HULL, England | November 2, 2026 | British adventurer Karl Bushby has completed one of the longest and most challenging walking expeditions in modern history, returning to his hometown of Hull on Monday after covering approximately 31,000 miles (50,000 kilometers) across four continents over nearly 28 years.
The 57-year-old former British Army paratrooper received a hero’s welcome from hundreds of supporters at Queen Victoria Square in Hull before continuing the final stretch to his mother’s home, where family members, including his son and granddaughter, were waiting. Bushby had not seen his mother in a decade and was meeting his 12-year-old granddaughter for the first time, according to Reuters.
Bushby began the expedition on November 1, 1998, leaving southern Chile with the goal of walking back to England without using motorized transport to advance his journey. He called the undertaking the Goliath Expedition and initially expected it to take approximately 12 years.
The idea originated from a question raised by his father, Keith, about whether it was possible to travel on foot from London to New York using the Bering land bridge route believed to have been crossed by early human migrants between Asia and North America during periods of lower sea levels. Instead of heading directly to New York, Bushby mapped a route from South America through the Americas, Asia and Europe toward his hometown.
His journey involved some of the world’s most challenging environments, including the Darién Gap, a roadless stretch of dense jungle between Colombia and Panama, and the frozen Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, which he crossed with American adventurer Dimitry Kieffer in 2006.
He also crossed the Caspian Sea in a 31-day swimming journey after geopolitical restrictions blocked his planned route through Russia and Iran. In October 2026, he swam across the English Channel from France to England, completing another major obstacle before his final walk home.
The expedition took far longer than planned because of dangerous weather, border restrictions, visa problems, financial difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic. Bushby was detained by Russian authorities after crossing the border without permission and spent years dealing with restrictions that prevented him from continuing his route. According to Reuters, he estimated that he spent only about 15 of the 28 years actually walking, with the remaining time devoted to permits, logistics and sponsorship arrangements.
The journey also brought serious physical dangers, including encounters with a polar bear, attacks by hostile groups, near-drowning incidents and a helicopter rescue from drifting sea ice, according to The Associated Press.
Bushby’s achievement is particularly notable because long-distance circumnavigation expeditions have historically relied on ships, aircraft or other forms of transportation to cross major geographical barriers. His self-imposed rules required him to continue the journey without motorized transport advancing him along the route and to return to England on foot.
As he arrived in Hull, Bushby thanked the crowds who had supported him throughout the expedition. A feature-length documentary about his journey, being developed with filmmaker Werner Herzog, is also in production. He is expected to undertake speaking engagements across England in the coming weeks.
After nearly three decades defined by walking, survival and overcoming international barriers, Bushby’s return marks the end of an extraordinary personal commitment and the beginning of a new chapter far removed from life on the road.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
