27 years. Over 36,000 miles. One man. Karl Bushby is about to complete a walk around the entire world that he started in 1998. No transport, no shortcuts, just pure footsteps across continents, frozen straits, and countless borders. He’s lived a lifetime on the move while the rest of us stayed in one place. Absolute dedication.
With many transportation options available, people hardly walk anymore. Whether it's the grocery store next door or our friend's apartment on the floor above, most would ditch the staircase for the elevator. Karl Bushby, a former paratrooper from the UK, however, has an extraordinary passion for exploring the world on foot. The man who began his round-the-world journey in 1998 is currently preparing for the final stretch, the BBC reported on November 6.
A journey that started 27 years ago is now gearing up for its last leg. On November 1, 1998, Bushby began walking from Punta Arenas, Chile, and walked across the American and Asian continents. He has even swum 186 miles across the Caspian Sea — the first person to do so — and fought off polar bears through the Bering Strait. He also covered several risky territories without any transportation. Now, after such a long journey, the 56-year-old has about 2,000 miles (3219km) to cover before he reaches his home city of Hull. The man believes that it should take him another year to complete his journey, i.e., he expects to be home by September 2026.
Bushby was only 29 when he began his 36,000-mile journey across the world. The round-the-world journey was far from easy, but he never gave up. In fact, there had been a few instances where he feared death, but he was always mentally prepared for it. When he entered the Darién Gap, the region between Colombia and Panama, he was held captive by Panamanian soldiers for 18 days. However, Bushby faced every obstacle with ease and continued his journey further. Aside from physical challenges, the man said there were emotional breakdowns, too. "It was understood that if any of them (family or friends) died, I wouldn't be there at the funeral," he told CBS News, talking about his emotional vulnerabilities.
People assume Bushby must be thrilled, nearing the end of his adventure, but he seems to be scared by the thought. He confessed, "It's going to be hard. I've spoken with a number of long-distance walkers, some walking for five years or more, and they have told me it's very difficult returning to normal society." In fact, he said it feels like someone who had a lifetime career, but it's now time to retire. So, how would he recover? Well, Bushby says the key is taking up another mission. At the same time, he is also excited to reunite with his family, something he believes involves "knowing each other again." The man pictures himself in a classroom, informing kids that the world is not as scary as they might think. He said he wants them to know that 99.99% of the world is good. "Even in the places you might not expect, I have found kind and generous people. In Peru, I was welcomed into homes, lPeople assume Bushby must be thrilled, nearing the end of his adventure, but he seems to be scared by the thought. He confessed, "It's going to be hard. I've spoken with a number of long-distance walkers, some walking for five years or more, and they have told me it's very difficult returning to normal society." In fact, he said it feels like someone who had a lifetime career, but it's now time to retire. So, how would he recover? Well, Bushby says the key is taking up another mission. At the same time, he is also excited to reunite with his family, something he believes involves "knowing each other again." The man pictures himself in a classroom, informing kids that the world is not as scary as they might think. He said he wants them to know that 99.99% of the world is good. "Even in the places you might not expect, I have found kind and generous people. In Peru, I was welcomed into homes, literally built from cardboard, to share a bowl of rice," he recounted.
People have always loved Bushby and his determination to explore the world on foot. For instance, @quickcruisetips8 commented, "The wildest part isn’t the distance; it’s the consistency over 27 years. One step at a time really does add up to a whole different life." @binahl2c248 wrote, "This guy knows that life is too precious to be wasted on this so-called life that we are living… working 9 to 5… 30-40 years, then dying… What a beautiful story, man…. So good…" @harajasutin said, "3 decades of his life is not a joke. Kudos to this amazing guy."
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