KARL BUSHBY: 28 YEARS ON THE ROAD

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlGKSuCvfeM

In 1998, British Karl Bushby began the Goliath Expedition, aiming to walk from Punta Arenas, Chile, to his hometown of Hull, England, without using motorised transport to move himself forward. His route took him through Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, including the dangerous Darién Gap into Panama. He continued through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Canada, before crossing the frozen Bering Strait from Alaska into Russia in 2006. He then travelled across Siberia, Mongolia and China, followed by Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. In 2024, he swam across the Caspian Sea from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan. From Azerbaijan, he continued through Georgia and Turkey, crossing into Europe. His European route included Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Belgium and France, before he reached the English Channel. His expedition covered around 25 countries and tens of thousands of kilometres.  

After almost 28 years of extreme weather, difficult terrain, border restrictions and repeated delays, Bushby swam across the English Channel and reached Shakespeare Beach, near Dover, on 5 October 2026. This was a remarkable milestone, although he still had  400 kilometres to walk to reach his mother's home in Hull. His expedition required enormous perseverance, adaptability and personal sacrifice. He spent decades away from family and friends while the world continued to change. His journey also depended on help from strangers, practical support and the ability to find solutions when plans failed. During the entire  28 years, he  crossed water obstacles either on foot over ice or by swimming, keeping to his strict rule of using no motorized transport . 

Completing a lifelong goal can bring enormous satisfaction, but it can also come with its own challenges. What challenges do you think Karl will face once he returns home ?

2. VOCABULARY MATCH — PART 1

 

Word	Meaning
1. Expedition	A. Giving up something valuable for another purpose
2. Terrain	B. Continuing even thorough difficulties or setbacks
3. Adaptability	C. The physical features of an area of land
4. Milestone	D. The ability to change according to new circumstances
5. Perseverance	E. Doing a journey for a particular purpose
6. Sacrifice	F. A major stage or achievement
7. Delays	G. Not known or recognised
8. Unfamiliar	H. Situations in which something happens later than expected

3. VOCABULARY MATCH — PART 2

Word	Meaning
1. Remote	A. The feeling of pleasure from achieving something
2. Unpredictable	B. Creating or establishing something again
3. Practical	C. A strong desire to achieve something
4. Support	D. Difficult to anticipate or foresee
5. Rebuilding	E. Firm, secure or unlikely to change suddenly
6. Stable	F. Far away from towns or populated areas
7. Ambition	G. Useful and concerned with real situations
8. Satisfaction	H. Help or assistance

4. SYNONYM MATCH

Word	Synonym
1. Expedition	A. Flexibility
2. Terrain	B. Assistance
3. Adaptability	C. Achievement
4. Milestone	D. Landscape
5. Perseverance	E. Journey
6. Sacrifice	F. Fulfilment
7. Unfamiliar	G. Persistence
8. Satisfaction	H. Giving something up
9. Support	I. Unknown

5. INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE — WHAT DID THEY OVERCOME?

Choose one person and discuss the challenges they faced.

• Malala Yousafzai: Threats and violence while campaigning for girls' education.
• Nelson Mandela: Imprisonment and injustice before helping South Africa move towards democracy.
• Frida Kahlo: Serious injuries and physical suffering while developing her artistic identity.
• Stephen Hawking: A progressive illness that severely restricted his movement.
• Bethany Hamilton: Losing an arm in a shark attack before returning to competitive surfing.
• Karl Bushby: Dangerous environments, years away from home and the challenge of beginning a new chapter after his expedition. 

Discuss:

1. What was the person's biggest challenge?
2. What personal qualities helped them overcome it?
3. What did they have to sacrifice?
4. Which story do you find most inspirational, and why?

6. BECOME THE PERSON — WHICH STORY IS MOST INSPIRATIONAL?

Choose one scenario. Speak in the first person and convince the class that your story is the most inspirational.

Scenario A — The Student: You failed important exams, struggled with confidence and financial pressure, but developed a new plan and worked towards a different future.

Scenario B — The Refugee: You left your country because of conflict and had to rebuild your life in an unfamiliar place without speaking the language.

Scenario C — The Injured Athlete: A serious injury ended your original sporting ambitions, but you adapted and found a new way to compete.

Scenario D — The Failed Entrepreneur: Your business collapsed, you lost your savings and faced criticism, but you decided to start again.

 

Prepare a 1–2-minute speech:

• What was your biggest challenge?
• How did you overcome it?
• What did you sacrifice?
• What did you learn about yourself?
• Why is your story inspirational?

Class vote: Which person's story is the most inspirational? You cannot vote for your own scenario.

7. SPONSORSHIP NEGOTIATION — FUND THE EXPEDITION

Your team is organising an expedition to raise €50,000 for children's hospitals. You must negotiate sponsorship with a company.

Student A — Explorer: You need money for equipment, transport, safety and publicity.

Student B — Company Director: You want to support a worthwhile cause but expect clear benefits for your company.

Student C — Safety Adviser: You are concerned about dangerous conditions, insurance and emergency plans.

Student D — Marketing Manager: You want social media content, photographs and regular publicity.

Student E — Charity Representative: You want the money to benefit children's hospitals and the project to be transparent.

Your team must agree on the funding amount, company benefits, safety requirements and how the money will be reported.

Use at least four words from the vocabulary exercises.

8. WHAT WOULD BE MOST DIFFICULT FOR KARL?

Imagine you are Karl Bushby. After almost 28 years away, you return to Britain and must adapt to a completely different life.

Rebuilding relationships with family and friends after decades apart

Adjusting to modern technology, smartphones and social media

Finding a job and achieving financial stability

Getting used to ordinary routines and everyday responsibilities

Feeling that you no longer belong in your own country

Dealing with loneliness after years of independence

Finding a new ambition after completing a lifelong goal

Accepting that friends and family have changed while you were away

Adapting to modern workplaces and social expectations

Coping with the loss of excitement and purpose after the expedition

Finding somewhere to live and establishing a stable home

Explaining your experiences to people who may not understand them

Speaking questions

1. Which challenge would be the hardest for Karl, and why?
2. Would returning home feel like a celebration or a new beginning?
3. Could he experience a loss of purpose after completing his ambition?
4. Would you advise him to find a new challenge or enjoy a quieter life?
5. Is it possible to sacrifice too much for a personal dream?

9. FINAL DEBATE — WAS THE JOURNEY WORTH IT?

Divide the class into two teams.

Team A — Pro: The journey was worth it.

• Karl achieved an extraordinary ambition.
• He demonstrated courage, independence and perseverance.
• His experience will remain a remarkable personal achievement.

Team B — Anti: The personal cost was too high.

• He spent decades away from family and friends.
• He may face personal and practical difficulties after returning.
• Achieving a goal does not guarantee long-term happiness.

Each team must present three arguments, challenge the opposing team's ideas and give a final statement.

10. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Use each word once.

Satisfaction, perseverance, expedition, terrain, delays, milestone, sacrifice, adaptability  

1. The explorer began an extraordinary __________ across several continents.
2. The difficult __________ made walking through the region exhausting.
3. Missing important family events was one personal __________ he made.
4. His __________ helped him respond to unexpected changes.
5. Reaching British soil was an important __________.
6. Completing the journey required extraordinary __________.
7. Unexpected border problems caused repeated __________.
8. Reaching a lifelong goal can bring a deep feeling of __________ 

11. DOCUMENTARY SERIES PITCH — EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN STORIES

Choose ONE scenario. Pitch a documentary series about the person, explaining why their story is inspiring and how you would produce it.

Choose your scenario

Scenario A --The Final Performance  A theatre director in a struggling town attempts to save a historic local theatre by producing a play with residents who have never performed before. The team faces financial pressure, personal disagreements and the possibility of losing the venue permanently.

Scenario B — The Ocean Cleanup Pioneer A marine biologist develops an affordable system to remove plastic from remote coastlines. Despite limited funding and resistance from commercial interests, she works with local communities to protect marine life.

Scenario C —  The Family Detective A woman spends years investigating her family's history after discovering that official records contain contradictions. Her research uncovers forgotten relationships, unexplained disappearances and secrets that change how several generations understand their past

Scenario D — The Forgotten Inventor A mechanic from a small town develops a low-cost machine that could improve access to clean water in rural communities. Without investors or technical resources, he struggles to turn his invention into a practical solution.

Scenario E — The Underground Music Archive A music enthusiast spends decades recording the stories and songs of elderly musicians whose musical traditions are disappearing. He races to preserve their voices before the knowledge is lost.

Scenario F — The Village That Refused to Disappear Residents of a remote village unite to prevent their community from closing after its school, medical centre and local businesses disappear. They develop an unusual plan to attract new residents and revive the local economy.

Scenario G — The Night-Shift Heroes A documentary follows the people who keep a major city functioning while everyone else sleeps: emergency road workers, market porters, cleaners and transport maintenance teams. Their personal stories reveal the hidden costs of modern urban life.

Scenario H —  Come Up With Your Own Idea 

Your Producer's Pitch

Discuss these questions:

1. Why is this person's story worth telling?
2. What makes the main character and their mission interesting?
3. How many episodes would you produce, and what would happen in each one?
4. Who would you interview, and where would you film?
5. What conflicts, surprises or emotional moments would keep viewers watching?
6. How would you finance, market and distribute the series?

Final challenge: Present your documentary concept in a 2–3-minute pitch. Convince the class that your series deserves to be produced.