• Helene Rimberg
  • Helene Rimberg

Europe by bike 2022

Et 79-dagers eventyr av Helene Les mer
  • Along the Med

    5. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Hilly start as we wound our way up the coast. Each little town by the sea was accompanied by an up. Lovely views and strong wind. Great roads and paths with clear signs helped us keep on route. Building storm clouds and a bit of lightening had us moving quickly. Made it safely to quiet campsite.Les mer

  • Goodbye to the Med

    8. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    A few more beach towns and a last swim (it’s gotten colder for some reason) and we turn north along our 3rd EuroVelo route - Via Rhona (17). Good signs make for much easier navigation - a welcome reprieve. Brief stop to explore walled city. Winds really gusting 20+ mph in our face. Arrive in St-Gilles more pooped than we should be. Out to eat and evening exploring leads us to “house music” in the square.Les mer

  • On to Provence

    9. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    With hot weather upon us an early start is our our best bet. Power up with coffee and pastries and we ride through the countryside following our little signs. Every type of fruit imaginable is growing alongside of us. And lots of sunflowers. Winds have settled a bit. Done see much of the Rhône today except for some crossings and when we arrive in Avignon. Seems to be a month long theater festival going on. And the are mountains looming.Les mer

  • A tour amongst sustainable energy

    11. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Our travels alongside the Rhône continues. In addition to the ‘regular’ fields we find ourselves amongst fields of solar panels. Next to wind turbines and nuclear plants. Day ends in lovely town of Viviers and a nice meal out and walk amongst the historical site.Les mer

  • First day of many bridges

    12. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    A funny thing about this type of adventure is that sometimes you find yourself doing things you would rather not. In real life you would just say no. But not this trip- one sucks it up and keeps on going. This day had us crossing alot of bridges back and forth over parts of the Rhône. Including a Himalayan bridge. Everything I hate - swinging, high, grated and wind. I am not sure what I was afraid would happen but …. And yes that was a real up close view of a nuclear reactor. Besides that another lovely day of riding ending in another campground overflowing with cyclists (awaiting a few more photos from Doug’s phone)Les mer

  • Amongst the vineyards

    13. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Though we have passed through alot of vineyards today they seemed all around us. We found ourselves with hills on both sides covered with grapes! Wind had died down and the temperature had been rising. Earlier starts help as does ending at campgrounds with a pool. Ventured out to catch a Bastille Day celebration complete with fireworks and a full moonLes mer

  • Bastille Day (aka Doug’s birthday)

    14. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    A short day of riding to get to Vienne. The scenery is beautiful. The river, the vineyards - it is spectacular. Get to Vienne and have a birthday lunch. A bit of sightseeing (it is hot), dinner in our Airbnb and then out for fireworks.Les mer

  • Tour de France

    15. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    After a bit is sightseeing, including an ancient theater still in use - grabbed our bikes and headed up the climb that the racers would travel a few hours later. Road was already closed to cars. Found a spot amongst the crowd and awaited. First the caravan - a crazy form of advertising. Then the racers. It was a pretty narrow road and they passed by quickly and closely. Back down weaving through traffic.Les mer

  • A deviation

    16. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Although cities have become more bike friendly, they still eat time and create stress. Opted to cut east, avoid Lyon and return to the Via Rhonda as it meanders through the mountain valleys. And we ran into one of the TDF teams. I guess they like the countryside too. A lovely day! And yes, the French countryside is covered in sunflowers. First signs for Switzerland!Les mer

  • Amongst the looming mountains

    17. juli 2022, Frankrike ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    A somewhat chilly start to our day as we wove our way through the valley Encountered some friends on our path which also meant a lot of cattle/sheep guard crossings. Opted to do a short day with a looming mountain between us and Geneva. Nice swim in the Rhône. Opted for dinner out as it was to be our last night in France.Les mer

  • Au revoir France

    18. juli 2022, Sveits ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    With what looks to be a climb straight up, power up with pastries and head out early. Turns out to be not so bad. Cruise along the plateau and unbeknownst to us, enter Switzerland while on a forest path. Navigate through the ritzy shopping district of Geneva and out along the lake. Prices are outrageous but it is beautiful.Les mer

  • And back in France

    19. juli 2022, Sveits ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Seems the borders do some strange things. Find ourselves back in France as we travel along the southern side of lake Geneva Busy roads and limited signs made for stressful riding. Arrive at the end of the Via Rhona as we cross back into Switzerland. It does continue as EuroVelo 17 into Switzerland. Alps all around us.Les mer

  • Into the Swiss valleys

    20. juli 2022, Sveits ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After a rainy night with quite the lightening show, had a slow start to dry off. Beautiful path along the sooty Rhône with the wind at our back. This is what cycling is all about. Make a turn into the Valais valley and surrounded by vineyards. Building storm clouds keep us moving. End up going much farther than anticipated and manage to set up camp before the rain.Les mer

  • Bike hike?

    22. juli 2022, Sveits ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    While a low mileage day, more than 3000 ft of elevation awaited us. Though we started out on the busy road, we quickly decided to venture off and stick with the cycle path although it would add more elevation and a few more miles. The sign noting an average of 19% grade almost had me taking my chances with the semis. Yet we climbed up the side of The Valley and were treated with lovely views. Again opted to stick with the cycle route though it would turn to ‘natural surfaces’. What we didn’t know was it would turn to a hiking trail through a gorge. Tough going. Made it through, continued up the valley and made it to Oberwald. Small little town. Rain, hail and lightening!Les mer

  • Furka pass

    24. juli 2022, Sveits ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    A chilly and bright blue morning for out climb to almost 8000 ft. Switchbacks started as soon as we left town. Tough climb but took it one switchback at a time. The Rhône glacier ended our journey to the source of the Rhône - from sea to summit! Summited amongst many cyclists and motorcyclists. Lovely lunch at the top. Terrifying descent I to Andermatt. Phew - we made it.Les mer

  • Straight up to cruise down the valley

    27. juli 2022, Italia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Innsbruck is in a valley requiring one to go up to leave. And up we went. A lot! Picked up our next trail - Munchen-Venezia which was well marked. Finally summited and after lunch by a tiny lake , entered Italy and came upon a glorious 20 mile (or so) downhill. This is what it is all about. A bit more climbing and arrive at our destination only to have no space at the campground. Pulled out a credit card and stayed at a hotel. Pizza dinner.Les mer

  • Climbing back up towards Austria

    28. juli 2022, Italia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After a nice breakfast climbed back out of the valley. Back to vineyards as well. Random castles and very large snail slugs keeps me amused. Path remains lovely as we head east. Skies start to get stormy and the rain catches up with us. Make it to our campground without getting too wet.Les mer

  • More down than up

    29. juli 2022, Østerrike ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    For perhaps the first time we had more descending than ascending. Day one along the Drau river trail had us cruising alongside the towering Dolomites, with small towns dotting the hillsides. Many people out on this stretch of the path. Arrive in Amlach outside of Lienz with plenty of time to explore Lienz. Finally get gelato and come upon another festival. Oh-la-la ( their term not mine). Another rainy night.Les mer