KWBaker

Former astronaut Wally Schirra’s gold Omega Speedmaster Professional 1969 Apollo 11 Commemorative Watch is up for auction at Boston-based RR Auction. Bidding closes October 20.

Tags: Awesome, Random

346 points, 65 comments.

It's October again, which means the time for spooks is here. Spooky, weird, and bizarre stories. Spooky-themed events. You name it. And if you want to read strange stories, let me introduce you to the Cult of Weird Twitter account.

As its name suggests, this account is for the weird, and you should always expect that in the account's tweets — to be weird. Some can give chills. Some are humorous. And there are some that are straight-up horrifying.

Bored Panda has compiled 30 of "uneasy but captivating pics" from the Cult of Weird, but if you want to satisfy your appetite for the spooky, you can always visit the Twitter account on your own.

(Image Credit: Cult of Weird via Bored Panda)

Fox Business contributor Scott Martin made an appearance on the TV network this morning and uttered one of the most absurd claims I’ve ever heard. He was making a point about inflation and the economy—but to illustrate that point, he referenced a recent lunch he had at Taco Bell. Now you have my attention.

Read more...

Deals involving raw land are some of my favorites, and should be considered by anyone looking to invest in real estate. Here are several types of low- or no-cost land deals and some guidance on how to pursue them.

A new study ranks the best and worst rental car companies and has some bad news about cheap car rentals.

Chicken holds a special place in the carnivore’s heart.

This year, the average American will scarf down 99 lbs. of chicken, handily outranking our consumption of beef (56 lbs.), pork (52 lbs.), and fish (19 lbs.). That’s roughly 20 whole chickens per person, per year, in case you’re wondering.

About 900m of the 9B chickens we consume on an annual basis are rotisserie chickens — precooked, seasoned, ready-to-eat birds.

And of those 900m, 106m are sold by one retailer: Costco.

The chain debuted its popular rotisserie chickens around 2000, pricing them at $4.99. More than two decades later, they’re still $4.99.

Despite record-high inflation, supply chain woes, and the rising production costs of poultry, the retailer has refused to raise the price of these prepped birds.

Adjusted for inflation, Costco should be selling its chickens for $8.31. But over the past 20+ years, the retailer has only raised its prices one time — a brief, $1 increase during the 2008 financial crisis. In 2009, it knocked its rotisserie chickens back down to $4.99, where they’ve stayed ever since.

Many Costco chicken loyalists have been blissfully perplexed by this pricing strategy. How the cluck are these chickens profitable?

The short answer is: They’re probably not.

In a 2015 earnings call, Costco’s CFO, Richard Galanti, admitted that the retailer was taking a multimillion-dollar hit by not raising chicken prices.

As is the case at most grocery chains, Costco’s rotisserie chickens are a loss leader.

“Very few people simply buy the chicken and leave,” John Longo, a professor at Rutgers Business School, told The Hustle. “They probably shop for other items that provide higher profit margins.”

Costco maximizes the chances of this happening by placing the rotisserie chickens at the back of the store, next to its wines (14% margin) and side dishes. But Longo says these chickens serve other important purposes for Costco that go beyond immediate profit:

1. Value signaling: They reinforce the idea that the Costco brand is a good deal, potentially leading to more membership sign-ups ($60-$120/yr).
2. Good press: The company’s refusal to raise the $4.99 price during inflation makes it look benevolent in the public eye.

This value-forward approach isn’t limited to chickens. Costco vigorously guards its food court prices, too.

Costco’s ex-CEO, Jim Sinegal, was so impassioned about the $1.50 hot dog combo that he once famously told a colleague: “If you raise [the price of the] effing hot dog, I will kill you.”

Over the past decade, tactics like this have nearly doubled Costco’s rotisserie chicken sales, to 106m units ($530m).

If you added up the pounds of chicken the company sells, it would amount to ~6x the weight of the Statue of Liberty. Lined up end to end, the chickens would almost run the entire Earth’s circumference.

In recent years, that immense volume began to pose some production challenges for Costco.

1. Industry consolidation: Five huge producers (Tyson, Pilgrim’s Pride, Sanderson Farms, Perdue, and Koch Foods) came to control 60%+ of America’s $65B poultry market, making it harder to bargain on prices.
2. Fewer whole chickens: Sales of whole chickens declined from 50% to 15% of the total market as producers shifted to pre-cut chicken pieces.
3. Price surges: Chicken feed, which accounts for 60% of the cost of producing a chicken, shot up in price after its main ingredient, corn, saw a spike of its own.

To reduce dependence on the big suppliers, Costco decided to vertically integrate its chicken operation.

In 2019, the company opened a $450m chicken facility in Nebraska that produces 2m chickens per week — enough to fulfill 43% of its rotisserie supply, and 33% of its raw chicken supply.

Costco partners with local farmers in Nebraska (dots on this map) to raise the chickens. After 42 days, they’re moved to the main production plant for processing. With the plant, Costco controls the whole supply chain — hatching, feeding, shipping, and cooking.

The operation is expected to have a $1.2B economic impact on Nebraska’s economy — and it will reportedly save Costco up to $0.35 per rotisserie chicken.

But it comes with controversy.

1. Some experts argue that contracted farmers, who have to pay for their own labor expenses, will only earn ~$60k/yr from the partnership — far less than the $90k-$130k Costco promised.
2. A 2022 lawsuit alleges that Costco “illegally neglects and abandons its chickens,” and accuses the chain of raising chickens so big that they can’t walk.

Costco didn’t respond to The Hustle’s requests for comment. For its part, the company has committed to running the new plant for at least 15 years and has pledged to continuously improve conditions.

In the meantime, Costco rotisserie enthusiasts don’t seem to mind much.

The chicken has its own dedicated Facebook page with 19k followers. On a recent post about the lawsuit, most of them seemed to be nonplussed. 

“Who cares,” wrote one fan. “It’s 5 bucks.”

It’s already been a decade since daredevil Felix Baumgartner rode a helium balloon to 128,000 feet above Earth, then jumped out, breaking the sound barrier during his freefall.

From faraway Japanese grails to US-born bespoke brands.

When it's time to shine, reach for one of these illuminating picks.

^{Photo by wundervisuals via iStock} 

Using photography props can enhance your images in many ways - perhaps even some you may not have thought about before. 

Props can add color, texture, or whimsy. They can be used to draw attention to the subject or mask the background, too. 

Using smoke bombs and other fun props is easy to do, as well. It really is a win-win situation! 

Let’s see how you can use these and other props for photography, especially as they relate to portrait photography ideas.

Table of contents:

• Smoke Photography Props
• Movie Clapper Photography Props
• Handheld Light Photography Props
• A Really Good Portable Stool
• Hats, Ties, and Scarves as Photography Props

Smoke Photography Props

^{Photo by GoodLifeStudio via iStock}

Are you at an impasse about coming up with portrait photography ideas? Using various props for photography is an excellent way to get past that problem!

With the holiday season fast approaching (some stores near me think it’s already here), we can ramp up our portrait photography business by using color smoke bombs as photography props.

Enola Gaye is my go-to company for finding just the right type of color smoke bomb or other smoke effect props for photography.Their smoke bombs are perfect for holiday photoshoots such as Halloween, but they can also be used to add a fun element to other holiday photos, like Christmas and New Year’s.

^{Photo by Lorado via iStock} 

Photography props like smoke bombs are also great for gender reveals and for livening up any type of scene for a fun special effect type of portrait photography. As noted earlier, smoke bombs afford you the opportunity to add color and texture to any portrait, along with a sense of fun and liveliness that is hard to achieve with other types of props.

Of course, using smoke bombs requires a good dose of responsibility. If used incorrectly, you might injure yourself or others, cause a fire or property damage, or worse.

Fortunately, using smoke bombs in a responsible manner is easy. Be aware of combustible materials nearby, watch the wind and weather, and carefully read the instructions before popping smoke. Have emergency gear on hand, too (e.g., water and a shovel to put out flames; first aid kit). Go over safety protocols with your portrait subjects as well.

Above is a short video from Enola Gaye that demonstrates their new dual-vent smoke bomb.

Check out Smoke Effect to see how their smoke bombs might spark ideas for your next portrait photo shoot.

Movie Clapper Photography Props

^{Photo by Pofuduk Images via iStock}

A movie clapboard (AKA: Clapper) is a nice item to have for old-school verification of video and sound for videography. They also make for fun and unique portrait photography props. 

A portrait of a harried parent or a set of kids waiting for their portrait can be enlivened by introducing someone (face not shown) holding this prop in front of the subject. Once your subject sees an example of this lighthearted portrait photography idea, they’ll be asking for it before you ever bring it up!

Handheld Light Photography Props

^{Photo by anton5146 via iStock}

Besides having usefulness as a key light or accent light, a handheld LED light that has variable color and power levels can be used to create an interesting effect for portrait photography ideas.

Don’t limit yourself to thinking of only using a small LED light as part of the lighting configuration - also look for ways to incorporate it into the image itself. 

A light like this one is small enough to be hidden from camera view by the subject cupping it in their hands and shedding light onto the face for example. Light painting around the subject is another fun way to enhance a portrait, making this type of light one of the more useful photography props.

A Really Good Portable Stool

^{Photo by PeopleImages via iStock} 

As far as portrait photography ideas and photography props go, a nice portable stool is one of the most valuable props for photography. I like to use a folding stool like this all-black 24-inch high folding barstool.

The black color helps it blend into the background, especially if we control our lighting to help obscure it. I find a stool is better for most portrait photography ideas as it allows the subject to be posed comfortably without it looking like they’re just sitting there. 

Hats, Ties, and Scarves as Photography Props

^{Photo by 75tiks via iStock}

This amusing little set is just one of the ideas for photography props centered on clothing items or accessories. 

I found this on Amazon and it really illustrates the idea, but I usually find my clothing photography props at thrift stores and garage sales. I always make sure to clean items before use, either as laundry or dry cleaning or by spraying disinfectant on them. 

These portrait photography ideas for photography props such smoke bombs, small LED lights, and clothing items, among other things, should help free up your creative thoughts about using various inexpensive things as photography props. The result will be more dynamic and interesting images that you and your clients will enjoy!

Learn More:

• How To Get Started in Smoke Bomb Photography
• Smoke Bomb Photography Ideas
• What Props Should I Use for Halloween Photography?

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Jeremy Bolm, vocalist for Touché Amoré, has nearly 7000 records. Here's how he got started collecting. Read more.

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Exercise extreme caution when sipping

Elevate holiday charcuteries with sliced cured ham sourced from pure-bred Iberico pigs.

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Photo courtesy of Visit Athens

Though it’s home to the University of Georgia, the first state-chartered university in the country, Athens is more than a college town. It’s a long-standing music mecca, where renowned venues host nationally recognized performers and nurture up-and-coming acts. It’s also a culinary draw with exceptional dining and craft-beer scenes—so plan on arriving hungry and raising a few toasts to the 2021 National Championship–winning Bulldogs. Though game day is an experience unlike any other, visit when the Dawgs are out of town for fewer crowds and more ways to fall in love with the Classic City. 

Friday

CHECK IN ➞ Originally built in 1918 as a family residence, ATH | BNB, The Rushmore opened its doors in 2021 and maintains its historic Craftsman charm while feeling decidedly current—and not at all like the former frat pad it is. Statement chandeliers, patterned wallpaper, and eye-catching artwork lend each of the 14 rooms a different vibe. Nearby Cafe on Lumpkin caters the morning breakfast spread and afternoon tea service, and the common-area fridge is stocked with local Creature Comforts beers. Located just steps from the shops and restaurants of the historic Five Points neighborhood, this chic stay offers proximity to both campus and downtown.

Photo courtesy of Bigstock

EVENING ➞ Dinner is at Last Resort Grill, a downtown icon named after and housed in a former 1960s music club. You can’t miss the mural of colorful veggies near the outdoor seating area (a pleasant pandemic-era addition). The locally sourced cuisine is Southwest-inspired with Southern elements; try the pork tenderloin stuffed with charred poblano and grilled pineapple and seared with a bourbon balsamic reduction. Save room for a giant slice of red velvet or tres leches cake.

Your last stop is the Rook & Pawn, a three-minute walk from dinner. It’s easy to linger at this cozy bar, which offers a vast assortment of board games, from classics (Monopoly, Scrabble) to more obscure offerings (e.g., Nuclear War, a satirical card game from 1965). It’s open until midnight on weekends, so order a craft cocktail and settle in for some friendly competition.

Saturday

MORNING ➞ Get your caffeine fix at Jittery Joe’s, an Athens mainstay founded in 1994 and located right down the road from the Rushmore. You’re likely to find students hunched over laptops, but order a dark roast to go and stroll down Milledge Avenue toward the Cobbham neighborhood of Athens for breakfast at Big City Bread Cafe. The family-run restaurant is known for its quiches, but the French toast with cinnamon-vanilla custard is also a winner.

There’s just something about a leafy college campus in fall. Take the requisite amble around campus, starting from the legendary Arch at the edge of downtown (tradition holds that students can’t walk under it until they’ve earned their degree). Wind your way through stately North Campus, and be sure to ring the Chapel Bell, another university tradition. You’ll soon pass Sanford Stadium, where the Dawgs have played between the hedges since 1929. Continue through campus until you hit the Georgia Museum of Art, the official state art museum. Tickets are free (with a prearranged time slot), so stop in to view stunning Southern photography at the Reckonings and Reconstructions exhibition (on display through January 8), and look out for the Howard Finster painting that lists UGA as a place that “helps Howard grow like a tree.”

Photo courtesy of Bigstock

AFTERNOON ➞ Lunch is at another local favorite, Cali-n-Tito’s, located on Lumpkin Street near the university’s athletic facilities. The Latin American spot dishes up tasty fish tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and loaded burritos, and it’s BYOB with a small fee. Grab a seat at a picnic table and let the festive tunes and spiky palms whisk you elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of Wuxtry Records

Next, head downtown for an afternoon of shopping. Peruse the vinyl collection at Wuxtry Records, an independent merchant since 1976—and where the founding members of R.E.M. met. Step into Community for sustainable, upcycled clothing. Around the corner, Bear Hug Honey Company offers artisan honeys and beeswax candles, plus plenty of local pottery, apparel, and home goods. Dynamite has loads of funky earrings and vintage clothing. At Condor Chocolates’ new downtown location, watch the chocolatiers in action and grab some coconut and Thai tea truffles to go.

Photo courtesy of Visit Athens

EVENING ➞ Located across from Creature Comforts (see sidebar), the National has been whipping up Mediterranean-inspired dishes for 15 years. The menu changes often, but for dinner, order the seasonal veggie plate and several tapas, including the tangy boquerones (marinated anchovies on toast).

When in Athens, do as the Athenians do and catch some live music downtown. See who’s playing at the Georgia Theatre, which also has a rooftop venue serving up tasty drinks and snacks, and the 40 Watt Club, a launchpad for homegrown bands and artists (including R.E.M. and the B-52s) throughout its 43-year history.

For a more intimate atmosphere, slip into the World Famous—impossible to miss with its teal-lined windows and glowing “This is it” sign pointing into the quirky bar, restaurant, and venue. Simple but delicious cocktails with quintessentially Athens ingredients make up the bulk of the drinks menu; Gardening at Night mixes gin, cucumber, orange, and Creature Com- forts Athena, while the Dude blends vodka, local 1000 Faces cold brew, vanilla, and cream. 

Sunday

MORNING ➞ Before checking out of the inn, browse Avid Bookshop down the street. Handwritten employee recommendations guide you to the perfect new or used pick at this community-focused spot, named Athens’ favorite local business by Flagpole magazine for 10 years straight. Next, head to breakfast at the Farmcart on Baxter Street, a major campus artery home to high-rise dorms and the independent student newspaper. The brick-and-mortar restaurant began as a farmers-market purveyor of flaky biscuit sandwiches, and everything is made with local ingredients. Order the Fire Bird, stuffed with a crispy Springer Mountain chicken thigh, house-made pickles, and a fried egg. (Pro tip: Top it with sriracha honey.)

Burn off breakfast at the 313-acre State Botanical Garden of Georgia, home to numerous nature trails, native blossoms, and an international garden that highlights plants of historical significance. Relax in the shade with your new book before hitting the road home. 

Photo courtesy of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia

 

HOP AROUND
Sip on suds of all styles along the new Athens Beer Trail.

TERRAPIN BEER
Athens’s oldest brewery is a hop-lover’s heaven. Try the flagship Hopsecutioner IPA or a crisp Los Bravos lager while relaxing at one of the picnic tables scattered across the lawn.

CREATURE COMFORTS BREWING CO.
Prime downtown location and award- winning beer make this taproom a must- visit. Favorites include Tropicalia, a fruity IPA that boasts a cameo in Avengers: Endgame, and the easy-drinking Classic City Lager.

SOUTHERN BREWING COMPANY 
Try the Red and Black, a raspberry-blackberry sour available year- round, and peruse the event schedule to catch a live-on-the-premises Classic City Wrestling match or karaoke night. 

________________________________________________________

This article appears in the Fall/Winter 2022 issue of Southbound.

The post How to spend your weekend in the classic city of Athens, Georgia appeared first on Atlanta Magazine.

Brooks sneakers deliver cushion and speed support to runners of all levels.

I want your input on this newsletter. How am I doing? What do you like? Don’t like? What would you like to see? Help me create a publication that best serves the needs of its readers.

Talk to me.

Gareth’s Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales is published by Cool Tools Lab. To receive the newsletter a week early, sign up here.

Comparing Circular Saw Blades

In this Project Farm video, Todd tests 15 different circular saw blades to find out which ones are the best. He tested blades for performance in ripping 2×4 lumber (before and after striking nails) and compared for performance while cutting through oak and ripping an 8’ pressure-treated 4×4. Bottom line? The Makita blade ($10) was best overall. The Spyder also performed surprisingly well for its $5 price tag (at time of testing), although that price is currently over $12 each, so look for it on sale. Doing a web search, I see it’s available at some e-tailers for under $7.

Cutlist Optimizer

Speaking of cutting things. If you have a woodworking project that involves a fairly complicated cut list, there is a free app called Cutlist Optimizer. It allows you to both organize your cut list to better keep track of all of your pieces and allows you to optimize the parts you can get from your sheet goods.

How to Calculate 555 Timer Frequency and Duration

Ah, the venerable 555 chip. One of the most useful and popular ICs in electronics history. Invented in 1971, released in 72, it remains a go-to solution for a myriad of timer, delay, pulse, and oscillation applications. In this Digi-Key video, they cover the steps for calculating the necessary resistor and capacitor values needed to achieve the frequency and signal duration that you’re after in your project.

The Power of Great Reference Books and Knowing the Names of Things

As both a maker and a word nerd (I edited Wired’s “Jargon Watch” column for 13 years), I’ve always tried to impress upon people the power in knowing what something is called. Knowing the proper name for something allows you to look it up, learn about it, track it down (if it’s a tangible object). In this Adam Savage video, he harps on the same thing. He does so while extolling the virtues of a book he recently discovered and loves, the Backstage Handbook. This visual technical reference is for stagecraft, but most of its contents–divided into tools, hardware, materials, shop math, electrics, and architecture–can be applied to all manner of making. You you get to learn the proper names for all of the tools, hardware, and materials it covers. Magic!

TOYS! StylusReach Flexible Flashlight

Cool Tools has launched a new newsletter called Tools for Possibilities. Every week, subscribers get sent a page from the CT book: Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities. I was tickled to see that the first page I was sent had a review that I wrote on the StylusReach flashlight. The Cool Tools catalog was released in 2013. Nine years later and I still have, use, and love this flashlight. Good tools do that.

Maker’s Muse

Bubbles pic.twitter.com/UUftoSxpEx

— How Things Are Manufactured (@fastworkers6) September 11, 2022

Shop Talk

Newsletter reader Paco Hidalgo sent this in response to the piece in the last issue on water and baking soda as a CA glue accelerator. “I first tried the Zip Kicker CA accelerator and found its smell very disagreeable, nauseating, and the spray bottle made it very difficult to apply just a small drop. I later leaned that cyanoacrylate glues “set” (polymerize) by the mere presence of trace amounts of water vapor in the atmosphere. This infographic explains. “So, I concluded that if that is the case, then liquid water would certainly accelerate the polymerization. I found that just a drop of water from a toothpick or needle onto a blob of the glue does indeed accelerate the setting process. I never heard of using baking soda but that would add a foreign material to the bond. Why do that? [See comment below] There would be no reason to mix baking soda with water since water alone does a good job. “BTW: A ‘secret’ that I learned from the guy at the counter of a mall hobby shop, is that CA glues will keep indefinitely in the freezer. I think the dry environment prevents the glue from polymerizing. The manufacturers don’t want you to know that so they tell you not to freeze their glues. I keep partial bottles of different types of CA glue, including LOCTITE, sealed inside a ziploc bag in the freezer that are at least 10 years old. I can take a bottle and use it immediately without waiting for it to come to room temp. It is liquid and works just as fast. I wipe the tip with acetone after each use and keep a common pin in the narrow opening so it doesn’t clog.  “I keep all my solvent glues, including Lexel, E6000, and Goop in the freezer too, with the same result. I think the cold environment keeps the solvent from evaporating and escaping from the imperfect seal that normally shortens the shelf life. I keep epoxy glues in the refrigerator. This is enough to prevent them from self-polymerizing.” [Just to clarify: Baking soda is commonly used by itself as an accelerator, especially in the hobby/modeling communities. Besides being an accelerator, it adds more structure to the join. Large amounts of baking soda can be added to CA glue to create a very hard material. This soda and CA combo as a structural material is common among luthiers repairing bridges and fret boards. It can be sanded, drilled, etc.]

submitted by /u/wrestlebuffet [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/adenh [link] [comments]

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In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we examine a 150-year-old immersive painting at the Atlanta History Museum that features a scheming promoter, the cast of Gone With the Wind, Atlanta’s first Black mayor, and the voice of Darth Vader himself. It shows how our interpretations of art reflect the time in which we live. This episode is produced in partnership with Discover Atlanta.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.

Feeling lost in your local cigar shop? Here are the names you should know.

Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Remember the adage, “You can do whatever you put your mind to?” Cyril Derreumaux of California recently became the poster boy for this statement. That said, most people would think twice before putting their mind to what Derreumaux achieved: a more than 2,000-mile-long historic solo kayaking trip. It took him from his home in the “Golden State” 2,400 miles away to the “Aloha State,” Hawaii! And he did it in 91 days and nine hours.

Here’s everything you need to know about Derreumaux’s record-breaking trip and the crazy challenges he faced along the way.

The Culmination of an Incredible Journey

Although many would consider Derreumaux’s lengthy kayaking trip downright ludicrous, nobody can deny he knew how to pick the perfect final destination: Hilo, Hawaii. After three months of floating and paddling, the bronzed kayaker sported a lengthy beard, rock-hard arms, and a Tom Hanks Castaway vibe (minus the Wilson volleyball).

His adventure began in Monterey on June 21, 2022, after he departed in a kayak modified with pedals and a cabin big enough to squeeze into for sleep. Despite these minor creature comforts, he left other things to chance, foregoing an engine or even a sail. But he did carry valuable experience, having attempted a similar endeavor in the summer of 2021.

In 2021, he wanted to reach Hawaii in 64 days, but the expedition fell apart six days in due to bad weather, electrical problems, and issues with the sea anchor. Reflecting on his first attempt, he explains, “The general behavior of my kayak suddenly changed, which I immediately attributed to sea anchor damage. In a few moments, my kayak was positioned almost parallel to the axis of the waves, and I found myself violently tossed from side to side along with all the equipment that was stored in the cabin.” He had to call the Coast Guard for rescue.

Lessons Learned and Goals Reached

Although the cancellation of Derreumaux’s adventure in 2021 brought disappointment, he gleaned valuable lessons from it, too. These lessons led him to increase his physical fitness and develop new techniques for staying mentally fortified. The first shot at Hawaii also pushed him to make critical modifications to his kayak, including adding a manual bilge pump, side panels to shield the cockpit from water, a sea anchor system, and a satellite communication system.

Nevertheless, Derreumaux’s achievement verges on superhuman. He spent 10 hours per day paddling. To make the effort doable, he organized it into a daily routine. Each morning, he started with four hours of paddling, followed by a meal and some relaxation. He’d put in two more hours in the afternoon and four more before sunset. This allowed him to turn in at night for satisfying, much-needed sleep fests.

To fuel his endeavors, he consumed between 4,000 and 6,000 calories daily. He also trained carefully, attenuating specific tendons to handle the extra exercise and stress. After all, tennis elbow isn’t something you want to deal with mid-ocean. Derreumaux also experienced a profound spiritual transformation he has only started to discuss in interviews.

Sharing His Journey With the World

Although Derreumaux initially hoped following his passion would take 70 days, the first leg of his journey ushered in rough weather. He paddled into heavy winds for days, attempting to maintain what little ground he achieved. In the second week, he faced flooding in his cabin, and by day 46, his water maker stopped working. He also dealt with food rationing, rapid weight loss, and more bad weather. Yet, he never gave up.

Throughout his improbable journey, Derreumaux remained well-connected with his fanbase thanks to the wonders of modern technology. But he was surprised about who followed and cheered him along: “I was so glad I could share the whole journey on social media. Having people that connect with not just the kayaking side, or even the adventure side, it’s more the human spiritual journey that I was on.”

Constant music fueled his paddling marathons, and Seinfeld helped him relax and decompress at night. Along the way, he sighted hundreds of dolphins and had a “pet” mahi-mahi follow him for a few days near the end of his adventure. (In social media, he blamed the fish’s sudden disappearance on a Celine Dion album!)

Derreumaux follows in the footsteps of Ed Gillet, who completed the route from California to Hawaii in 1987 in an unmodified, off-the-shelf kayak with no way of communicating for 90% of the trip. Of his predecessor, Derreumaux states, “I am more in awe of Ed Gillet and what he accomplished [than ever].”

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By Engrid Barnett, contributor for Ripleys.com

Source: 91 Days and 2,000 Miles: Man Kayaks from California to Hawaii

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