38 Miles In A Floating Pumpkin: One Man's Journey To Greatness

BELLEVUE, NE — Pumpkins: Synonymous with pies, spooky season, $5 coffees and … boating?

That proved to be the case, at least for Nebraskan and hobby farmer Duane Hansen, who took a nearly 850-pound pumpkin out on the open waves of the Missouri River in an attempt to break the world record for longest voyage in a pumpkin boat.

Hansen traveled 38 miles Saturday — the day after his 60th birthday — in an 846-pound hollowed-out pumpkin, according to a Facebook post from the city of Bellevue, where Hansen began his journey. Hansen made it more than 12 miles further than the existing Guinness World Record of 25.5 miles.

“It’s just like riding a cork,” Hansen told the Omaha World-Herald, which reported he grew the pumpkin boat himself and named it Berta.

He began his journey about 7:30 a.m. and spent nearly 12 hours paddling down the river before reaching his destination of Nebraska City, the Facebook post said, adding his family and friends were present to document the trip and provide assistance.

During those many hours on the water, Hansen persisted, despite striking a sandbar and a rock, according to the World-Herald, which reported he is expected to receive confirmation of the record within six weeks.