🌍 The Goliath Expedition: Karl Bushby’s 27‑Year Odyssey
Karl Bushby, a former British paratrooper born in 1969 in Hull, England, has spent the past 27 years walking an unbroken path around the world—no cars, no planes, no boats. It’s called the Goliath Expedition, and it began on November 1, 1998, from Punta Arenas, Chile (Wikipedia).
🚶♂️ Unyielding Rules & Relentless Resolve
- No motorized transportation: He only walks or swims.
- No return home: He won’t return to his U.K. starting point until arriving there on foot (Reddit).
Despite an initial estimate of 12–13 years, Bushby has endured visa pitfalls, sponsorship losses, pandemics, and lengthy administrative delays—only 13 of the 27 years were spent actively walking (The Economic Times).
⚠️ Extreme Challenges & Historic Milestones
- Darien Gap (Colombia‑Panama): Bushby endured two months of jungle trekking, including an 18-day detention in Panama before resuming (Wikipedia).
- Bering Strait crossing (2006): Alongside fellow adventurer Dimitri Kieffer, he walked across frozen sea ice from Alaska to Russia—a 241 km stretch over two brutal weeks of shifting ice and frigid conditions (Wikipedia).
- Caspian Sea swim (2024): Denied entry to Iran or Russia, Bushby swam with co‑swimmer Angela Maxwell from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan—a 179‑mile journey taking over 132 hours spread across 31 days (The Economic Times).
Into Europe: The Home Stretch Begins
By May 2025, Bushby had reached Turkey—walking from the Azerbaijani border into Istanbul via Kocaeli and posting daily progress updates. His route plans to continue across Europe, with the ultimate goal of reaching Hull by September 2026 (The Economic Times).
🔍 Why It’s Monumental
- Historical First: If successful, he will become the first person to complete a full unbroken circumnavigation of the globe entirely on foot.
- Inspiration for Endurance: His years-long commitment underscores resilience, adaptability, and sheer willpower.
- Border and Bureaucracy Battle: He’s repeatedly confronted visa restrictions and bans (including a five-year ban from Russia in 2013), yet resumed walking wherever he paused (Wikipedia, The Economic Times).
🧭 Snapshot Summary
| 📌 Feature | 📝 Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Karl Bushby |
| Started | Nov 1998 in Chile |
| Distance Covered | Over 47,000 km / 29,000 miles |
| Major Obstacles | Visa denials, detentions, border bans |
| Epic Crossings | Darien Gap, Bering Strait, Caspian Sea swim |
| Projected Finish | ~September 2026, Hull, UK |
Karl Bushby’s journey isn’t just a walk—it’s a multi‑decade testament to the power of human endurance and a living chronicle of places most people will never see up close. The final stretch is underway, and soon he may complete the most unique circumnavigation in history.