Jason Lewis pedals his boat up the river Thames

Jason Lewis, 40, crossed five continents, two oceans and a sea to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe under his own steam.

He finally returned to the UK on Saturday, crossing the Greenwich Meridian Line, in his custom-designed, 26ft (8m), pedal-powered boat, 'Moksha'. It was the same point where his journey began on 12 July 1994 when he was just 26 years old.

Jason used a variety of modes of transport during his epic journey, including cycling, swimming, kayaking, and in-line skating. His route took him west from Britain to the USA and then on to Australia, Asia, and Africa before returning to Europe from the east.

The journey was not without dangers: in Colorado Jason was run over by a drunk driver while in-line skating at the side of the road. He spent six weeks in hospital and nearly had a limb amputated.

As well as surviving the car accident, Jason was robbed and beaten several times on his journey, chased by a giant crocodile in Australia, and arrested by the Egyptian military as a suspected spy. But on the way he has raised money for children’s charities around the world as well as developing an education programme for schoolchildren based on his travels.

What now for the world traveller?

Jason is happy to be back and may hang up his boots for a while.

"I’ve seen enough deserts. I’ve missed green rolling hills and cosy pubs, sitting by the fire drinking a pint of warm beer," said Jason.

"I do miss British humour. It’s nice to be with people who take the mickey out of each other."