Karl Bushby, 57, has returned to his home city of Hull in northern England after completing the journey he began 28 years ago. Pulling a handcart containing his belongings, he was welcomed in the city centre by cheering supporters, reporters and his emotional mother.
Bushby was 29 when he left Hull in 1998 to attempt what he described as the longest journey around the world on foot. He began in Chile with less than £400, a handcart and camping equipment. His rules were strict: progress had to be made on foot, with no boats, aircraft or trains, and his return home also had to be completed on foot.
His route took him north from Patagonia through the Darién Gap, a roughly 100-kilometre-wide area of largely rainforest-covered terrain between Panama and Colombia. He later crossed the Bering Sea from Alaska towards Russia, walking over pack ice and, in some sections, swimming through freezing water. Russian border authorities stopped him when he reached the other side and refused him entry.
The border dispute and visa problems forced Bushby to return to Mexico, where he waited while trying to resolve the situation and raise money. He has said that flights used during the expedition were only for returning to a previous point, rather than moving the journey forward. Administrative obstacles and long periods of waiting extended the trip considerably.
“I actually only walked for 15 years,” Bushby said in an interview. “The rest of the time I spent dealing with things — or simply waiting — because I was not prepared to compromise.”
His return to Hull marked his first time at home in almost three decades. His mother visited him three times during the expedition, but had not seen him at home since his departure. Bushby was also welcomed by his 36-year-old son and met his 12-year-old granddaughter for the first time.
The expedition has also attracted criticism. Some have called Bushby reckless or accused him of pursuing an egotistical adventure, while others have criticised the effect of his absence on his young son. Bushby has said he accepted that consequence and wanted to show his son that he was capable of achieving something significant.
Bushby called the journey the “Goliath Expedition”. He has said that finishing it brings mixed emotions: he is happy to be reunited with his family but uncertain about life after spending much of it focused on the expedition. In two weeks, he is due to begin a speaking tour about his experiences. A documentary about the adventure is also in development, with Oscar-winning director Werner Herzog attached to direct.
Sources: Tagesschau.