Expedition 360

Expedition 360 is the name of a successful attempt by Briton Jason Lewis to be the first person to circumnavigate the globe, passing through two opposing points on the Earth's surface and crossing the equator [ [http://www.adventurestats.com/rules.shtml#around AdventureStats - by Explorersweb ] ] , using only human power. It was begun by Lewis and Stevie Smith in 1994 and ended at 12:24 pm [ [http://www.expedition360.com/journal/archives/2007/10/circumnavigatio.html x360 Journal: Circumnavigation Complete! ] ] on 6 October 2007, when Lewis crossed the meridian at Greenwich, London, having travelled an estimated 74,842 km (46,505 miles). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7022644.stm BBC NEWS | UK | Human power fuels 13-year odyssey ] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7031576.stm BBC NEWS | England | Dorset | Briton completes 13-year odyssey ] ]

Underlying definition

"A basic definition of a world circumnavigation would be a route which covers at least a great circle, and in particular one which passes through at least one pair of points antipodal to each other. In practice, different definitions of world circumnavigation are used, in order to accommodate practical constraints depending on the method of circumnavigation."

History

National Georgraphic honored Canadian Colin Angus for the first human powered circumnavigation of the world, however, his journey did not cross the equator as stipulated by the rules of Guinness. Expedition 360 does not conform to the rules of Guinness Records either, however it does comply with the more relaxed rules of Explorer's Web. To this day no one has completed a proper circumnavigation of the world according the rules of Guinness Records.

This unique concept of going around the world by human power first came as a wild idea to Stevie Smith as he worked in his office in Paris. He soon set about making the idea a reality and got the help of his friend Jason Lewis who agreed to come with him. The pair set about spreading the idea, and began to raise money for a pedal boat. The specially-built boat was named "Moksha", Sanskrit for freedom. To raise cash Stevie cycled to Marrakesh, Morocco. The pair had no formal training in either cycling or riding pedal boats.

The Expedition

European leg

Smith and Lewis set off on bicycles from Greenwich, London at midday on 12 July 1994. They cycled south-east across Britain to the coast at Rye, then pedalled across the English Channel, and then cycled south again across France through major cities including Paris and Orleans. The pair split up for a short while, meeting back up in Spain. They then travelled through Madrid, across Portugal and through Lisbon, finally arriving at Lagos on 29 September 1994. According to Smith, they slept illegally, taking their sleeping bags into open places and sleeping under the stars.

The Atlantic Ocean

The trip across the Atlantic took 111 days, pedaling in two-hour day and four-hour night shifts. It ended in Miami.

North America

They crossed the North American continent on bicycles and skates

Pacific

Lewis completed the journey across the Pacific in the "Moksha". Smith quit the project in Hawaii.

Australasia

The next leg to be completed was Australia and Indonesia. The journey north used pedal boats, kayaks and bicycle. This leg of the circumnavigation in Australia was especially noteworthy, as Jason reached the antipode to his Atlantic crossing path.

Final legs

The second half of Jason's human powered circumnavigation journey continued through Southeastern Asia and India before crossing the Arabian Sea to the African shores, from where he aimed north toward the Middle East and Europe, eventually returning to his starting point in England.

In 2006 Smith published a book about the adventure called "Pedalling To Hawaii" about the adventure to date (the western hemisphere). The UK patron of the adventure is HRH The Duke of Gloucester.

Further reading

Smith, Stevie, "Pedaling To Hawaii: A Human-Powered Odyssey", US: Countryman; UK Summersdale Publishers Ltd (2006) foreword by the Dalai Lama.

ee also

Colin Angus (explorer) and Julie Wafaei

External links

* [http://www.expedition360.com/ Expedition 360 home page]
* [http://www.apple.com/hotnews/articles/2005/11/expedition360/ iBooks feature]
* [http://www.around-n-over.org/circumnavigation.htm Definition of human powered circumnavigation] by Erden Eruç
* [http://www.angusadventures.com/ Angus Adventures] , web site of Colin Angus who completed a similar epic journey in 2006.

References