Day 44: Min Dae

Min Dae seemed just the other day!
 
It may be a little longer if my back does not start to feel better. There was almost murder on the dance floor. I slipped on the aft solar panels when I checked the rudder fitting yesterday. I fell onto my left elbow and back side. I was lucky not to break my paddle. I am a grumpy little camper at the moment. I have started eating those special smarties again.💊
 
On the bright side, these Solbian solar panels are certainly living up to their SR status, Super Rugged. My back, not so much. 🥺
 
Even though it’s still three weeks or so away, people have been asking, “what will be the first thing you will do when you reach the other side?”
 
Besides probably stumbling and falling over, it will be to give my favourite wife, my only wife, Judy, a big hug and kiss. That would be at the top of the list. 💃
 
Followed by a glass of bubbles 🥂 or Caipirinhas 🍹.( Probably fall over again) Pizza 🍕 or steak 🥩 I can’t decide.
 
Today I was thinking about how I ended up in this particular spot on the ocean. It’s been a long and bumpy ride. Research started in 2010 when Alexander Doba first kayaked across the North Atlantic. My design ideas began in 2018. Announced the crossing in 2019 on Smile FM radio and started building in 2020. Pandemic delay. 2021 #1 attempt to Walvis Bay. 2022 is this current attempt. As you can see, it’s been in the making for quite some time and will soon be in its closing stage.
 
Something that I keep forgetting to factor into the equation for a long adventure is the monthly expenses for life left behind.
I don’t get paid to do this. That would be nice. 😉 I take unpaid leave, so there is no salary. At the end of each month, I still have to make the usual house, rates, car, insurance etc, payments.
 
I mentioned this because it’s one of the reasons I won’t have the top of my arrival list come true. The cost of getting to Salvador is quite something. In fact I don’t think any of my shore team will be coming to Brazil. I will just have to wait till I get back to Cape Town.
 
Lowered my camera over the side to see if Cheech or Chong were still in the mix, but alas, they were nowhere to be seen.
Money raised for Operation Smile: R241,043
New Smiles: 44
Click here to help me reach my goal of R385,000 or 70 smiles.