Karl Bushby and the Channel Tunnel

[Egg Centric]

It's not the length of time that's important is it? If I drive at 120mph on a motorway for 1 hour, is it less dangerous than doing so for 10 hours?

The point is that either way it's taking a risk, you just don't know when that risk will lead to trouble. All you do with a shorter time is decrease the probability, you don't eliminate the risk.

So if you make an exception for Chris Froome, why not for Karl Bushby? You either make an exception or you don't.

They had to shut down all work using the service tunnel during his ride. There's a big difference between shutting that down for an hour or two and half a day.

 

[zwk500]

It's not the length of time that's important is it? If I drive at 120mph on a motorway for 1 hour, is it less dangerous than doing so for 10 hours?

The point is that either way it's taking a risk, you just don't know when that risk will lead to trouble. All you do with a shorter time is decrease the probability, you don't eliminate the risk.

As risk is a function of probability, then by definition reducing the probability is reducing the risk. The task of any risk management is to reduce the risk to a manageable level.

So if you make an exception for Chris Froome, why not for Karl Bushby? You either make an exception or you don't.

In this instance, the role of the service tunnel as an emergency evacuation route is also an important consideration. There is a huge difference between shutting it down or obstructing it for 1hrs and 10hrs.

 

[edwin_m]

A cyclist passing through in an hour could perhaps do so unaccompanied or someone could be driving behind in case of any problems. Bushby would need at least one welfare stop during a 10hr walk, which means having a mobile welfare unit following him or meeting him at intervals. They must have such vehicles on site for use by maintenance staff, but it would then be unavailable for other uses and creating an obstruction in the event of an evacuation being needed.

 

[Egg Centric]

Bushby would need at least one welfare stop during a 10hr walk,

In fairness I think this bit is a solved problem (various absorbent materials and those backpacks that have water in them with a straw)

Although the rest of it isn't.

 

[Shrop]

Some on this thread might know by now that Karl Bushby reached British shores a few days ago, by swimming the Channel.

To me, and a rapidly growing number of others, his story is highly inspirational, and well deserving of much more respect than many people give him.

It will be interesting to see how many of those who have ignored him until now, will want a piece of the action once he arrives in Hull.

His story is bigger than a lot of people realise. (Those without their heads in the sand that is ).

Here is a link to how the New York Times are covering the story (hold your finger on the link and then click "open") ...https://nypost.com/2026/10/11/lifestyle/british-veteran-completes-28-year-journey-walking-across-four-continents/

 

[SargeNpton]

Some on this thread might know by now that Karl Bushby reached British shores a few days ago, by swimming the Channel.

To me, and a rapidly growing number of others, his story is highly inspirational, and well deserving of much more respect than many people give him.

It will be interesting to see how many of those who have ignored him until now, will want a piece of the action once he arrives in Hull.

His story is bigger than a lot of people realise. (Those without their heads in the sand that is ).

Here is a link to how the New York Times are covering the story (hold your finger on the link and then click "open") ...https://nypost.com/2026/10/11/lifestyle/british-veteran-completes-28-year-journey-walking-across-four-continents/

Sorry, but taking 28 years to walk around the world on the pretext of going home is not inspirational but just a waste of a life, especially as he has a family.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Sorry, but taking 28 years to walk around the world on the pretext of going home is not inspirational but just a waste of a life, especially as he has a family.

Totally agree.

 

[Falcon1200]

A couple of questions;

How much has Mr Bushby raised for charity through his (admittedly remarkable) achievement?

How did he support himself, ie pay for food, accommodation, clothing etc during his odyssey?

 

[Shrop]

Sorry, but taking 28 years to walk around the world on the pretext of going home is not inspirational but just a waste of a life, especially as he has a family.

Totally disagree!! Bushby has done far more to motivate and inspire people than a great number of others who milk a lot from society.

He doesn't have a wife or children, and others in his family have been out to see him during his time away.

His story might not inspire you personally, but that hardly takes into account a great many others who he does inspire.

Not everyone is inspired by people who are paid a fortune by kicking a ball around a field either!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Monday at 18:20 ==

A couple of questions;

How much has Mr Bushby raised for charity through his (admittedly remarkable) achievement?

How did he support himself, ie pay for food, accommodation, clothing etc during his odyssey?

Read the quote I posted earlier.

 

[Falcon1200]

Read the quote I posted earlier.

Don't see a quote, just a link which I was unable to open.

 

[Egg Centric]

He doesn't have a wife or children, and others in his family have been out to see him during his time away.

He absolutely has a son. And a 12 year old granddaughter. Who he's never met in person (might have done in the last few days).

 

[Shrop]

He absolutely has a son. And a 12 year old granddaughter. Who he's never met in person (might have done in the last few days).

Ah, maybe I missed that bit. My bad!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Monday at 18:37 ==

Don't see a quote, just a link which I was unable to open.

Hold your finger on the link and it should offer you a dialogue box saying "Open".

 

[Falcon1200]

Hold your finger on the link and it should offer you a dialogue box saying "Open".

Doesn't work on a non-touchscreen! However I copied and pasted the link and read the story, which does explain how he financed his journey, thanks for that. However no mention of any benefit to anybody other than himself.

 

[Shrop]

Doesn't work on a non-touchscreen! However I copied and pasted the link and read the story, which does explain how he financed his journey, thanks for that. However no mention of any benefit to anybody other than himself.

I'm seriously hoping that he will see his way to a number of charitable donations . I'll be a lot more likely to buy his book if he does.

 

[NER1621]

An interview with Mr Bushby in today’s Guardian (no paywall) so you can decide for yourselves how inspiring you find him:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...ble-28-year-walk-home-goliath-expedition-hull

 

[The Pelican]

The walk's a pretty incredible achievement- big parts like most of the US probably aren't too bad (as super long walks go), but the most difficult sections like the Darien Gap, Bearing Strait and crossing the Caspian Sea to avoid Iran and Russia are all impressive.

 

[AlterEgo]

An interview with Mr Bushby in today’s Guardian (no paywall) so you can decide for yourselves how inspiring you find him:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...ble-28-year-walk-home-goliath-expedition-hull

Once Bushby had made up his mind, he accepted that he would never see his son growing up. If everything went to plan, Adam would be 20 when he got back (as it is, he is 36).

“That was a difficult decision,” Bushby says. “But the way I squared that circle was, ‘How would I be worth something to my son?’ Would I be worth more to him by doing something on this scale?’” He doesn’t sound wholly convinced by his argument.

No worries mate just don't see your son grow up or whatever. He's a bad father who abandoned his responsibility. He didn't even come home when his son nearly died in a motorbike accident.

Less inspirational than my own dad who drove trains and stayed at home to look after his children.

 

[Falcon1200]

Mr Bushby's son's view of his father's absence would be interesting. Personally I would not have missed my children growing up and developing, hopefully helping in that process, for anything, ever.

 

[sprunt]

What has he motivated and inspired people to do? Do we have examples? If he's been such a major inspiration why is this thread the first time that I've heard of him?

 

[172007]

What has he motivated and inspired people to do? Do we have examples? If he's been such a major inspiration why is this thread the first time that I've heard of him?

Not an inspiration at all because the world is full of people who try hair brained things for attention and when you look at it are not really a challenge if you have millions in the bank and dont work.

Phileas Fogg has already sailed. How many have swam the English Channel, rowed the Oceans..... yawn.

It is like the people who want sponsorship for the challenge fo complete the London marathon you then discover they have completed plenty lf marathons. it's never x pounds to be beat there prevouse best as publiashed by the organisers, needs to be a challenge such as altitude.

 

[Egg Centric]

It is like the people who want sponsorship for the challenge fo complete the London marathon you then discover they have completed plenty lf marathons. it's never x pounds to be beat there prevouse best as publiashed by the organisers, needs to be a challenge such as altitude.

Oh goodness me those "sponsor this unremarkable feat" ones are even more annoying:

Please give me X pounds to climb Kilimanjaro. Of which 0.1X will go to my nominated Charity, 0.8X will go to logistics (well of course it's fine for me to stop off at Zanzibar, it's the same ETH flight and I need some R&R) and 0.1X to the agency that arranges this. Don't be so churlish Egg Centric!

But at least they're not harming anyone. With this guy my real problem with him is the absolute abandonment of his job as a father and grandfather. He's going to meet his 12 year old grand daughter for the first time when he makes it back to Hull from all understanding. For no other reason than he wanted to push a trolley around the world. That's just so so sad.

 

[Shrop]

But at least they're not harming anyone. With this guy my real problem with him is the absolute abandonment of his job as a father and grandfather. He's going to meet his 12 year old grand daughter for the first time when he makes it back to Hull from all understanding. For no other reason than he wanted to push a trolley around the world. That's just so so sad.

Crumbs, have you not heard that there are many, many fathers who abandon their children for far lesser reasons than this?

Then they'll put their children through hell by arguing and fighting with their former partners - I don't think Bushby is guilty of that.

And while you might love to pour scorn on his achievements, a great many people are inspired by what he's done.

Should Columbus, Drake, Shackleton and even more modern explorers have not done what did, preferring to bring up families?

 

[skyhigh]

a great many people are inspired by what he's done.

In your opinion.

 

[Shrop]

In your opinion.

And the many who are now reporting on it because they know it's of interest.

 

[sprunt]

And while you might love to pour scorn on his achievements, a great many people are inspired by what he's done.

Who? Who, specifically, has been inspired to do what?

 

[quantinghome]

It's certainly a remarkable feat of endurance, but that cuts both ways - I'm simultaneously thinking "wow!" and also "why?". I agree with sprunt, I don't really see what it would inspire people to do. Go for a walk, I guess?

 

[AlterEgo]

Crumbs, have you not heard that there are many, many fathers who abandon their children for far lesser reasons than this?

Abandoning your child to swan off with a bimbo and abandoning your child to pursue a personal vanity project result in the same thing. An abandoned child who needs their daddy. All children deserve and need a good father. It may be that some fathers are necessarily absent for some time, either through the necessity to work, or fight, or for other good and compelling reasons, but Karl Bushby should have gone home to be a dad instead of pursuing what is basically his hobby. To quote his son:

there's always a flip side to everything. There were parts of my life where you just need your dad for it."

https://archive.is/20261003211342/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/you-just-need-your-dad-karl-bushbys-son-says-his-return-after-28-years-walking-around-the-world-doesnt-seem-real-9247837

Almost nobody who has any sort of grown up responsibility in life thinks this is a notable achievement. Being a parent means understanding there are limits on what your personal freedom and that you may have to simply not do things you wish to do, or delay them.

Then they'll put their children through hell by arguing and fighting with their former partners - I don't think Bushby is guilty of that.

Well, we don't know. His wife divorced him in 1995 (and was forced, without choice, to be a single parent!). What if she wants to go walking for 30 years?

And while you might love to pour scorn on his achievements, a great many people are inspired by what he's done.

What has he personally inspired you to do?

And the many who are now reporting on it because they know it's of interest.

Interest is not the same as inspiration.

 

[spyinthesky]

I aim to walk 4 miles every morning. That’s over 40,000 miles in 28 years.
I get to spend the rest of my time with my family.
My incentive is to keep the body balanced against the Ale trips.
This guy….sorry I will prevent being banned.

 

[Egg Centric]

Should Columbus, Drake, Shackleton and even more modern explorers have not done what did, preferring to bring up families?

There is a balancing act (and the first two parenting looked so different back then that it's not even comparable really). Those three changed the world (and were away for far less long I might add). Bushby hasn't and nor was there any prospect of it.