NEBRASKA CITY – There were cheers, tears, swollen knees and a giant pumpkin named Berta on Duane Hansen’s world-record-setting journey down the Missouri River Saturday.
ears from his daughter Morgan Buchholz.
Buchholz: “I’m so proud of my dad … He has always said that you can do anything you want and how can you not believe somebody who goes out and does exactly what he wants and I’m just so proud."
Cheers from Phil Davidson of the City of Bellevue, where he put into the water.
Hansen claimed the record at the 577 mile marker at 25.5 miles, and continued going to Nebraska City for a total of 41 miles.
Dangers faced included rocky shores and shallow sand bars. The pumpkin would take on water from the wakes left by passing boats. Even waving to the curious on the bank posed the danger of tipping.
Hansen: “You’ve got to be on top of it the whole time – the whole time.”