Man prepares to finish walk around the world that took 27 years

Summary

Carl Bushby, a British man, has been walking around the world since 1998, covering over 30,000 miles. His journey has led him through perilous terrains, including the Darian Gap and the Bering Strait, and even forced him to swim the Caspian Sea. Despite personal losses and physical challenges, Bushby remains driven by a desire to live life to the fullest. Now nearing the end of his 27-year trek, he shares lessons on perseverance, human kindness, and the importance of embracing life's adventures, with his next goal being a final 2,000-mile stretch to his home in England.

Takeaways

• 😀 Carl Bushby, a British man, embarked on an epic walk across the world in 1998, and after 27 years, he's nearing the end of his journey.
• 😀 Bushby has walked more than 30,000 miles across multiple continents, traveling through the Americas, the US, Russia, Asia, and now Europe.
• 😀 He set two simple rules for his journey: no mechanical transport and no turning back until he reaches home on foot.
• 😀 Despite facing multiple physical and emotional challenges, including losing family members, Bushby has continued his journey with resilience.
• 😀 One of the most dangerous parts of his journey was crossing the Darian Gap, a perilous route through a war zone and cartel territories.
• 😀 He became the first Brit to traverse the Bering Strait from Alaska to Siberia, where he even had a close encounter with a polar bear.
• 😀 After being barred from walking through Russia and Iran, Bushby swam across the Caspian Sea, setting a record by swimming nearly 200 miles in a month.
• 😀 Although he dislikes swimming, he may have to swim the English Channel as part of the final leg of his journey.
• 😀 Technological advancements like social media have helped Bushby stay connected with the world, with his TikTok now having over 350,000 followers.
• 😀 Despite nearing the end of his journey, Bushby continues to inspire others to take risks and pursue their passions, emphasizing the importance of getting started and not being afraid.
• 😀 Bushby is also passionate about STEM education and hopes to focus on teaching science, technology, engineering, and math after completing his journey.

Q & A

What is Carl Bushby's unique journey?

Carl Bushby has been walking around the world since 1998, with the goal of completing his journey on foot without using any mechanical transportation. He started in Chile and is now nearing the finish line, nearly 30,000 miles later.

What were Carl Bushby's two main rules for his journey?

Bushby's two main rules were that he could not use any mechanical transport and that he would not return home until he had completed the journey on foot.

How long has Carl Bushby been walking, and how old is he now?

Carl Bushby began his journey in 1998, and as of the time of the interview, he is 56 years old, having started the walk at the age of 29.

What is Carl Bushby's perspective on human kindness?

Throughout his journey, Bushby has found that human kindness remains constant. Despite the many changes in the world, he recalls numerous instances where people, including indigenous people in Chile, welcomed him with warmth and generosity.

What is one of the most dangerous challenges Carl Bushby faced during his journey?

One of the most dangerous challenges Bushby faced was crossing the Darien Gap, which involved navigating a war zone, drug cartels, and harsh jungle conditions between South and Central America.

What notable achievement did Carl Bushby accomplish in 2000?

In 2000, Carl Bushby became the first Brit to cross the Bering Strait from Alaska to Siberia, a dangerous and physically demanding feat.

What unusual incident did Carl Bushby experience during his journey through the Arctic?

While crossing the Arctic, Carl Bushby had a run-in with a polar bear, highlighting the dangers of traveling in such extreme conditions.

How did Carl Bushby handle the issue of being barred from walking through Russia and Iran?

Since he was barred from walking through Russia and Iran, Bushby swam the Caspian Sea, a remarkable feat where he swam nearly 200 miles over the course of a month.

What role does technology play in Carl Bushby's journey?

Technology has played an important role in Bushby's journey, especially in the later years. In 2013, he bought his first touchscreen device, helping him stay connected as he traveled, something he couldn't do in the early days when he was more isolated.

What emotional challenges has Carl Bushby faced during his journey?

In addition to the physical challenges, Bushby has faced emotional hardships, including the loss of close family members. He made an agreement that if any of his loved ones passed away, he wouldn't return home for the funeral, a decision that reflected the commitment to his journey.

What is Carl Bushby's message to others as he nears the end of his journey?

Carl Bushby's message is to not be afraid, to get out of bed, and take that first step to make things happen. He believes that stepping outside one's comfort zone can open up new possibilities and opportunities.

How does Carl Bushby feel as he approaches the final stretch of his journey?

As Bushby nears the final stretch of his journey, he expresses discomfort about the idea of 'retiring' from a lifelong adventure. He has also embraced social media, gaining over 350,000 followers on TikTok, and plans to continue teaching STEM education after completing his walk.