The exhibit displays items from Karl’s trek, plus maps, images and a replica of the famous “Beast” cart which carried all his possessions
Karl’s trusty “Beast” cart is on display in the centre of the room(Image: Bethany Lodge/Hull Live)
Visitors to Hull city centre are invited to step into the world of Karl Bushby with an exhibit that showcases some of the lesser-known aspects of his 28-year mission. The gallery at The Monocle on the corner of Ferensway and Anlaby Road is now open.
Sitting in the middle of the gallery floor is a replica of the original Beast – a cart made from a golf buggy and two bike wheels that lasted for the first 5,000 miles of the trip before falling to pieces. The Beast held all of Karl’s worldly possessions, mainly consisting of his tent, sleeping bag and bottles of water. Karl made his way home to Sutton Park on Monday towing along an updated “Beast”.
Karl set off in 1998 aiming to get from Chile to Hull without using any form of transport. He vowed not to return to Hull until he had achieved that mission.
Perhaps the most poignant feature of the exhibition is a collection of hand written notes sent back to his parents on whatever he could find strewn on the roadside. The notes, written on the back of yogurt pots, discarded receipts and sweet wrappers, were sometimes the only way Karl could get messages to his family that he was safe.
Dotted around the edges of the exhibition space are framed photographs of the former paratrooper at key points on his journey. One shows the Beast frozen over in Siberia, another depicts Karl’s tent while sleeping in -46 degree weather in Canada.
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There are original diagrams, drawn by Karl, which show how he used a jacket with bottles stuck into the pockets as a flotation device. It also shows how he managed to disguise himself to look like an itinerant – even dying his blonde hair dark – while crossing the The Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama.
There is also a 100ft rope hung around the room, hanging from the ceiling, which represents the length of Karl’s journey. Hanging from the rope are cards detailing all the countries he has visited. The exhibition opened today and will run until early 2027.
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