After 27 years, 35,000 miles, and enough bureaucratic nightmares to fill a dozen novels, Karl Bushby is within sight of home. The 56-year-old English ex-paratrooper, who set off from Punta Arenas, Chile on November 1, 1998, has walked farther than any human in recorded history—without a single motorized leg of his journey. As of October 2025, he’s entered Romania, the final European checkpoint before his hometown of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. Just 1,375 miles remain. He’s not done yet. But he’s close.
The Long March Begins
Bushby didn’t set out to break records. He set out to prove something—to himself, to the military that trained him, and maybe to the world. A former British Parachute Regiment soldier, he walked away from conventional life after a disillusioning tour. His plan? Walk around the planet, footstep after footstep, never using a vehicle to cover ground. No bikes, no boats, no planes. Just his boots, a backpack, and sheer stubbornness. The route: 36,000 miles. The timeline: eight years. The reality? A quarter-century of visas, snowstorms, and silent borders.
Through the Americas and Into the Frozen Unknown
He covered South America first—17,000 miles by 2006. He trekked through jungles, deserts, and mountain passes, documenting everything on a battered laptop and solar-charged camera. By 2003, he’d crossed North America. Then came the wall: Russia. In 2007, after years of pleading, he finally secured permission to enter what he called “a military zone” stretching from the Urals to Yakutsk. He walked it with a companion known only as Kieffer, surviving -40°C nights in Siberia where even reindeer herders stayed indoors. His military training kicked in: layering, rationing, melting snow for water. He didn’t sleep in hotels. He slept under stars, in barns, in police stations that didn’t know what to do with him.
The Visa Wars
Here’s the twist: the biggest obstacle wasn’t the terrain. It was paperwork. Bushby spent more time waiting for stamps than walking. In 2015, he was stuck in Kazakhstan for nine months. In 2019, a Chinese visa denial forced a detour through Central Asia. He waited in Armenia for months in 2025 just to get into Turkey. “It’s not about distance,” he wrote in his June 2025 update. “It’s about who says you can pass.” But something changed in 2024. As news of his journey spread, embassies began to take notice. Officials in Bulgaria, Romania, and even Serbia quietly fast-tracked his paperwork. One border officer in Sofia handed him a coffee and said, “We’re rooting for you, mate.”
Why This Matters
George Meegan walked 19,000 miles from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska between 1977 and 1983. He didn’t circle the globe. Bushby is doing what no one else has: a continuous, unbroken walk around the entire planet. That’s not just endurance. It’s a statement. In an age of flights and ferries, he’s proving that the oldest form of travel—your own two feet—can still conquer the world. His journey isn’t about speed. It’s about persistence. He’s averaged 1.2 miles per hour over 10,000 walking days. That’s slower than a snail in a hurry. But he never stopped.
The Final Stretch
He’s now in Eastern Europe. The terrain is kinder. The people are curious. He’s been invited to schools, radio stations, even a village festival in Transylvania where they served him goulash and sang him a folk song. He still walks 8-10 hours a day. Still carries his own tent. Still sleeps on the ground. He’s lost weight. Lost friends. Lost years. But he hasn’t lost focus. If all goes well, he’ll cross into Hungary by early 2026, then Austria, Germany, and finally, the North Sea coast. From there, it’s a ferry to the UK—and then, finally, the walk into Hull.
What Comes After?
Bushby says he won’t write a book. He won’t give TED Talks. He might just sit on his porch in Hull, watch the Humber Bridge, and listen to the birds. But his legacy? It’s already written—in the dust of Patagonia, the snow of Yakutsk, the border checkpoints of Turkey, and the quiet streets of a British city that didn’t even know he was gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Karl Bushby’s journey compare to George Meegan’s record?
While George Meegan walked 19,000 miles from South America to Alaska between 1977 and 1983, he did not complete a full circumnavigation. Bushby’s Goliath Expedition covers over 35,000 miles across five continents, aiming to be the first continuous walk around the entire globe. Meegan’s journey was remarkable, but Bushby’s is unprecedented in scope, requiring passage through politically restricted zones like Siberia and Central Asia.
Why did the expedition take so long?
Bureaucratic delays were the main cause. Bushby faced years-long visa denials, especially from Russia and China, where his route crossed military zones. He spent months waiting in Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan for permits. His 2007 approval from Russia alone took five years of appeals. Unlike modern adventurers, he refused to use motorized transport, so delays meant literal stops—no shortcuts.
How has Bushby survived extreme weather conditions?
His military training proved vital. In Siberia, where temperatures dropped below -40°C, he used layered wool, insulated boots from his sponsor La Sportiva, and melted snow for water. He carried a small stove, avoided sweating by adjusting layers, and slept in a custom-designed tent. He once spent 11 days stranded in a village after a blizzard, living off dried meat and tea.
Has Bushby received any official recognition?
Yes. Several European countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, have granted him expedited visas in recognition of his historic journey. The UK’s Royal Geographical Society has acknowledged his feat unofficially, and he’s been invited to speak at military heritage events. Though no Guinness World Record has been formally awarded yet, his documentation is being reviewed by expedition historians.
What will Bushby do when he reaches Hull?
He says he doesn’t plan a parade. He wants to see his family, walk the streets he left in 1998, and maybe sit by the Humber River. He’s not seeking fame. He’s not writing a memoir. He simply wants to finish what he started. His greatest reward? Walking into his own front yard after 27 years—without ever taking a single ride.
Is there a chance Bushby won’t make it to Hull?
There’s always a chance. Visa issues in the Balkans or unexpected political unrest could delay him. He’s 56 now, and his knees aren’t what they were. But he’s proven resilient. He’s survived war zones, ice storms, and years of isolation. If anyone can walk the last 1,375 miles, it’s him. The world is watching. And so far, he’s never let it down.
