Photo credit: explorersweb.com
British adventurer Karl Bushby is approaching the culmination of his remarkable journey to become the first person to walk continuously around the globe. His expedition began on November 1, 1998, from the southern tip of Chile, and since then, he has traveled over 47,000 kilometers across four continents, traversing 25 countries, six deserts, and seven mountain ranges. With just one year left on his journey, he is entering the final leg of his adventure.
This endeavor, known as the Goliath Expedition, has lasted 26 years, with around 13 years spent actively walking. The remainder of the time has been consumed by a range of challenges including bureaucratic hurdles, visa complications, pandemics, and financial constraints.
Two Guiding Principles
Bushby operates under two primary self-imposed rules: he cannot utilize any form of transportation along his route and must not return home until his journey is complete. Logistical issues have occasionally required him to temporarily halt his trek for up to three years, necessitating flights to places like Mexico to wait things out. Nevertheless, he always resumed his journey exactly where he left off, relying solely on foot for his travels.
His expedition has taken him through multiple zones of conflict, notably the notorious Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama. The 320-kilometer trek through this dense jungle took him two months, culminating in an 18-day detention in Panama before he was allowed to continue.
Continuing northward, he crossed into Central America before entering the United States in 2002, eventually reaching Alaska by 2005. A significant milestone was achieved in March 2006 when he crossed the Bering Strait with French adventurer Dimitri Kieffer. Over 14 days, they navigated a challenging 241-kilometer stretch of frozen water to reach Siberia, a feat complicated by swiftly moving ice and their subsequent detention by Russian authorities for failing to enter through an official port.
Challenges in Russia
In Russia, Bushby faced slow progress primarily due to restrictive visa regulations. His tourist visa mandated he leave the country every 90 days, limiting his stay to 90 days within a 180-day period. In 2008, his adventure reached an impasse when he lost sponsorship for several years and was unable to travel. Consequently, he settled in Mexico while seeking new funding sources.
He resumed his journey in 2011, once again navigating under the strict 90-day visa limitations. However, in 2012, he was denied a visa renewal, and in 2013, he received a five-year entry ban from Russia. Undeterred, Bushby traveled to the U.S. and walked 4,800 kilometers from Los Angeles to the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., to protest the travel restrictions. His determination paid off; by 2014, the ban was lifted, allowing him to re-enter Russia.
From Russia, he traversed Mongolia, where he joined other adventurers, including Angela Maxwell, who was also on a solo global trek. They crossed the vast Gobi Desert with camels, but after 1,130 kilometers, the group faced internal disputes, leading Bushby to continue into China alone. In 2018, he made his way through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, where he had to pause his journey due to visa issues related to Iran, coinciding with the onset of the pandemic that forced him back to Mexico.
A Unique Plan B
In 2022, faced with seemingly insurmountable barriers in Iran and Russia, Bushby conceived a unique alternative to continue his adventure. Partnering with Angela Maxwell once more, he planned to swim across the Caspian Sea—a significant shift for someone who had primarily relied on walking. However, putting this plan into action took two years of preparation.
The pair flew to Bukhara, Uzbekistan, and trekked across the Kyzylkum Desert to reach the Caspian Sea. With limited swimming experience, they embarked on a daunting 288-kilometer swim from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan in October 2024. Over 32 days, they battled rough sea conditions and relentless winds. With the aid of safety boats, they swam in the mornings and afternoons, taking rest periods aboard the boats when needed. Despite the challenges, Bushby candidly admitted, “I’m definitely not a swimmer, nor do I like swimming,” underscoring how far outside their comfort zones they had ventured.
For the past six months, Bushby has meticulously traveled from Azerbaijan to Turkey, where he praised the warm hospitality he encountered. “Other travelers told me Turkey would be one of the most beautiful and welcoming places. And they were absolutely right. People constantly invited me into their homes…The hospitality has been amazing,” he remarked in a conversation with Turkiye Today.
The Final Year
As he approaches Istanbul, Bushby seeks permission to cross the Bosphorus. “It’s only 1.5 kilometers, but it’s symbolic,” he explained. “Crossing it would bring me from Asia into Europe, marking the final phase of the journey. From there, I’ll traverse Europe and reach the Channel Tunnel in France, ultimately walking back home to the UK.”
Once across the Bosphorus, he is optimistic that he can complete his journey back to the UK within a year. “It’s been hard being away. The UK has changed so much—I left when Tony Blair was Prime Minister, and since then, we’ve had five or more PMs. I might not even recognize home when I get there,” he concluded.
Source
explorersweb.com