strait, but he insists that his feat is about walking the entire circumference of the planet, not about avoiding every body of water. "I walked every kilometre of land," he said. "The oceans are not walkable."
His return to Hull, a city that has itself undergone a transformation in recent decades, was marked by a small gathering of supporters and family. His mother, who has been his anchor throughout, said she was "relieved" to finally have him home. "I never doubted he would make it," she said, "but I'm glad I don't have to worry anymore."
Bushby's achievement has drawn comparisons to other great British adventurers, such as Ranulph Fiennes and Bear Grylls, but his journey stands out for its sheer length and the fact that it was completed without a support team. He funded his expedition through a mix of sponsorships, speaking engagements, and the kindness of strangers he met along the way.
Asked what he plans to do next, Bushby laughed and said: "I'm going to sit in my mother's garden and drink tea. And maybe write a book." He also hinted at a possible documentary, but for now, he is content to be home.
His journey has inspired many, and his story resonates with a Europe that is increasingly connected yet still defined by its diverse cultures and landscapes. As he put it: "The world is smaller than you think, but also much bigger. Every step teaches you something."
