British explorer Karl Bushby has entered the final stretch of an extraordinary global trek that began nearly three decades ago, stepping onto British soil after swimming the English Channel with just 400 kilometres left to walk to his final destination.
In November 1998, Bushby departed from Punta Arenas at the southern tip of Chile with the goal of walking all the way to his mother's home in Hull, England. Inspired by a birthday card from his father that recounted a conversation about traveling from London to New York on foot, the former British paratrooper established two strict rules for his Goliath Expedition: he would use no mechanical transport to advance his journey, and he would not return home until he arrived on his own two feet.
Over the course of 28 years, the journey has spanned more than 50,000 kilometres across 29 countries, taking Bushby through deserts, mountain ranges, jungles, and frozen waterways across four continents. Early in the expedition, between 2000 and 2001, he faced a severe test while crossing the perilous Darién Gap amidst armed conflict involving guerrillas and drug cartels.
In 2006, Bushby achieved a major milestone by walking across the sea ice of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, a 14-day crossing over unstable, freezing water that he considered the crux of his journey. The expedition faced numerous interruptions over the years, including financial hardships, sponsorship losses following the 2007-2008 financial crisis, visa denials and deportation by Russia, pandemic restrictions, and geopolitical roadblocks.
Because his rules forbade him from using transport to shorten his route, Bushby improvised when confronted by impassable barriers. When a land route into Europe became impractical in 2024, he swam across the Caspian Sea from Kazakhstan toward Azerbaijan, maintaining his commitment to resume walking from any interruption point.
The final obstacle proved to be the English Channel after permission to walk through the Channel Tunnel was denied. Bushby completed a grueling multi-day swim and landed at Shakespeare Beach near Dover, marking his first time on British soil since his departure nearly three decades prior.
With roughly 400 kilometres remaining to reach Hull, Bushby aimed to complete the journey around November 1, coinciding with the anniversary of his departure from Chile. The massive undertaking has involved deep personal sacrifices, including leaving behind an eight-year-old son who is now 36, but the lifelong trek is finally drawing to a close as Bushby walks the final miles toward home.