He has been walking around the world and, after 27 years, is almost at his goal.

Karl Bushby’s extraordinary round-the-world walk-begun in 1998-should finally come to an end in 2026. He admits that, after so many years away, he is frightened by the idea of rejoining everyday society.

Back in 1998, Karl Bushby embarked on a truly audacious journey: travelling around the world without using any motorised transport. The former British paratrooper set off from southern Chile, walked all the way to North America, and then crossed the Bering Strait-the stretch of water between Alaska and Russia-on foot. Now 56, Bushby has at last reached Europe, having swum across the Caspian Sea. A Reuters piece published in late November placed him in north-west Hungary.

Even with the finish line in sight, Karl Bushby still has a considerable distance to cover to complete his round-the-world walk. He believes he will finally return to the United Kingdom in September or October 2026. That means many more miles on foot-and he will also need to cross the English Channel. According to the BBC, he would like to make the crossing on foot by using the tunnel. However, if he cannot secure the necessary permissions, he is prepared to swim instead, fully aware it is colder than the Caspian Sea.

Either way, he says, it would be a real shame if it came to that. “Even the Russians let me pass [through their country], despite global tensions,” he told the BBC.

Karl Bushby admits he fears coming home after his round-the-world walk

After 27 years of walking, the British adventurer now says he is anxious about returning home. “It’s going to be difficult. I’ve spoken with several long-distance walkers, including some who have been walking for five years or more, and they told me it is very hard to reintegrate into normal society,” he said in comments to the BBC.

To deal with that, the adventurer believes he will need to find a new aim-or a fresh mission-quickly. He can picture himself in a classroom, telling children that “99.99% of the world is good” and that “the world isn’t as frightening as you might think.”