When most people dream of adventure, they plan a vacation. Karl Bushby took that impulse to an extraordinary extreme, embarking on a 36,000-mile walk around the entire world that has already spanned 27 years and counting. With just $500 and boundless determination, this former British paratrooper left his hometown of Hull, England in 1998, setting out to complete a journey no human had ever attempted before.

Bushby's 'Goliath Expedition' began in Punta Arenas, Chile, at the southern tip of South America, driven by a simple yet audacious goal: to return home entirely on foot, without using any form of transportation. Two iron-clad rules have guided his odyssey - he can only walk or swim, and he cannot return to England until he completes the entire route unassisted.

Growing up in a military family, Bushby was no stranger to adventure. After serving 12 years in the British army's parachute regiment, he found himself increasingly restless, spending time 'drawing lines on maps' and dreaming of distant horizons. One day, he sketched an incredible route crossing continents - from the United Kingdom through Europe and Asia, across Siberia, over the Bering Strait, through North America, and down to South America's southern tip.

His journey has been anything but easy. Bushby has navigated treacherous terrains and confronted extraordinary challenges, including crossing the dangerous Darien Gap, being detained by Russian authorities, experiencing jail time in Panama, and nearly freezing to death in Alaska. He has walked approximately 30 kilometers daily, often surviving on minimal resources and relying on the kindness of strangers for medical assistance and sustenance.

The psychological challenges have been as significant as the physical ones. Bushby describes the profound experience of true hunger, noting how it transforms one's entire perception of survival. 'The psychology of hunger is interesting,' he reflects. 'When you have no idea where your next meal will come from, you become completely obsessed with finding something to eat.'

Now, after more than a quarter-century of continuous travel, Bushby is tantalizingly close to completing his epic expedition. He expects to return to his hometown of Hull, England next year, having walked an unbroken path across multiple continents. His journey represents more than just a physical trek - it's a testament to human resilience, curiosity, and the extraordinary potential of pursuing an seemingly impossible dream.

As Bushby approaches the conclusion of his monumental journey, he embodies a powerful reminder that true adventure is not about the destination, but the transformative experience of the journey itself. His story challenges us to reconsider our own limitations and imagine the incredible possibilities that emerge when we dare to step beyond our comfort zones.