This is what a very happy 80 year old Odyssey rider looks like....
Go Elbert, you are so cool!
Following is an excerpt from http://www.biketracks.net/koblenz.htm writing about the ride in Koblenz, Germany on September 1.
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Today is a very special day, today is Elbert Pence's
birthday. He is rider # 159 and today he turned 80 years
old!
This is what a very happy 80 year old Odyssey rider looks like.... Go Elbert, you are so cool! |
What does it take to ride around the world at age 80? Elbert can tell
you, it's not easy. He gets up everyday and backs out of his tent.
It's easier to back out, because he is so stiff from arthritis. It's the
arthritis that forces him to back down stairs and hills when he is walking, it's
easier on the knees. But everyday, he gets up and gets on his bike. He
loves to ride, sometimes he rides forward in the sag vehicle, sometimes he gets
lost. Actually he gets lost a lot, but then so do I! In England,
Elbert got lost and didn't get into camp until 1 a.m. He was tickled about
getting lost, because he said every time he gets lost, "young" girls
stop and help him. (I wonder how young, young is?)
(picture below)
He never has a mean
or cross word to say, he's happy all the time.
Our oldest male rider, Elbert, celebrated his 80th birthday today and we had a party after dinner. A collection was secretly taken to get him a new tent. A video was taped at dinner of all the entertainment and speeches made. Two cakes were loaded with candles for Elbert to blow out. All this took place under large tents in the rain. It was a touching moment for Elbert and his Odyssey family. He is an inspiration to all of us. He rides every day but doesn't always get to finish the miles. However, today he rode 80 miles and several fast riders rode with him to help him celebrate.
We all love Elbert for his great attitude and sharp wit. On September
1st, we celebrated Elbert's 80th birthday.
The Odyssey choir sang a special "Happy Birthday" song and the riders
had a chance to tell their favorite Elbert story on video.
For his birthday gift, the group pooled together and purchased Elbert a
new tent. He's been using closepins to shut his tent door
since the zipper broke.
Elbert's favorite meal was catered in for the event.
After huffing up all those hills, Elbert had no
problem putting out the 80 candles.
Elbert signed up on Odyssey in order to figure out what to do with
the rest of his life. We're sure that whatever he decides, it will be done
with style.
Elbert says he felt like a "peacock" as he rides along the
Rhine on his 80th birthday. Go Elbert!
Elbert entertaining young campers in Rheinmunster.
Elbert's 80th Birthday!
The day begins, as always with sounds of zippers at 6 am soon joined with a chorus of clanging tent stakes and
snapping tent poles, but at 6:15 a different note is struck. Someone quietly says, "Happy birthday Elbert",
about 150 sleepy voices hidden inside their tents spontaneously begin singing "Happy Birthday to You", one of
the sweetest renditions ever to be heard.
Breakfast is good, the main difference being there was a chef preparing fried eggs as we came through the
line. Hot off the grill! This is a major yellowhead treat!
By the time I'm ready to go, I see Elbert is just leaving. He has a huge bunch of balloons tied to his bike and is
being followed by Jim (who usually leaves early and is amongst the first to get in), Kayo (strong rider), Fred
(from Canada, also an early rider who gets in early) Charlie, (strong), and a few others. I join in behind. It's a
slow motion draft. It's a Parade! Elbert is grinning ear to ear. Around each corner is a group of riders
standing by with their cameras. Two km up the road "happy birthday" had been written on the pavement. On
and on the celebration goes. We happily peddle along behind the birthday boy. We go up, we go down, we
turn this way and that. We never make a wrong turn. Funny how easy it seems to follow the DRG at barely
6k an hour. After what seems all day, a few of us breakaway, realizing if we're going to make it in for dinner,
we'd better get a move-on. We also realize that soon the Sag Wagon will pick Elbert up and jump him ahead,
they may not take the whole pace-line. It's about 9am when we breakaway, we rode with Elbert almost
4km! What a day!