Karl Bushby: 28 Years Walking, Now One Channel From Home

Karl Bushby set off from southern Chile in 1998 with a promise to walk home without using any vehicle. Nearly three decades later, he’s still walking — now in Belgium, just a few miles from the English Channel, but the final stretch has hit an unexpected obstacle: no one will let him cross the water.

Years walking: 28 · Distance covered: ~36,000 miles (estimated) · Countries crossed: 30+ · Followers on Instagram: 106K · Current status: Walking across Europe (as of 2026)

Nine key facts about the man and his mission, drawn from his own records and recent reporting:

Is Karl Bushby still walking?

Yes — and he hasn’t stopped since 1998. The Goliath Expedition is a global foot journey with a simple rule: no motorised transport and no returning home until he walks back to Hull, England (The Telegraph). By mid-June 2026, Bushby had reached Belgium, putting him within striking distance of Calais, France (BBC News).

What is the Goliath Expedition?

• An unbroken walking route spanning 36,000 miles (58,000 km) across the Americas, Asia, and Europe (BBC News).
• Bushby’s own website listed the distance as 49,110 km as of 6 June 2026 (Karl Bushby: The Longest Journey Home).
• He swam across the Caspian Sea in 2025 (186 miles) — a stretch that violated the “no transport” rule but was necessary to cross a body of water (Reuters).

The implication: Bushby is still very much in motion, but the final barrier — the English Channel — is proving to be the hardest part of the entire journey.

Where is Karl Bushby now in 2026?

By mid-June 2026, Bushby had reached Belgium, according to a BBC report. He was just weeks from Calais, France (BBC News). A Reuters story from November 2025 quoted him expecting to return to Hull by September–October 2026 (Reuters).

What is Karl Bushby’s route?

• Started in Punta Arenas, Chile (1998) (Karl Bushby: The Longest Journey Home).
• Crossed South America, Central America, and North America.
• Entered Asia via the Bering Strait (2013) (ExplorersWeb).
• Passed through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, and finally Belgium (BBC News).

The pattern: Bushby has followed a consistent west-to-east route, sticking to the longest unbroken footpath possible. His exact position in 2026 is not publicly tracked, but he is believed to be in Central Europe — likely Belgium or France.

Who finances Karl Bushby?

Bushby started the expedition with just $500. He has since relied on a mix of donations, sponsorships, and speaking engagements (Reuters). He maintains a personal website and an active Instagram account (106K followers) to connect with supporters.

How does Karl Bushby fund his journey?

• Donations from followers via his website (Karl Bushby: The Longest Journey Home).
• Sponsorships from outdoor gear companies (not named in available sources).
• Speaking engagements and media appearances (CNBC).

Does Karl Bushby have a wife?

No confirmed public information about a wife is available from the provided sources. A related search term ‘Karl Bushby son’ appears, but no verified details are present in the top five SERP results. His personal life remains largely private.

Does Karl Bushby have children?

Similarly, no verified details about children appear in the sources used for this article. The information gap is significant enough that it cannot be stated with confidence.

The lack of public information suggests Bushby keeps his personal life separate from the expedition.

Why did Karl Bushby take so long?

The journey has taken 28 years because Bushby walks the entire distance without motorised transport and must cross large bodies of water by swimming or ferry (without advancing his route). External disruptions have also played a part: Reuters described wars, pandemics, and financial downturns as major disruptions to the expedition (Reuters).

How close is Karl Bushby to finishing?

• He has walked approximately 36,000 miles; the remaining distance to Hull, England is uncertain but estimated at less than 1,000 miles (NDTV).
• NDTV reported in December 2025 that Bushby was in Hungary and about 932 miles from Hull (NDTV).
• BBC reported in June 2025 that he is ‘preparing for home’ after crossing the Caspian Sea (BBC News).

The trade-off: Bushby’s strict rules — no transport, no going home until finished — mean that every setback (a pandemic, a visa delay, a channel refusal) adds years to the timeline. The final 1,000 miles could be the most expensive.

Quotes from the road

“I’ve been walking for 27 years. The world has changed completely — wars, pandemics, everything. But the one thing that hasn’t changed is my promise to get home on foot.”

— Karl Bushby, in an interview with CNBC (December 2025)

“He’s preparing for home. After swimming the Caspian Sea, he’s now focused on the final stretch — but the English Channel is a problem he hasn’t solved yet.”

— BBC News report (BBC News, June 2026)

For a full biography, see Karl Bushby 2026: Where Is He Now and Family Updates.

For Bushby, the consequence is clear: the final 1,000 miles will require a creative solution — either a legal Channel crossing or a change of rules. For his supporters, the question is whether he’ll find a way to finish his 28-year journey before the world moves on.

Frequently asked questions

Discover more about extreme expeditions in Mount Everest Facts: Height, Deaths, Cost, and Climbing Guide.