THEY have had enough of wasting hours in flight departure lounges, undergoing countless personal searches and being cooped up for hours while the world passes them by.

Fed up with flying, John and Mary Griffin have now decided to ditch air miles in favour of train rides, ferry crossings and pedal power as they travel around the globe.

The intrepid travellers are each taking their trusted foldaway bikes to explore some of the world's greatest cities during their nine-week epic adventure.

Today the couple will set off from their Southampton home and cycle to the city's railway station to catch the train to Waterloo and begin their round-the-world escapade - without flying.

Wonderful world

John said: "We're both 71 now, but there is an awful lot of this wonderful world that we haven't seen yet.

"We are keen to see it but there's a snag. We're both fed up with flying. To us, flying is no longer the adventure it used to be.

"It's uncomfortable, it's boring and it's unhealthy."

The pair, both retired solicitors who met while studying law at Southampton University in 1952, have spent the last six months meticulously planning their itinerary.

After numerous phone calls, faxes and e-mails around the world sorting out their connections, bookings and visas, as well as checking an international railway timetable, they are finally ready to go.

With just two small rucksacks they have made sure they have packed only the essentials with clothes that can be easily handwashed.

In about 20 seconds they can fold away their bikes, put them in a bag and carry them onto a train like a piece of hand luggage.

Mr Griffin, who as a student cycled to Naples and Lapland, said: "We have always done lots of cycling.

"It's a great way to see cities.

"You can be your own boss and see a lot more than if you are walking. It is also a great talking point."

He said: "Berlin is a lovely city for cycling in and St Petersburg is a delight too."

The couple, who have two children and four grandchildren, are most looking forward to relaxing on their trip, which will involve plenty of stop offs as they take in some of the world's most scenic views from their trains, ferries and bicycles.

One of the highlights will be sampling the local culinary delights from Russian "babooshkas" (grandmothers) at stations along the route of the Trans Siberian railway.

The couple's journey will see them take the Eurostar to Brussels, change trains for Berlin and travel to St Petersburg.

From there, they will catch the overnight train to Moscow where they will stay before embarking on the Trans-Siberian Express.

From Vladivostok they will take the ferry to Fushiki in Japan and travel from Tokyo by container ship to Long Beach, California, where they will stay aboard the old RMS Queen Mary.

During their final leg they will travel to Seattle, and make their way across Canada before arriving in New York by train.

Finally, they will take the liner Queen Mary 2 back home to Southampton and cycle the two- mile journey from the docks to their front door.