October 8, 2007

Round the world in 13 years

After 13 years and 46,000-miles, travelling by pedal boat, kayak, mountain bike, inline skates and foot, Jason Lewis returns home from his human-powered, round-the-world expedition.

Briton Jason Lewis, 37, arrives at Tanjong Beach in Sentosa, Singapore. — Briton Jason Lewis, 37, arrives at Tanjong Beach in Sentosa, Singapore. Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — Jason with his original companion Steve Smith. They set off from London in July 1994, crossing the channel to France in a 26ft pedal boat called Moksha. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — The next leg of the journey involved cycling across Europe to Lagos in Portugal. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — In February 1995 the pair completed the first-ever, east-west Atlantic crossing in a pedal boat. During the 111-day voyage to Miami they had a near miss with a trawler, a whale threatened to tip them over, and Jason was washed overboard when their craft capsized. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — Arriving in the US the pair decided to go their separate ways. Steve chose to mountain bike, while Jason travelled the 3,500-mile trip across America on inline skates. On the way he was threatened by gun-wielding locals in Alabama, then in Colorado in September 1995, he broke both his legs when was run down by an 82-year-old driver. He had to spend nine months recuperating before completing the first inline skate crossing of the US. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — Months later, differences resolved, Jason and Steve pedal-boated for 54 days to cover the 2,400 miles from San Francisco to Hawaii. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — There Steve left the expedition to pursue other interests - while Jason pedalled solo the 2,400 miles to the Pacific atoll of Tarawa. At one stage a shark repeatedly attacked the craft's spinning propeller. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — Other hazards that he faced in the cramped boat included an attack by a 15ft crocodile in Australia. It chased his craft for 100m and pursued Jason up a beach - biting off his paddle blade when he tried to fend it off. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — Jason covered the overland sections of the trip across Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, south-west China, Tibet and Africa by bike. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — At one stage he was questioned as a potential spy after entering Egyptian territory without permission. The craft's onboard satellite communications equipment, cameras, GPS raised further suspicion. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — London's Millennium Dome comes into sight on the last leg his global journey up the Thames to Greenwich - a building that didn't even exist when he first set out. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — Crowds gathered in Greenwich to welcome him back onto dry land. Photograph: Expedition 360

Jason Lewis's Expedition 360 — Celebrating the journey's end. Photograph: Expedition 360

Leave a Comment Cancel comment