An Inspiring Octogenerian. We reach Koblenz.

 Over the last two days we've seen more pretty scenery and characterful little German towns. But as always, the people you meet along the way really make the journey interesting.

I mentioned before that some of our cycle-touring neighbours weren't too interested in chatting. But Frank struck up a conversation with this one man at our campground the other day in Remagen who could have talked for hours and was happy to do so! And more to the point, we could have listened to him for hours. His name is Paul  Davenport and at 80 years of age he's still going strong and has no intention of stopping. He's an Englishman who has cycled all over the world and has written several books about his experiences. He is currently on a ride from England to Budapest and back, travelling solo, going very light and never uses a cell phone. He used his cell phone once some years ago when his sister texted him and he had to text her back!!

Paul, aged 80, an inspirational cyclist

The route that we're doing right now along the Rhine he has done before about 13 times! He knows where every campground is and every historical site along the route. He began to tell us the story of when he decided to ride from England to Japan, but had to turn back in Russia as it got too dangerous. The danger was from heavy fast traffic on a highway that had no shoulder, and no alternative route. When fast-moving trucks brushed against him twice in one day, he decided to call it quits for his own safety. He also has some interesting stories about riding across one of the Silk routes in China.

Anyway, what an inspiration to talk to someone like him. I guess we have no excuse not to keep on riding now. Age certainly isn't a good enough one. (Heather, it's not too late for that trans-Canada cycle trip!!)

This is an electrical charging station at the campground. We use it for charging phones, cameras, etc. But what's interesting is the way it's designed to be so high above the ground because of the high risk of flooding from the Rhine.

These are the signs we're always looking out for, particularly that blue one at the bottom denoting EuroVelo15

This is the point at which the Moselle river (famous wine valley) joins the Rhine at the city of Koblenz

Last night's campsite just south of Koblenz

Fighting the headwinds today through the gorge south of Koblenz

We're staying in this town tonight. Bacharus has lots of these half-timbered houses.

Yours truly in Bacharus tonight

One more funny thing. Tonight in a restaurant, there was just us and one other youngish couple left who we noticed were also English-speaking. So I asked them where they were from and they said California. So they asked us where we were from, and when I said Alberta, she relied "where's that?"