On xmas eve 1998 I found myself in a town in Argentina called "Perito Moreno" with a bunch of Isralies camping out at the edge of town. Along came this British guy who introduced himself as Karl. In typical traveller's custom we discussed where we were from and where we were heading - me south, him north. I asked if he had a vehicle and he casually said "no, I'm walking". He then explained that he had spent the last month walking north along the highway from Punta Arenas, Chile bound for...drum roll... London. Yes, London.

Obviously, this led to a lenghthy conversation. This guy had managed to get some sponsorship from a shoe company to set him off, and had this cart-thing that he was towing behing him to carry his gear. I'd heard of people making epic treks like this before, but exactly how the heck he inteded to cross the ocean was the nagging question. So... Karl explained that quite simply, he would walk to North America (passing through the dreaded Darien Gap along the way), then another long slog up Central America, Mexico, the flat plains states and provinces, the Alaska highway, the Alaska interior and ... then, with sufficient sponsorship, he would wait for winter and WALK across the bering sea to Siberia... then casually continue across Russia to Europe and stroll through the Chunnel to a glorious welcoming in the streets of London.

I've gotten periodic email dispatches from time to time, including a harrowing account of the Darien crossing, but nothing has suprised me more than this news: Karl made it across the Bering Sea! [ARTICLE HERE] and is now stuck in jail in Russia for failing to have the right paperwork. He was accompanied by another guy named Dimitri Kieffer and apparantly had to swim a few times wearing some kind of protective suit.

Unbelievable! Bravo Karl!!! If he can get across the Bering Sea, I'm sure a little Russin bureaucracy isn't going to slow him down for long. Keep your eye on this guy, looks like he's going to make it all the way!!!