By Deb Holdgrafer

I would like to introduce husband and wife, Jill and Clayton Corbin, Brian Hoover and Stan Stark. These wild and wonderful, adventurous folks are paddling the Mississippi River, from Source to Sea; Itasca, MN to New Orleans, LA.

What makes this group so unique is that Stan Stark has set his goal to become the oldest man to paddle Source to Sea. Stan, when departing Itasca, was age 80. However, on Sunday, August 16th, 2020, celebrated his 81st birthday. To be festive on Stan’s 81st birthday, I gifted 3 helium balloons; in which he tied to his kayak upon departure from Hastings Marina. Stan is following Guinness Book of Records guidelines. The current record holder is a wild, adventurous character named Dale Sanders of Memphis, Tennessee. Dale Sanders, as well as myself, are what’s referred to as ‘River Angel’s’. We are folks along the Mississippi River, who host, help with shopping, offer our homes for showers and laundry and such. A most exciting moment for me, on Stan Stark’s 81st birthday celebration, is that Stan honored me by requesting I witness and sign his Guinness Book of Records Logbook…stating he stopped in Hastings, MN.

I was fortunate enough to host this group of Paddlers, along with Jeff Beck and his family from Monticello, MN. Jeff Beck and his family met these folks as they passed near Monticello, MN. All in all, we provided a picnic lunch and Stan Stark’s favorite of Strawberry/Rhubarb pie, in lieu of birthday cake. Jim Plan, owner of Hastings Marina, was gracious in allowing the Paddlers to pull out of the river and have our picnic lunch on the bank of the Mighty Mississippi River. I personally thank Jim for being yet another River Angel.

At approximately 11:50 a.m. on Sunday, August 16th, I was at Lock 2’s observation deck to cheer the Paddlers through. It was at Lock 2 that I met Deb White, of Rosemount, MN. Deb is putting her kayak in at Hastings public boat ramp; where she will join these Merry Paddlers down river to Dubuque, Iowa. Deb, along with 3 college friends, paddled Source to Sea between years of 2004-2016. Her group did the entire trip in spurts.

All in all, departing from Hastings Marina on Sunday afternoon, were husband and wife, Jill and Clayton Corbin, both Navy Vets who live on their sailboat when not out on other travels. Deb White of Rosemount MN, Brian Hoover, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who met the Corbin’s while hiking the Pacific Rim Trail in its entirety.

Stan Stark, of Gulf Port, Mississippi, also a Navy Vet. Stan kayaks the Gulf Shores, as well as participates in Kayak racing. Chase Brenner, of Stockton, Illinois, joined the original group of four somewhere upriver. Chase set out solo from Itasca. Their Sunday evening campsite was Diamond Bluff, WI.

For anyone interested in following their journey, can like and follow Facebook’s page titled Following the River.

Or their Garmin Map address: https://inreach.garmin.com Password is Me Too.

In closing, having checked the Garmin map on Monday morning at 11:15 a.m., the Paddlers are somewhere between Diamond Bluff, WI and a short distance North of Redwing, MN.

Departure from Itasca was mid-July, with Hastings being about one third of their trip.

Their flexible goal to reach New Orleans is 90 days.

May they have a safe and blessed trip.

Stan Stark set out to be the oldest person to paddle the Mississippi River Source to Sea at the age of 80. Sunday, he turned 81 as he came through Hastings. Balloons tied to the kayak were the perfect way to celebrate the day, along with a picnic lunch and his favorite desert. Photo contributed by Deb Holdgrafer