Engineer-turned kayak instructor sets on a exclusive expedition

Mangaluru: A 28-year-old youth has now set out on a first-of-its-kind solo kayaking expedition here starting from Karwar to Mangaluru a stretch of 240km in 12 days. 

Sushant came to Mangaluru 10 years ago from the landlocked Bihar, his native, to pursue engineering. The blue shorelines of the coastal region mesmerized him and Sushant started putting time and vitality in the waters. Eight months ago, he bid farewell to his engineering profession and transformed into a full time kayak instructor working from Mulki. Sushant has now taken out almost two or three weeks off his bustling schedule to explore the coast. 

The thought struck Sushant a month back while kayaking with a friend in Gokarna. “It was such a memorable experience, to the point that I needed more of it. I fancied an idea to kayak in the virgin beaches and camp at the shores. I downloaded satellite views online, identified such beaches and I was almost there,”  he said.

Along with him, Sushant conveys goods and foodstuffs weighing around 40 kg. For the independent youth he is, Sushant cooks his own food. He lights his stove at the shores after the day’s kayaking and relishes simple delightful and healthy food like dal. “I carry a gas stove and a cooker. I carry dal, rice, masala for khichdi and ghee for taste. I cook enough during the evening so I sustain myself that night and the following morning. I expend protein bars toward the evening so I don’t need food. The apples that I have been carrying may keep going for three more days. I may visit a few eateries from that point,” he said. 

As he has been paddling for very nearly 12-hours per day and wandering nearly 3 km in the ocean, Sushant has discovered companions as dolphins. “I watched them play today (Thursday) for an hour. They are simply magnificent,” he said. 

Sushant, who started his expedition on April 16, is scheduled to end the expedition in Mulki on April 27.