Karl Bushby said he was “mentally and physically as ready as I will ever be” when he set off from his home in Sutton Park, Hull, on October 6, 1998, on a global adventure. The then 29-year-old had been planning the trek around the globe for three years; his mum, Angie, said she had been hoping he would change his mind.
In an interview with the Hull Daily Mail, reported the day after the former paratrooper’s departure, Karl said: “There is no way I can know who I will be when I come back.” He was expecting to spend 12 years walking around the world, saying he would still be relying on his mum and other supporters to keep him fed and clothed.
The parting of mother and son took place in Newtondale and Angie said Karl was putting on a brave face, as he embarked on a warm-up leg of his 36,000-mile non-stop hike. She said: “You could tell he was emotional but he was trying not to show it.
“I’m scared. He’s on his own if something goes wrong.
“I have got a bit emotional today and I can’t explain how I’m feeling. I don’t think it’s really going to hit me until he’s left and all the family and friends have gone home.”
Angie, then 50, said she had hoped Karl would change his mind about leaving but that it had been his “life’s ambition”. “I have been hoping all along he would change his mind,” she said.
“Unfortunately he won’t, so I have to accept it.” Karl planned to use a satellite telephone link to keep in touch with friends and family.
He admitted to reporter Alexander Wright he was scared of what he was about to embark on, saying: “I’m terrified. It’s a strange feeling after having worked on it for so long.”
Despite the fear, the adventurer said: “It’s hard to define what ready is, but I’m mentally and physically as ready as I will ever be.” His journey was to take him through 25 countries spanning four continents.
The former Malet Lambert School pupil set out from Hull for Oxfordshire where he was to bid farewell to friends before flying out to Chile to begin the trek. Karl christened his walk “Goliath” and planned on passing through south, central and north America, crossing from Alaska into Siberia using the frozen Arctic sea as a land bridge.
He was then to cross Russia, Asia and Europe before returning to England via the Channel Tunnel (that crossing was denied by authorities and Karl ended up having to swim the Channel instead, recently). He said he could not imagine how he would feel returning home after his estimated 12 years away.
An extra 16 years later, Karl is closing in on his home city and a civic welcome is being arranged for the traveller on Monday, November 2.
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