Karl Bushby Ends 28-Year, 30,000-Mile Journey Home to Hull

Karl Bushby walked into his mother's home in Hull, England, on Monday, concluding a 28-year journey that covered an estimated 30,000 miles. The 57-year-old arrived after more than 10,000 days away from the working-class port city located about 150 miles north of London. His return marked the end of a physical endurance test defined by two strict rules: he could not use machines to travel and he could not return home until the circumnavigation was complete, even in the event of a family death.

Bushby began the expedition, known as the Goliath Expedition, in Chile on Nov. 1, 1998, at age 29. He traveled north through Central America, the United States, and Canada before crossing the Bering Sea to Russia. This crossing was the first recorded attempt of its kind. He later swam across the Caspian Sea for 31 days to bypass the war in Ukraine, a feat also reported as a first. His route included delays caused by illness, Russian visa restrictions, and armed gangs in the Darien Gap, where he also spent time in a Panamanian jail.

The final leg of his journey involved swimming from France across the English Channel just last month. British immigration officers checked his passport as he set foot in his birth country. Bushby noted the disorientation of returning, stating that he had worked in dollars for 28 years and was unfamiliar with local brands and driving habits. He described the experience of crossing the street as confusing because people in the UK drive on the opposite side of the road from where he had been for decades.

On Monday, Bushby completed a roughly three-mile walk from near Hull's town center to a neighborhood of red-brick terrace homes. An honor guard led the way, and children lined the street to cheer. He pushed a cart that had accompanied him for about 25 years for the final steps. He then embraced his waiting mother on the street outside her home, sharing a quiet moment as the crowd cheered.

Bushby told CBS News that the journey required a global effort. "I didn't do this alone. There was a big team, the biggest team: Earth. That's what it took to get me back," he said. He acknowledged facing down governments and creating two world records to complete the circuit. Despite the challenges, he expressed optimism about humanity, stating, "My bet is on us, no matter what. My bet is on humanity."

Reflecting on his time away, Bushby said he feels an odd sense of guilt because other parts of the world now feel more like home to him. He described his current state as a "weird static thing" after spending a generation abroad. He advised others to dream bigger and recognize their own capabilities, noting that people constantly underestimate themselves. He ended his public remarks by encouraging listeners to take confidence and the art of dreaming big from his experience.