‘World’s slowest postcard’published at 12:44 GMT
12:44 GMT
Months after Karl set off on his trek, he was given $100 US (£75) by Michael Bier – an Austrian ex-pat living in Chile – in return for delivering the card to a friend in Vienna.
Michael moved to Chile from his native Austria in 1993.
Image source, Michael Bier
Earlier this year, he told the BBC: “I had earlier driven past this man who was walking along the side of a road. He was pushing a trolley containing all of his possessions.
“I then read in a newspaper that this man was Karl Bushby and he was walking from Chile back to the UK.
“I knew which way he was headed and I figured he would visit a general post office in order to collect his letters, so I left a little note to Karl asking him if he would deliver a postcard to my old neighbour, Dieter, when he reached Vienna.”
Days before crossing into Austria from Hungary, Karl said: “This postcard has been on a few adventurers. It’s a bit ratty but it’ll get to Michael’s old neighbour, as promised.”
The postcard, written in German, translates to: “Dear Kerdi [a nickname]. This card was given to Karl Bushby on 7.6.1999, who is walking on foot from Punta Arenas via Bering Strait to London (sic).
“I hope it arrives with you and you invite Karl for a few days. Greetings, Michael.”