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August 2, 2007
HUMAN POWERED CIRCUMNAVIGATION FIXES COMPLETION DATE
A British attempt at the first circumnavigation of the world using only human power (no use of motors or sails) is set for completion on October 6th, 2007, at the Prime Meridian of longitude at Greenwich, London, England.
After traveling over 45,000 miles without the use of either motors or sails, Jason Lewis (39 years) of Bridport in Dorset, will cross the zero degree line in the same pedal powered boat that he used to cross the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with during a 13-year marathon journey entitled 'Expedition 360' that has seen him cross five continents, two oceans and one sea. Lewis will finish the circumnavigation at the same spot he started from with original expedition partner Steve Smith on July 12th, 1994.
Family, friends and close supporters of the expedition will be there to see Lewis finally come home. It is expected that the expedition patron, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, will also be in attendance (to be confirmed).
The Guinness Book of World Records are expected to recognize Lewis's efforts in their human powered circumnavigation category. The endeavour Lewis is about to complete represents a long sought after prize amongst explorers and circumnavigation aspirants. Ferdinand Magellan's expedition was the first to circumnavigate the world under sail in 1522. Subsequent circumnavigations by sailboat have since been completed by a veritable roster of sailing greats such as Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Dame Ellen MacArthur. Airplanes, motorboats and hot air balloons have also made circumnavigation history, but as yet no has done so by human power.
Rules for human powered circumnavigations are set by Guinness and Explorers Web, an independent panel of international historians, geographers and explorers who keep track of records and accomplishments achieved by the international exploration community. Key criteria require the circumnavigator to cross the equator and at least one pair of antipodal points (locations on the surface of the planet that are diametrically opposite to each other).
ARRIVAL DETAILS and ITINERARY - ** SOME DETAILS STILL TO BE CONFIRMED **
WHAT: Completion of first circumavigation of the world using only human power, 1994-2007.
WHEN: 0900-1300 hrs GMT. Saturday 6th October, 2007
WHERE: Greenwich Prime Meridian, East London, United Kingdom
ITINERARY:
9. am - Jason Lewis pedals 26ft boat (that he has used to cross Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with) the last nautical mile up the River Thames to the Globe Rowing Club at Greenwich. Press boat will be available on the river for select press and media (email Jim Carey
10.30 am - Arrival of Lewis in pedal boat 'Moksha' at slipway of Globe Rowing Club
11.15-11.45 am - Lewis and close supporters push pedal boat up the hill to the Royal Observatory.
12 noon - Lewis and close supporters push boat over the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory, completing the circumnavigation.
EXPEDITION 360 - BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On completion of the circumnavigation on 6th October, 2007, Jason Lewis and an international team will have traveled 46,505 miles or 74,408 kms around the planet without wind or motor assistance -- pedaling a one-of-a-kind pedal boat 'Moksha' (meaning liberation in Sanskrit) across the world's oceans, bicycling and rollerblading over land. Other modes of human power have included swimming, rowboats and kayaks for crossing rivers and straits of water between islands, and walking over certain difficult land sections where wheeled propulsion was impossible.
Expedition 360 is comprised of 16 sections, each constituting major expeditions in themselves. Put back to back they make the circumnavigation attempt one of the longest endurance feats in history. See -
http://www.expedition360.com/logbook/home.htm
Lewis is currently pedaling (a bicycle) through Syria towards Turkey. After rowing in a traditional Turkish 'kayik' across the Bosphorus to Istanbul (courtesy of The Turkish Rowing Federation) he will continue overland by bicycle through Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Germany to Oostend in Belgium. The pedal boat will be there waiting for the final 3-day voyage across the Channel and up the River Thames to finish.
"I am overjoyed at being able to set a definite date for completing the circumnavigation", said Lewis speaking by satellite phone from the road. "For so many years the light at the end of the tunnel has seemed so far away, but it's finally starting to get brighter. The end is finally in sight!"
The African leg Lewis is about to complete in Istanbul has perhaps been the toughest overland section, with temperatures in the deserts of northern Sudan reaching well over 50 degrees. The absence of any roads at times has made the going exceptionally tough, with Lewis having to push his 15-year old steel-frame bicycle, the same one he started the expedition with back in 1994 and laden with over 150 lbs of equipment, through deep sand for tens of kilometres at any one time.
He was also recently apprehended by Egyptian border security while crossing illegally between Sudan and Egypt. Following two days of intensive interrogation by Army Intelligence Lewis was faced with charges of espionage carrying a prison sentence of up to 40 years. Permission for the border crossing was granted at the 11th hour by Security Head Quarters in Cairo, freeing Lewis and allowing him to continue with the circumnavigation. See -
http://www.expedition360.com/press_room/clippings_africa/79_daily_mail.pdf
X360 - RECORDS TO DATE
> February 1995: original pedaling partner Stevie Smith and Lewis complete the first east-west crossing of the Atlantic by pedal power.
> September 1996: Lewis completes the first solo crossing of the USA on roller blades.
> August 18th 2000: Lewis becomes the first to pedal across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco in the US to Port Douglas, Australia - 178 days and 8,000 nautical miles.
X360 - ZERO EMISSIONS ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE & CLIMATE CHANGE
As a zero-emissions initiative, X360 seeks to further young people's understanding of the impact of their individual lifestyles on global climate change, in particular with regard to carbon footprints. A curriculum-based program 'Ecological Footprints' was launched in 1999 for teachers and school children to utilize in the classroom.
http://www.expedition360.com/schools/ecological_footprints.htm
X360 - SCHOOLS' PROGRAMS
As a 501 (c) (3) registered Non for Profit organization, the X360 team are committed to using the adventure both as an educational tool for furthering children’s learning experiences in the classroom and as a platform from which to implement a variety of cultural exchange activities that empower young people in better understanding their role both as local community and world citizens. Over 850 schools have been visited and tens of thousands of students have participated in the programs. See -
http://www.expedition360.com/schools/home.htm
X360 - CHARITABLE CAUSE
The expedition has raised over $66,000 USD for small-scale charitable causes along the way such as orphanages and hospices for adults and children living with HIV and AIDS.
http://www.expedition360.com/schools/humanitarian_effort.htm
X360 - FACTOIDS
> Total Timeframe: 13 years, 2 months, 23 days, 11 hours or, 4833 days and 11 hours
> Start date: 1pm July 12th 1994. End date: 12 noon 6th October 2007
> Total distance traveled: 46,505 miles or 74,408 kms
> Price tag: to date the expedition has cost in excess of $400,000 USD - most of which has been raised by grass roots fundraising along the way and working odd jobs. However since June 2006 the expedition has enjoyed title sponsorship from Aberdeen Asset Management, a Singapore based investment group.
http://www.aberdeen-asset.com/aam.nsf/Singapore/Home
X360 - MISHAPS
> Sept 1995: Jason run over by a car while in-line skating through Colorado USA and suffers compound fractures to both legs. Initial prognosis was amputation of left leg (below the knee). After extensive insertion of hardware (including metal rods in each tibia) he is able to continue after 9 months of recuperation.
http://www.expedition360.com/press_room/clippings_n_america/16_USA_pueblo_chief.pdf
> Nov 1998: pedal boat Moksha capsizes in a storm off the coast of California during the second attempt to pedal to Hawaii. No one is injured although the boat's interior is completely destroyed.
> June 2000: Jason contracts septicemia (blood poisoning) 1,300 miles from land pedaling between the islands of Hawaii and Tarawa (Republic of Kiribati). A US-based doctor of Dermatology achieves a remote diagnosis via Iridium satellite phone and prescribes broad spectrum antibiotics before the poison reaches brain tissue, undoubtedly saving his life.
> Oct 2004: Jason undergoes surgery for 2 x torn hernias and worn knee cartilage. Doctors predict he will need a knee replacement within 10 years from the constant wear and tear of human powered travel.
> May 2005: a 17 foot salt water crocodile attacks Jason's kayak in shallow water 100 miles north of Cooktown, Cape York, Australia. His paddle is destroyed fending off the croc, otherwise Jason escapes unscathed.
http://www.expedition360.com/press_room/clippings_indonesia/cairns_croc_attack.pdf
> November 2005: Jason contracts malaria twice in six months: first on the island of Sumatra (Plasmodia Vivax) while paddling through Indonesia and again in Laos with the potentially lethal cerebral version (Plasmodia Falciparum).
http://www.expedition360.com/journal/archives/2006/08/jason_down_with.html
> September 2006: Jason survives acute Altitude Sickness at 5,200 metres while biking over Lalung Pass in Tibet's Himalaya region.
http://www.expedition360.com/journal/archives/2006/10/altitude_sickne_1.html
> June 2007: after crossing the border between Sudan and Egypt illegally Jason is detained and interrogated by Egyptian Army Intelligence for two days. He is charged with espionage and faces 40 years in military prison.
http://www.expedition360.com/press_room/clippings_africa/79_daily_mail.pdf
> the expedition has been the victim of four robberies: one successful (Mexico) and three attempted also involving violence (Indonesia, India and France).
http://www.expedition360.com/journal/archives/2005/10/bikes_bandits_n.html
INTERVIEWS - IMAGES - TV NEWS FOOTAGE
To contact Jason Lewis in the field: +90 545 338 7496. 2 x hours behind London. Or Jim Carey, UK communications officer: t: 07944 310 591, e: carey@squall.co.uk
Visit the Press Room on the x360 website for past press clippings, streaming video clips and photos -
http://www.expedition360.com/press_room/home.htm
Hi-res archive images are available online -
http://homepage.mac.com/expedition360/
Please contact us for a password. team@expedition360.com
DAILY UPDATES
Regular updates and archived journals from this leg can be read from
here.
http://www.expedition360.com/journal/
Or you can find the link off the expedition360.com homepage
http://www.expedition360.com
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Posted by jason at August 2, 2007 1:19 PM