Third time lucky for penny farthing man

Joff, 40, who used to construct engines for Formula One cars, decided to pack it all in and use his mechanical skills to make a penny farthing on which to see the world.

He said: “It was an adventure and a chance to see the world – an amazing couple of years.�

The former Greenwich resident and stallholder marked his return with a night in the Coach And Horses inside the market, where he was greeted by friends and family.

He said his epic journey took him to 25 different countries, of which Tibet was his favourite because of the friendliness of the people.

But he also had many strange experiences. He said: “So many things happened that were memorable. I was once sleeping in a tent in Turkey and awoken by the army who said I was in the most terrorised road in the country.

“They said it was too dangerous and escorted me out.

“It must have looked quite strange with me on my penny farthing and these guys with guns.�

It was also in Turkey where he hit his lowest point.

He said: “I got dysentery for 10 days and had to stay in a grotty old hotel at 40C in eastern Turkey, which was a particular low. No-one spoke English and I just had to starve the germs out.

“But I was never going to give up. My leg would have had to be hanging off for me give up.�

Joff’s determination to complete the trip stemmed from his previous two aborted journeys.

He said: “The first one I lasted 26 miles before my knees gave way which was a bit embarrassing. The second time, I made it to Budapest but gave up for the same reason.

“This time, I had an operation on my knees beforehand and with the help of some cortisone injections, I made it.�

Joff used the journey to raise money for two charities, The Born Free Foundation and Rethink Breast Cancer.

Go to www.pennyfarthingworldtour.com