55-year-old British traveler Karl Bushby set out 26 years ago with the decision to travel the world on foot. Bushby, who entered Turkey through the Sarp Border Gate in Artvin, Turkey's gateway to the Caucasus, passed through Kemalpaşa, Hopa and Arhavi before entering Rize from Fındıklı. The traveler then went through Ardeşen, Pazar, Çayeli, Rize city center and completed his journey through Derepazarı and İyidere. Bushby, who went to Of in Trabzon, stated that he planned to continue on his way and return to England via Europe.
Bushby, who emphasized that he had a pleasant time because he was warmly welcomed by people in every city he visited, said, "I am 55 years old and have been on the road for about 26 years. I am having a good time here. I have met many people and had tea with them in every city I visited. That is why I proceeded very slowly. Yesterday I stopped in a small city on the road. I am walking towards Istanbul to go to the border. Then I will go to Greece and Bulgaria, then Hungary, Austria and Germany."
Bushby added that he had to stop traveling in the years he experienced negativities, "I spent 17 of 26 years seriously walking. I encountered many problems. Budget problems, pandemic, planning and preparation took 2 years. So it was a very complicated 26 years. I have actually been walking for 17 years. This is actually a very difficult challenge. I want to go from the North to the South to the farthest points without using any means and return to England. Just think, continuing the journey without any means of assistance, this is really difficult," he said.
"If you want to set a landmark between continents, you either have to walk or swim"
Noting that he crossed the Darien Gap on foot and the Caspian Sea by swimming, Bushby said, "Crossing the Darien Gap, using canals and tunnels, sometimes walking and sometimes even swimming. For example, I had not anticipated that the Caspian Sea would have to be crossed by swimming. If you want to set a landmark between continents, you either have to walk or swim. Now I hope I can use the Channel Tunnel to get to England."
