87-year-old nears end of record-breaking journey down Mississippi River – L’Observateur

87-year-old nears finish of record-breaking journey down Mississippi River

Printed 1:33 am Sunday, September 4, 2022

HAHNVILLE — At 87 years previous, Dale “Gray Beard” Sanders is simply days away from reclaiming the Guinness World File for being the oldest particular person to ever paddle all the size of the Mississippi River.

Sanders handed by means of the River Parishes Wednesday on day 79 of his 2,350-mile journey down the river. Pulling as much as the shore in St. Charles Parish, he was greeted by college students from the Satellite tv for pc Heart’s Lodge, Restaurant & Tourism program earlier than being handled to a sizzling lunch courtesy of Birdies Meals & Gasoline. Chef Pat Phelan and the culinary arts college students ready a scrumptious pineapple the wrong way up cake for dessert.

Craig Howat, HRT teacher on the Satellite tv for pc Heart, stated Sanders’ journey can train college students lots about how one can set objectives to attain their desires. The assembly was an opportunity not just for the scholars to listen to his story, but additionally to use what they’ve realized about hospitality and tourism.

The HRT class labored with Kiki Mannear of Louisiana’s River Parishes Vacationer Fee to satisfy Sanders throughout his “supply to sea” paddle.

“He’s principally a vacationer coming to St. Charles Parish, simply by boat,” Howat stated as the category waited by the shoreline for Sanders to reach. “He can share some tales about his trials and tribulations, and we will welcome him to the parish.”

Sanders’ adventures over the previous 5 years have included traversing the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim and finishing a 10-month hike by means of 14 states alongside the Appalachian Trial.

Sanders started his journey on at Lake Itasca in Minnesota on June 14, the day of his 87^th birthday. He hopes to finish the record-setting journey in 87 days.

This journey down the Mississippi River has included among the harshest situations Sanders has ever encountered. This previous week particularly has introduced overbearing winds and torrential downpours over the river, and Sanders has at instances requested himself, “Why am I doing this?”

The reply to that query goes deeper than setting a Guinness World File or having movie crews comply with him to create the Gray Beard documentary.

The final time he paddled the Mississippi River in 2015, he impressed a lady who was advised she would by no means stroll once more not to surrender on herself. He desires to supply that very same inspiration to others.

“My foremost motive is that so many instances, I’ve been advised by folks, ‘I need to be similar to you. How can I keep wholesome similar to you?’” Sanders stated. “I just like the fanfare that comes with it. I like being a task mannequin.”

Sanders stated it was fantastic seeing the scholars and having an opportunity to share his story. Whereas so many attempt to discover the components to be blissful, he’s realized that his personal private happiness includes staying energetic, being outdoors, and having a very good religious life.

This journey has allowed him to expertise the massive hills and quaint cities of the Iowa and Wisconsin shoreline. Even the South Louisiana thunderstorms have offered a silver lining when he finds secure havens of shelter alongside the best way.

On Wednesday, Sanders began the day at river mile 149 and traveled 26 miles to achieve Hahnville round lunchtime. He ended the day in Kenner. As of this weekend, Sanders is within the ultimate stretch of reaching the mouth of the Mississippi and tasting the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico.

Sanders grew to become the oldest particular person to journey the Mississippi River at age 80 in 2015 and held the title for 5 years. His file was damaged in 2020 by 81-year-old Stan Stark, a private good friend who Sanders refers to as a “teenager.”

Whereas Sanders believes Stark will battle to reclaim the file when he turns 87, he’s adamant that that is his ultimate time touring down the Mighty Mississippi. Even his T-shirt bears the phrases, “The Final Nice River Paddle.”

“There are too many different rivers to paddle and too many trails to hike to repeat one thing at this stage in my life,” Sanders stated.

Sanders will be adopted with the spot tracker at https://maps.findmespot.com/s/T5G5/TS#historical past/property, and extra details about his travels is accessible at www.greybeardadventurer.com.