Most people celebrate retirement by taking a nice relaxing vacation and throwing a party with family and friends. For 58-year-old Mitch Lagowski, adventure was on the mind, and that he did. Upon his retirement, Mitch planned and completed a 140-mile expedition from Marco Island to Islamorada through the Florida Everglades, solo and unsupported. We caught up with Mitch to chat about his trip, check out our convo below.

“You’re going to do what?” Said the National Park Ranger in Yellowstone after I had just told him of my objective to circumnavigate Yellowstone Lake on a standup paddleboard. Right when he said that with raised eyebrows, my peripheries caught the other two rangers attention enough for them to turn around, distracted by what they were doing, to see exactly what I was.