Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger reached the Mississippi River, Friday, after seven days, three hours and 45 minutes of paddling.

They crossed the finish line at 7:45 a.m. and were working on coming ashore at Wyalusing State Park at about 8:45 a.m.

The pair broke the record they set in 1983 for canoeing the river by a full day. They, however, were about 18 hours off the itinerary they set for themselves, to finish in six days and about 13 hours.

Near the mid-way point in their journey, Thurston and Kinziger were a full day behind on their itinerary, but they made up time quickly after reaching Wisconsin Rapids.

They came ashore on Thursday night near Woodman, after canoeing 86 miles in the day -- their longest single-day distance ever on the Wisconsin.

Now that the trip is done, Kinziger will head on an eight-hour journey, by car, to visit his parents with his wife Deanna. Meanwhile, Thurston will return to Viroqua to rest and recuperate.

The Broadcaster will recount the final days of their journey in its print edition for June 26 and will carry more updates on this as necessary. There also may be an interview with Jay Thurston posted on this chain in the coming days.