LONDON: A British adventurer has completed an extraordinary journey around the world on foot after spending 28 years travelling across continents, according to British media.
Karl Bushby began his remarkable expedition in 1998, when he was 29 years old, expecting to complete the journey within five years.
However, what started as a relatively short-term challenge turned into a 28-year adventure, which finally ended when he arrived at his mother’s home in Hull, England, at the age of 57.
During the journey, Bushby travelled through every continent along his chosen route, crossing dangerous forests, rainforests, deserts and frozen regions. Although he completed most of the expedition on foot, he also swam across several waterways, including the English Channel and the Caspian Sea.
The exact number of steps he took over nearly three decades remains unknown, but estimates suggest he may have walked around 75 million steps. His expedition lasted more than 10,200 days, far exceeding his original plan to complete it in five years.
One of the biggest challenges came when geographical and political tensions between Russia and Iran disrupted his route. To continue his journey, Bushby swam across the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest lake, completing the crossing in 31 days.
He began the expedition in Chile and eventually finished it in the United Kingdom. Crossing Russia alone took him around 10 years, during which he faced imprisonment and deportation after crossing the Caspian Sea without legal authorisation.
The harsh Russian weather also slowed his progress, as conditions allowed him to travel for only a few months each year. Administrative delays and other complications further extended the journey.
Despite these difficulties, Bushby remained committed to completing his mission and continued travelling until he finally reached England. He also experienced significant personal changes during the expedition, revealing that he fell in love twice over the 28 years, but both relationships ended in heartbreak.