patrick: it is a big deal. 53-year-old john beeden says he's the first person to row solo and non-stop across the pacific ocean from north america. he says he spent 209 days at sea after setting off from san francisco in june. he rowed over 7,400 nautical miles. he said he was supposed to have landed in australia in mid-october, but weather and sea conditions hampered his effort. his wife cheryl was in cairns along with the couple's two daughters to welcome him. >> when i set off from san francisco, i didn't realize how difficult this was going to be. it has been -- i've peered right over the edge a number of times, and didn't think i could go on and had to dig deep. myra: he looks kind of red. and strong. patrick: and fit. and rather strong. good for him. that is a big feat. let's take a look at this morning's headlines. myra: it's a foggy morning. a live look here from our woodruff road skycam shows what showing you what you might see throughout the morning. conditions throughout the day coming up. patrick: plus, troopers want to find a hit and run driver in greenville county after a

. >> reporter: for seven months, 53-year old john beeden rowed his 20-foot long boat-- named" socks twon hours a day. and today, he set foot on dry land in northeast australia for the first time in 209 days. >> to be the first person to achieve something on this scale is incredible really, and i can't... i haven't processed it yet. >> reporter: he left san francisco june 1-- and covered some 7,400 nautical miles across the pacific ocean, occasionally meeting with re-supply boats along the way. he'd originally hoped to reach australia by mid-november, but bad weather set him back. >> it's been difficult the whole way, but in fairness that's what i was looking for. i just didn't realize that it was going to be so difficult. >> reporter: beeden's wife and two daughters greeted him in cairns, australia around 10 o'clock this morning, local time; as did australian customs officials. three years ago beeden rowed across the atlantic, but says he was up for a bigger challenge. >> didn't think i could go on and had to dig deep and getting pushed back hundreds of miles that you have already rowed

adam: 53-year-old john beeden spent 209 days at sea after leaving from san francisco back in june. beeden rowed over 7400 nautical miles which is more than 8500 miles. he is reportedly the first person to row solo across the pacific ocean from north america. >> to be the first person to achieve something on this scale is incredible really, and i have not processed it yet. but, and now knowing how hard it was, i thought i was going to be here mid-october and it was going to be hard work, but, just like the atlantic, it wasn' t tried a few times. adam: beeden received a warm welcome from his wife and daughters. stephanie: thanks for joining us