KEY POINTS:
The two Australian kayakers who paddled across the Tasman are keeping their future adventure plans close to their chests after signing a deal with an Australian news programme.
When they landed on Sunday in New Plymouth, Justin Jones, 24, and James Castrission, 25, said they had plans for future expeditions.
But the pair were keeping tight-lipped yesterday about those plans after reportedly signing an interview deal with Australia's 60 Minutes programme.
The deal is understood to be worth as much as A$50,000 ($56,800).
While the two kayakers declined requests for interviews with other media, including the Herald, they attended a public autograph signing at Puke Ariki, in central New Plymouth.
About 2000 people gathered to get a glimpse of the pair, whose transtasman crossing was the first successful one by kayakers.
Jones and Castrission were given Taranaki rugby jerseys and told by New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent that they were now locals.
The young men responded by presenting the town with a Wallaby rugby jersey.
"We did not expect this [welcome] when we left from Sydney," said Jones. "You guys have made us feel truly part of this amazing, amazing town."
The pair told the crowd of their joy at having their first showers and eating big plates of ribs at a local restaurant on Sunday night.
"We got tucked into the ribs and by golly was that a mountain of food," Castrission said.
"We thought you could get some decent size plates in Australia, but that was amazing. It must be because you're a bit closer to America."
Despite consuming 6000 calories a day during their epic 3300km paddle across the Tasman, Castrission lost 4kg and Jones 9kg.
They ate packs of dehydrated food, olive oil, chocolate, nuts and other high-energy snacks.
They ate only once a day and rationed supplies when they were forced to paddle 1100km further than planned because of swirling currents and strong headwinds.
Castrission also told the crowd that he slept for only 20 minutes on Sunday night, saying he had been too excited. "When I lay down I thought, 'This is going to be the best night's sleep of my life' and unfortunately, or fortunately, the day just kept replaying through my mind. I was just thinking about the trip and just thinking about how lovely you guys have been and the alarm clock came on and it was time to get up again."
Both men showed few signs of having spent 62 days on a sometimes treacherous ocean.
Castrission's father, John, paid tribute to their nutritionists for their good condition.
"I can't believe how quickly they've recovered. They're almost back to normal," he said.
The pair had not told their families of their plans for future expeditions.
Jones' father, Rod, said their intense preparation had paid off.
"They were hoping for the best but planned for the worst. Everything had to be working perfectly before they went and that was reassuring, especially as a parent, knowing that they weren't going to cut corners."
A TOUR WITH BOOFHEAD'S BRO
The names Boofhead and Pieguts are emblazoned next to the two seats in Lot 41 - the 9m, 550kg kayak that carried Justin Jones and James Castrission across the Tasman Sea.
Castrission's nickname is Boofhead and Jones was known as Pieguts for consuming vast amounts of food - before he embarked on the journey.
"I don't think we can call Jonesy Pieguts anymore because it [the gut] has disappeared," Castrission's brother, Clary, said yesterday.
Clary showed the Herald around the kayak, which was strikingly narrow. The 4m interior pod looked far too small to confine two people, but the smell of unwashed bodies was still in evidence.
Castrission and Jones had their own seats in the kayak, the rims of which were lined with phrases to inspire.
The kayak weighed one tonne when fully laden with equipment and food.
Jones' brother, Andrew, tried paddling it once it reached New Plymouth and said the experience had increased his respect for his brother.
"It was very, very heavy. I must've paddled 300m and my shoulders were gone."
