Ex-soldier Karl Bushby has marched 36,000 miles since he left Hull in 1998. He’s crossed the Americas, Asia and Europe, fallen in love, been held at gunpoint and been deported, in between nearly drowning, nearly dying of thirst and nearly being eaten. But that’s just the start of it …
‘It’s a big moment,” says Karl Bushby, who has had plenty of big moments in his life. He is recording himself on his phone for social media. “We’re in Dover, and I’m about to have my first fish and chips and mushy peas in 28 years. Mushy peas, my God, I forgot they even existed!” He points his phone at the plate in front of him. “It better be good.” And he tucks in. “Mmmm. See, this is a big chunk of fish and a decent bit of batter, and that’s something you don’t see in other parts of the world. I mean, come on! That. Is. Fish. And. Chips! You see, Britain is special.”
It has been two days since Bushby swam the Channel to return to England. Tomorrow, he’ll start the walk home to Hull for the first time since he left in 1998. He hopes to get back on 1 November, the same date he set off all those years ago.
Although Bushby is a man of military precision, timing is not one of his greatest traits. When the former paratrooper left the army, aged 29, to walk the world, he planned to be home 12 years later. What accounted for the extra years? “The real world. You can’t account for financial crises, pandemics, visa bans, wars, and the bureaucracy you have to deal with. It took 28 years because of the rules and because we refused to compromise on the route.” I ask what he means by “we”? He smiles. “It’s the royal we. Me and the Beast.”
Ah, the Beast. That’s the customised golf trolley he travelled with, containing essential survival equipment, camping supplies, electronics and food. The original Beast lasted three years before it broke down and had to be put out to grass. The Beast 2, an upgrade he built in Nicaragua, has survived 25 years… read more >
