Karl Bushby, a British former paratrooper, has reached a significant milestone in an extraordinary journey that has spanned nearly three decades. After departing from southern Chile in 1998, Bushby recently completed a 34-kilometer swim across the English Channel, marking his return to England before resuming the final leg of his epic walk home to Hull. He aims to complete the journey on November 1, the exact date he began the expedition 28 years ago.

Bushby’s mission is to circumnavigate the globe on foot, a feat he describes as impossible in its entirety but one he has approached by walking as far as physically possible. Starting from Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in South America, he has traversed the Americas, Asia, and Europe, covering an estimated 58,000 kilometers—surpassing the Earth’s equatorial circumference of roughly 40,075 kilometers. His journey has included crossing 29 countries and breaking several records, including being part of the first modern teams to walk from Alaska to Russia across the Bering Strait and swimming the Caspian Sea from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan.

Rigorous self-imposed rules guided his trek: he has not used transportation to advance on his route and has committed to continuing on foot until reaching home. Any unavoidable detours or pauses required travel, but only with a return to the original stopping point before resuming the walk.

Bushby’s expedition has faced numerous hardships, including prolonged delays caused by financial crises, visa restrictions, bureaucratic hurdles, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. He has dealt with legal and security challenges, such as being detained and accused of espionage in Russia, and has encountered dangerous wildlife and life-threatening conditions. Despite these obstacles, he has endured, travelling with his customised golf trolley—dubbed “the Beast”—which carries essential supplies. The current version, “Beast 2,” has supported him for over 25 years following the original’s breakdown.

At 57, Bushby reflects on the evolution brought by the journey. He describes himself as neither the mythical wanderer nor an elite athlete, noting that the realities of long-term travel have impacted his physical condition. He often subsisted on convenience store food while waiting for visa approvals, gaining weight gradually over time.

Joining him in Dover, the starting point for the concluding segment, was Angela Maxwell, an American who also spent several years walking the world and who has accompanied Bushby during parts of his journey. Both identify as introverts drawn to independence, though their temperaments differ.

Bushby’s expedition has attracted varied responses, with some lauding his perseverance and others questioning the risks he has taken. As he embarks on the final stretch, his determination to complete the unprecedented continuous walk around the world remains unwavering.