Steve Smith left the expedition in Hawaii four years ago

Steve Smith, 37, has spent the last four years in south Devon writing about the ongoing adventure and now he is decided to get involved again.

Using a pedal boat he and Jason Lewis from Dorset pedalled across the Atlantic before crossing the States on a bike and roller skates.

Since Steve left, Jason and others have got the boat to Darwin in Australia.

That is where Steve will rejoin the expedition ahead of the next leg - the crossing of shark infested waters to Indonesia.

Steve left their Expedition360 adventure in Hawaii to write a book on his role in the expedition so far - Pedalling to Hawaii: The Amazing Adventures Of No One In Particular.

Sea links

Now both he and Jason are in the process of raising money for the next leg of the record-setting expedition, due to begin next year from Darwin, northern Australia, aboard their �26,000, 26ft wooden pedal boat Moksha.

Steve, while writing his book, has maintained his links with the sea while working on the Salcombe ferry, which travels between the resort and East Portlemouth in south Devon.

It is all too much for one person Steve Smith

Jason, meanwhile, has been working on a buffalo ranch in Colorado.

Steve said: "Most people might think I was mad, but I really miss the harsh deprivations of life on the expedition, the lack of comfort, the battle with the ocean in a pedal boat, the dangers, the thrill of being in a wilderness beyond help or escape.

"I would not want to live that way forever, but I think it's important now and then to return to a simple, harsh existence in the wilderness just to remind ourselves of all the civilised things that we take for granted."

He added: "This is such a huge and ambitious journey so there's also an element of wanting to help Jason to keep the show on the road, keep this great concept alive, because it is all too much for one person.

He and Steve plan to launch the homeward leg of the expedition from Darwin in May next year.

It will take them more than 3,000 miles to Singapore by pedal boat, kayak and bike.

The expedition then faces a mammoth overland home leg through China, central Asia and Europe.