Vacuum porridge and skincare: how Scott Donaldson made the story of his kayak



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GRANT MATTHEW / STUFF

Kiwi adventurer Scott Donaldson arrives in New Plymouth after kayaking from Australia.

It could be twelve months before trans-Tasman kayaker Scott Donaldson recovers completely physically from his 62 days in the Tasman Sea.

The Kiwi adventurer became the first person to sail the 2,200-kilometer ocean in a kayak solo when he landed on Ngāmotu Beach on Monday night, after leaving Coffs Harbor on May 2 . But the trip took its toll.

Paddling up to 20 hours a day meant that Donaldson was in the same position for so long that his hip flexors were shortening and his knees and ankles were affected.

  Trans-Tasman kayaker Scott Donaldson spoke to the public about his epic journey to Puke Ariki in New Plymouth

ANDY JACKSON / STUFF

Trans-Tasmanian kayaker Scott Donaldson spoke to the public about his epic journey in Puke. Ariki in New Plymouth.

He also lost a lot of weight – 16 kilos to be exact. The 48-year-old man tipped the scales to 98 kg when he boarded Australia and 82 kg fully dressed once he landed in New Plymouth.

READ MORE:
* The son of Scott Donaldson drove to the hospital a few hours after entering history
* A trans-Tasman inspiration in a kayak of the size of a coffin
* Kiwi Scott Donaldson reaches Taranaki – the first person to kayak the Tasman solo
* The Tasman kayak rudder crossing intact after shark took a fancy
* The Trans-Tasman Kayaker Scott Donaldson Leaves

And it is these physical and mental limitations he overcame – "what people have not seen" – which he is most proud of.

  About 70 people came to hear about Donaldson's trip and ask questions.

ANDY JACKSON / STUFF

About 70 people came to hear about Donaldson's trip and ask questions.

"I did things that I do not have I think I could do physically and mentally."

In his 6.3-meter kayak, Donaldson was carrying a watermaker to make Drinking water and edible. He used it to dab his freeze-dried bolognese spaghetti, his vacuum-packed porridge and several antibiotic treatments that he had to take occasionally for his skin and a stomach stink bug.

If it was cold, Donaldson had to ignore it unless it affected his performance. For a week in a row, he could not feel his hands anymore.

  The kiwi adventurer Scott Donaldson with his wife Sarah and his son Zac is landed at Ngāmotu Beach after arriving in New ...

GRANT MATTHEW / STUFF

The Adventurer Kiwi Scott Donaldson with his wife Sarah and son Zac is landed at Ngamotu Beach after arriving in New Zealand.

He wore gloves about 10% of the time, not for cool weather, but to protect his skin.

Every day he woke up 40 minutes earlier to get dressed as much as possible – trying not to touch anything and wetting the bandages, and keeping in mind any small cut to avoid Infection

is easily compromised when you are wet all the time. "

  He does not know yet what's going to happen - the focus is now on family reunion

ANDY JACKSON / STUFF

He does not know what's going on. Outside of 48 hours in the Australian shipping lanes, Donaldson has not seen any other soul – not to mention the albatrosses and the shearwaters, the shark that has been trying to bite his rudder and the lone seal that lives in 300 km from the Taranaki Coast

Donaldson swears that it is the same seal that he saw during his failed attempt four years ago In 2014, Donaldson was only 80 km from Taranaki when the mission had to be canceled.

During his more than two months on the water, all he could see for days was an endless ocean – the GPS was the only clue that # 39, it was actually moving.

  A rainbow appeared 180 km from the coast on Friday, June 29.

Provided

A rainbow rainbow Donaldson was paddling 180 km off the coast on Friday, June 29th.

"One can not focus on the arrival, too far and too much on the arrival it diverts the attention of what you are doing right in front of you.

" Expectations create limits, so I did not expect it to take anything, it took what it took. "

On the Australian side, the ocean currents are strong, but they weaken as you travel in Kiwiland – but also more unpredictably and the waves can reach six meters. what Donaldson describes as a "washing machine".

"It's a lot harder to be in the cabin than to paddle because it's basically a box."

Donaldson had to modify and test a lot of his equipment. he says that it's waterproof, it's not … "and moderates his thinking: too much to dream of a good meal would create a craving that diverts the & # 39; "Be careful of purpose," he said.

The ins and outs of Donaldson's trip thanks to the Puke Ariki Museum of New Plymouth Saturday

During his Donaldson speech told the crowd, about 70 people, the idea came to him paddling on Lake Rotorua one day, and "I'm here eight years later"

There is a shortage of modern heroes in imitation of a cook or a hill " Everyone has their levels and then we can train at these levels, "he said, and people have unreasonable fears

. I think you should be much more afraid to hit the road to go home than sharks on the beach. "

As for his kayak, Donaldson had offers but wants to keep it for the moment.Well, there is nothing in the works, yet."

"This is a beautiful space to be after so many years of concentration. "

However, his immediate future will be taken with" family time ", his wife Sarah said.

" I barely say hello "

"

. – Tips and Tricks

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