British Adventurer Nears Home After Decades-Long Walk Around the World
British adventurer Karl Bushby, who began walking around the world in 1998, has swum across the English Channel as he nears the end of his nearly 30-year Goliath Expedition.
Karl Bushby began an epic journey on November 1, 1998, likely unaware it would take nearly three decades to return home. The 57-year-old British former paratrooper set off from the southern tip of Chile with two strict rules: never use motorized transport to advance along the route, and never return to his hometown of Hull in England until he completed the journey entirely under his own power.
The Goliath Expedition
Over the years, Bushby has traversed approximately 50,000 kilometers across 29 countries in a trek known as the "Goliath Expedition." He crossed deserts and jungles, endured extreme weather conditions, was arrested for border crossings, and faced prolonged delays due to strict entry restrictions. Among his most extraordinary challenges were crossing the frozen Bering Strait separating Russia and Alaska, and a grueling long-distance swim in the Caspian Sea.
Crossing the English Channel
Earlier this month, the journey reached a remarkable milestone. After authorities denied him permission to walk through the Channel Tunnel connecting France and Great Britain, Bushby decided to swim across the English Channel. Despite lacking specialized training for the task, he spent three days at sea, including nearly 20 hours in the water, before arriving on October 5 at Shakespeare Beach near Dover, England.
"It is a good feeling to feel British soil beneath my feet again after all these years," Bushby told ITV upon his arrival.
The Final Stretch
Despite the emotional welcome, Bushby has not yet reached his final destination. From the southern coast of England, he still has about 400 kilometers left to walk to his mother's home in Hull, where the journey will officially conclude. After nearly 28 years on the road, countless obstacles, and tens of thousands of kilometers, the man who started walking in 1998 can finally see the finish line.
