Skip to main content

Conquering Continents on Foot

“A hiker with a backpack looks out at snow-covered mountains and a forested valley.”

Oziel Gómez from Pexels/CanvaPro

Karl Bushby, 56, is about to complete his “Goliath Expedition”, a monumental journey to walk or swim around the entire Earth without using motorized transport. The epic trek began in Chile in 1998 and is set to conclude in his hometown of Hull, England, by September 2026. As a former British Army paratrooper, Bushby is driven by a thirst for travel and adventure, leading him to make a bet with friends to achieve this seemingly impossible feat.

Bushby has conquered 25 countries, navigating deserts, mountains, jungles and war zones, often camping outdoors or occasionally staying in people’s homes. He has faced the perilous Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia, crossed the icy Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska, and more. Despite extreme weather, visa issues, the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of loneliness, he has remained steadfast in his quest of 27 years.

Support has come from family, individual donors and corporate sponsors. His memoir, Giant Steps, was published in 2008, and there is even talk of a potential feature film deal. Overwhelming kindness from strangers has followed the mission, affirming his belief that the world is kinder than it often appears. What began as a friendly wager has transformed into a life-changing experience, inspiring others to keep moving forward and embrace adventure.

In-Print National Content Global Brief Global and Health Briefs February 2026

 

 

Upcoming Events Near You
Tick Tackler

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

Follow Us On Facebook