‘Stepping on to a road that’s 50,000km plus’: In 1998, Karl Bushby walked out of his house. 28 years later he’s still walking

British adventurer Karl Bushby is currently nearing the final stretch of a journey that has spanned 28 years and thousands of miles. After departing from his home in Hull, England, back in 1998, he is now working to complete the final leg of his 36,000-mile trek, which aims to be the longest unbroken walk in human history.

As reported by the BBC, Karl’s journey has been anything but straightforward. He has navigated continents, crossed the treacherous Bering Strait, and even swam across the Caspian Sea, all while strictly adhering to his rule of never using any form of transport to advance his progress. It is a staggering commitment that has seen him push through global financial crises, the Covid-19 pandemic, and various geopolitical conflicts that forced him to change his route at times.

The outlet reported that Karl, born in 1969, struggled significantly during his school years due to severe dyslexia, a condition that was not identified until he was 13. He has described that period of his life as “hell,” but it was during those difficult times that he found peace in the outdoors, spending hours bird-watching in the nearby fields. 

That fueled him to become a world-class explorer

His military background later proved essential for his survival on the road. Per the BBC, he served 12 years with the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, where he learned the grit and tactical skills necessary to survive environments that would stop most people in their tracks. It is this determination that reportedly allowed him to evade armed gangs while crossing the dangerous Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia.

The BBC noted that the idea for this massive undertaking was born while Karl was still serving in the Army. He set two golden rules for the Goliath Expedition: he would never use transport to move forward, and he would not return to the UK until the entire journey was finished.

BBC reported that Karl stated on his TikTok channel, “It was a little overwhelming. A little exciting. You’re stepping on to a road that’s 50,000km plus… First, I had no idea how this was going to work out. I knew nothing. Second, I knew I could do it and you would be amazed how a little bit of confidence can take you a long, long way.” 

Karl’s journey has had a lot of logistical challenges. In 2006, he and French adventurer Dimitri Kieffer successfully crossed the frozen Bering Strait, walking 58 miles across shifting ice in temperatures as low as -30C (-22F). Later, when world tensions made travel through certain regions impossible, Karl famously swam 186 miles across the Caspian Sea to reach Azerbaijan, a feat that took him 31 days.

The outlet reported that Karl started his journey with only $500. He has since financed his journey with book deals, public speaking, and corporate sponsors to keep moving. He has reported facing periods of extreme isolation and has often had to pause his walk due to visa restrictions. He has also been arrested a few times.

In June 2026, Eurotunnel officials declined his request to use a service tunnel to enter the UK. While he hopes they might reconsider, Karl has mentioned that he is prepared to swim the English Channel if he has no other option. It is a daunting prospect, as the channel is far colder and rougher than the Caspian Sea, not to mention being one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

When he finally reaches Hull, his mother, Angela, will be waiting at the gates of his childhood home. She jokingly told the BBC that once she hugs him, she plans to ask, “And what time do you call this, Karl?”

Karl admits that he has mixed feelings about the end of his journey. He has spoken to other long-distance walkers about the isolation and restlessness that often follow such an immense project. “Getting home, I just don’t know, it’s weird, it’s a very strange place to be in where suddenly your purpose for living will have a hard stop,” he told the BBC. 

While he has no firm plans, he told the BBC, “I’m hoping to transition into other things as quickly as possible, keeping mind, body and soul on the move.” He mentioned potentially focusing on science or encouraging the next generation of explorers. 

Karl’s scale of exploration is much bigger than the kind we usually see on social media, like the urban explorers who saved a puppy in an abandoned mall. So it will be interesting to see if he can inspire larger projects.