A marathon man who spent 62 days paddling 1,200 miles around Ireland in a canoe has revealed the key to keeping his energy levels up - 200 Snickers bars.
Paul Alexander, 50, said he scoffed the peanut and caramel-filled chocolate bars - an average of more than two a day a day - during the task.
He camped on the beach every night of his two-month adventure, also surviving on tinned and freshly caught fish and rice - and he loved every minute of it.
"I hit 50 in February and I thought I've got to do this while I'm fit and able" said Paul, who lived in Portsmouth until he was 18 but now has a home in Kilkenny, Ireland.
"You could call it a midlife crisis but it was just something I wanted to do.
"It was an adventure. It went well. I got all the way around the island.
"I had three or four hairy times when I was living on the edge.
"I capsized once. I was in the water for 45 minutes."
Paul, who set off from Kilmore Quay in County Wexford, has been kayaking for 30 years and trained for a year and a half for the challenge.
He said he saw some magnificent scenery and spotted plenty of spectacular wildlife, including whales and sharks
"It was scary...I think they knew I was there," he said.
"The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
"But the biggest thing for me was the people I met on the way. They were so kind and friendly.
"They would bring me a sandwich or a can of Coke while I was on the beach.
"It's just reaffirmed my belief in human kindness.
"People genuinely are out there to offer kindness and help.
"When you need help there are people there who are on the same wavelength and will help you. It was unbelievable."
His parents flew over from Portsmouth to see him finish his challenge.
"I wanted to see friends and family but I didn't want it to end."
Now he plans to write a book about his adventure and he'll give the profits to a charity supporting people with muscular dystrophy.