Back in June of 2022, I was out for an early morning ruck when a guy on a bike skidded to a stop beside me and asked if I was Mike Rowe. I nodded and grimaced. I would have said “yes” and smiled, but the 65 lbs on my back had robbed me of my normal good humor. The man spoke with a French accent and bubbled with enthusiasm.
“I have followed your career with great interest,” he said, “and I listen to your podcast every week! I very much appreciate your efforts to inspire the world with stories of grit and determination! I hope to one day do the same! Any advice?”
He told me his name was Cyril. His last name didn’t stick, but it started with a “D” and had lots of letters.
“Well,” I said, “you should probably get famous first. Nobody in this country listens to anyone who isn’t famous.”
Cyril smiled and said, “I am going to pedal across the Pacific Ocean in a kayak, all by myself. I will be known for this!”
Clearly, I had encountered another lunatic on the bike path. There’s no shortage of them in this part of the country, but at least this one was charming.
“Sounds ambitious,” I said. “When do you leave?”
“Next week,” he said. “I will pedal from Monterey, California, to Hilo, Hawaii. It will take me several months and require all of the strength and perseverance I possess. When I return, I would love to share my experience with you and your listeners.”
“Pedal?” I asked. “You mean paddle, right?”
“No, I mean pedal. My kayak has pedals, like my bike. It is why I ride every day. I will pedal across the Pacific Ocean, alone.”
“Sounds like fun,” I said. “If you live, I’d love to hear about your adventure.”
Cyril laughed and gave me his number. I watched him ride off, legs pumping furiously, and got on with my ruck, fairly confident our paths would never cross again. But I was wrong. Two years later, on the same bike path, in roughly the same place that we’d met before, a man skidded to a stop beside me.
“Mike! It is me! Cyril! Do you remember?”
He had a beard this time, but there was no mistaking his voice or his enthusiasm.
“Of course,” I said. “You’re the lunatic who was going to pedal across the Pacific Ocean in a kayak all by yourself.”
“I am!” he said. “And I did!”
“Congratulations!” I said.
“And, I lived!”
“I can see that,” I said. “How long did it take you?”
“Ninety-one days and nine hours,” he said. “It was the adventure of my lifetime.”
“That’s incredible,” I said. “I’d love to hear all about it. Can you come to Santa Monica to record an episode of the podcast?”
“I would love to,” he said, “but not right now. I’m training very hard this month for my next adventure.”
“What now?” I asked.
“I am going to pedal across the Atlantic Ocean in my kayak, all by myself.”
“Sounds ambitious,” I said. “When do you leave?”
“In two months,” he said. “I will pedal from the Canary Islands to Martinique. It will take me several months and require all the strength and perseverance I possess. When I return, I would love to share my experience with you and your listeners.”
“Great,” I said. “If you live, I’ll make sure we get you on this year.”
Cyril laughed and rode off, legs pumping furiously, and a few months later, I googled the crazy Frenchman, and learned that Cyril Derreumaux had become the only human to pedal across both oceans in a kayak, all by himself.
With the possible exception of my mother, I can’t think of a better guest to round out 2025. Cyril is fluent in six languages and a true student of life. He now holds three Guinness World Records and done something no other human has even attempted. And now, he’s out in the world, telling true stories of grit and determination, inspiring people with every incredible sentence, and challenging the species to boldly go into an uncertain future with humor, grit, and perseverance.
I’m not saying @dxpro isn’t a lunatic. You’ve got to be a little crazy to pedal over the world’s oceans in a kayak all by yourself. I’m just saying he’s a fantastic human being, who I was lucky to meet and honored to introduce. A short clip is attached. Our whole conversation is here. https://bit.ly/TWIHI463CyrilD
You’re gonna love him.
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