www.washingtonpost.com /lifestyle/2025/12/05/karl-bushby-walk-around-world/

He set out to walk around the world. After 27 years, his quest is nearly over.

Sydney Page 2-2 minutes 12/5/2025

Democracy Dies in Darkness

The Optimist

Karl Bushby is expected to finish his globe-walking expedition by September 2026.

December 5, 2025 at 8:05 a.m. ESTYesterday at 8:05 a.m. EST

Karl Bushby hiking in Ecuador in 2000. (Courtesy of Karl Bushby)

Karl Bushby made a barroom bet that he could walk from the southern tip of South America all the way home to England. His friends had little faith.

“Suddenly, it became a challenge,” Bushby said of the bet he made in his 20s. “That conversation gathered steam, until eventually I did the math and thought, ‘this is doable’…I became semi-obsessed with what it would take to achieve something like this.”


What readers are saying

Karl Bushby's journey is celebrated for its remarkable endurance and the positive message it conveys about humanity. Many commenters highlight his experiences of kindness and generosity from people worldwide, which seem to have motivated him to continue despite challenges. His... Show more

This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.

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