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Who is the person who walked around the world for 27 years: It all started with a bet...

2026-07-30 22:50:24Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Who is the person who walked around the world for 27 years: It all started with
Carl Busby

It all started with a bet. At the age of about 20, Carl Busby, drinking beer with his friends, confidently declared that he could walk from the southernmost tip of South America to his home in Great Britain. His friends burst into laughter. This disbelief turned into a personal challenge for the former parachutist. After doing the initial calculations, he came to the conclusion that this was not a ridiculous idea, but a completely feasible plan, no matter how absurd it sounded. A few years later, in 1998, Busby, setting off from Punta Arenas in Chile, began the epic “Goliath Mission”.

Discipline and loneliness

Now, 27 years later, his daring venture is nearing its end, as he is expected to return to his hometown of Hull, England, next September. Like a modern-day Phileas Fogg, Busby began the 50,000-kilometer mission with the belief that he would complete it in about 12 years. However, the reality turned out to be much more difficult. From day one, he imposed two non-negotiable rules on himself: he was not allowed to use any mechanical means of transport to continue, and he was not allowed to return home until the route was completed.

Who is the person who walked around the world for 27 years: It all started with

His military discipline seems to have played a crucial role. Serving for 11 years in the British Army's 3rd Parachute Battalion, he followed the rules with absolute consistency. He didn't even return to see his son, who occasionally accompanied him on short stretches of the route. At the same time, the constant wandering also affected his personal life, since, as he himself admitted, no relationship was able to withstand the unusual lifestyle he chose. Loneliness was something that made it difficult for him, but he knew from the start that the walk would be mentally and physically exhausting. Over almost three decades, Busby, now 57, has traversed deserts, jungles, tundra and some of the most remote places on the planet. He has walked across the entire American continent, crossed the frozen Bering Strait and the nearly impassable Darien Strait between Panama and Colombia, crossed Russia, and traveled all over Europe. During the expedition, he suffered a serious injury when he slipped and injured his wrist. In fact, he had to get stitches, as he had no access to medical care.

Who is the person who walked around the world for 27 years: It all started with

On his journey, he relied on the kindness of strangers many times, an experience that, he said, changed the way he sees the world. For most of the journey, Busby pushed a specially designed cart, “The Beast,” which carried his equipment, food, and all the necessary supplies. He received financial support from family and friends, while many citizens made donations once they learned about his journey. Companies contacted him, and by 2003 he had signed a contract for his first book, “Giant Steps,” which was published a few years later.

As part of his journey, he often returned to Mexico, where the cost of living is low, and there he had found refuge during the COVID pandemic. In an effort to avoid conflict-affected areas, he chose to avoid Iran and Russia and instead swam across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan. From there, he continued to Turkey before entering Europe. By mid-June 2026, Carl arrived in Belgium. “Life is short and you have to live it to the fullest. People will embrace you and help you move on,” he said.

Who is the person who walked around the world for 27 years: It all started with

Another obstacle

Just months before he was due to complete his “Goliath Mission,” Busby is facing another unexpected obstacle. The Channel Tunnel operator, Getlink, has refused his request to walk through the tunnel on safety grounds, while French law allows swimming in the Channel from the UK coast to France, but not vice versa. Busby is currently in talks with the French coast guard over the issue, hoping to either obtain special permission or find another solution that will allow him to complete the journey without violating the strict rules he has set for himself.

Who is the person who walked around the world for 27 years: It all started with

His mother's anxiety and pride

Long before he embarked on the longest journey of his life, Carl Busby was fighting another battle. As a severely dyslexic pupil, he was systematically bullied at school and, as he himself described it, those years were “hell”. He often sought solace in the countryside, spending his free time birdwatching in the fields around his home. His mother, Angela, speaking to the BBC, said her son would come home from school hurt by the teasing and insults of his classmates. “They called him stupid and stupid,” she said.

Who is the person who walked around the world for 27 years: It all started with

His refuge was nature, and so every night she struggled to convince him to come home for dinner. Despite the difficulties, young Carl never gave up on his goals. Although he was not a big boy, he persisted until he passed the grueling tests of Company P, the demanding selection process for paratroopers in the British Army. It took him more than one attempt, but he finally succeeded. His mother believes that his perseverance and determination, along with the desire to make himself and his family proud, were the elements that led him to success in the army. Like any mother who experiences the long absence of her child intensely, she continued to buy him a gift every Christmas, even though she knew she would not be there to open it. Today, after almost three decades, she eagerly awaits his return, as if he himself were the most precious Christmas present.

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