We can all agree that pumpkins are as versatile as veggies can be. You can use them in stews, make pumpkin pies or pumpkin spiced lattes with them, snack on their seeds, carve them, and so much more. Still, hardly anyone could have guessed that you could use a pumpkin as a vessel for a long sail down the Missouri River.
A Nebraska man named Duane Hansen recently wrapped up an impressive journey that saw him paddle 38 miles down the Missouri River in a hollowed-out pumpkin. Hansen started his cruise in the city of Bellevue and sailed for 12 hours before reaching Nebraska City. If confirmed, this will be the new Guinness World Record, easily topping the previous record of 25.5 miles.
Hansen had some help in documenting his pumpkin sail as the official Facebook page of the city of Bellevue tracked him and shared updates in real-time.
After wrapping up his pumpkin cruise, Hansen told reporters he got the idea to attempt the feat when he met the previous record holder for longest pumpkin paddle at a pumpkin conference. What followed was a five-year mission to grow a pumpkin large enough to safely get him down the river.
“I’ve been dreaming about this,” Hansen said. “This has been a five-year journey to get a pumpkin that’s big enough.”
