Cinderella would be proud. Talk about a way to celebrate your 60th birthday. A Nebraska man has set a new world record by paddling an 846-pound floating pumpkin for 38 miles in the Missouri River – while ringing in his 60th birthday on the seeds-between-his-toes journey.
According to USA Today, it took Duane Hansen, of Syracuse, Nebraska, 10 years to grow the giant pumpkin named “Berta” before he hollowed it out and created a cooler inside that allowed it to float for a river journey. “That dedication made it possible for him to eclipse the world record for the “longest journey by a pumpkin boat” as Hansen paddled “SS Berta” for 11 hours,” the story says.
If approved, Hansen would break Rick Swenson’s 2016 Guinness World Record by paddling a pumpkin 25 miles from Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Oslo, Minnesota.
“Cinderfella” also earned viral acclaim as people across the globe wished him “gourdspeed.”
“Congratulations Duane for smashing the world record,” USA Today quoted the city of Bellevue in a Facebook post. “We are proud that you started this record breaking 38-mile journey in Bellevue and it’s been fun to follow along. …Seems like a unique if not slightly crazy way to celebrate his 60th birthday.”
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Photo courtesy Phil Davidson/City of Bellevue, NE