After a 28-year odyssey spanning 29 countries and 36,000 miles, Karl Bushby has finally returned to his home in Hull, England, where he was welcomed as a hero. His extraordinary journey, which saw him face polar bears, kidnappers and a period in Russian detention, ended with a grand reception in Queen Victoria Square. Bushby, 57, expressed his astonishment, saying: “I have no idea which way I’m going. You all lead the way,” and added with humour: “Sorry to keep you all waiting – it’s been a while.” He described the reception as “absolute madness”.
The former paratrooper began his record-breaking journey from Punta Arenas in Chile, the southernmost city on the South American continent, with the aim of walking continuously around the world. Over these 28 years, he followed two simple rules: not to return home until he had fully completed the journey, and not to use any form of transport. This took him across four continents, a frozen sea (the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia), deserts, jungles (such as the notorious Darién Gap in Central America) and mountains. He faced threats at gunpoint, was convicted as a spy and was held in detention in Russia.
His return makes Bushby the first person to have walked continuously around the world, visiting 29 countries and surpassing the record for the longest uninterrupted journey on foot, covering the world’s 25,000-mile perimeter. He crossed the misty Humber Bridge on Sunday, on the same date he set off in 1998. Later on Monday, he will complete the journey at his childhood home, where he will be met by his mother, Angela, who had promised to wait for him at the garden gate.
Bushby, pushing his heavily loaded cart named “Beast 2”, thanked the city for its heroic welcome. He stressed that his journey was a “global endeavour”, made possible by “the kindness of strangers – from individuals to nation states”. The renowned German filmmaker Werner Herzog was also present, overseeing what will be one of the closing scenes of his documentary about the 28-year odyssey. Karl Turner, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, read a message from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who congratulated Bushby on his “truly extraordinary” achievement and said his story shows “what can be achieved through determination and extraordinary self-belief”. Before leaving for a large lunch, Bushby left a final message for the city: “I think we’ll see each other around.”
Taken from The Guardian UK