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The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more

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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Edith Falls
May 19, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Stock up on food before leaving Katherine and drive to the north side of Nitmiluk park. Another lovely hike along the river to croc-free swimming holes (how do they promise that?). Continue north to Pine Creek and opt to stop to assess next move. Little walk to water filled gold mine.Read more
TravelerSoo pretty!
5/20/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Katherine Gorge
May 18, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
As we have been doing, stay in place while exploring. Today we headed out the gorge road to Nitmiluk park. We were surprised to find that a lot of the park still closed as they clean up from the Wet. Get good advice from a ranger and off we go on a hike through the gorge. Nice croc free swim in waterhole. Great views and way less flies than before. Back to camp to relax and have dinner.Read more
TravelerLooks like my kinda day! Loved the red rock of the gorge
5/20/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Mataranka and Katherine
May 17, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
No morning visitors in the bathroom! Get on the road and cover the distance to Mataranka quickly. Stop at the hot springs and see our first croc signs and experience little to no flies for the first time in quite awhile. Enjoy the soak in the jungle. Continue on to Katherine. Do the regular things and then do a little bike ride around town to move the legs a bit. Check out Katherine river. Town is also a bit rough around the edges.Read more
Hannah Boe That looks lovely!
5/18/25Reply
Traveler 😍😍😍
5/20/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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NT Outback
May 16, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Driving day. Not much to see besides termite mounds (some of which are dressed up in clothing). Break up the nothingness with a stop at Devils Marbles. Very cool rocks but swarming with flies. Manage a quick walkabout before retreating back to the car. Stop at almost nonexistent town of Elliott at the caravan park. Greeted by peacocks. Bathroom also has a surprise for me.Read more
Traveler Oh my gosh, a shower buddy, I mean froggy!
5/18/25Reply
TravelerOh my gosh, that frog doesn't look real! 🐸
5/22/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Bike ride and a museum
May 15, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Head out on bikes into the west MacDonnell Park - a range of ‘mountains’ that go east/west. Ride the Simpson cycle path through the bush to Simpson gap. Quite green and somewhat less red. Short walk into a little gorge. Return to town and check out the Royal Flying Doctor Medical museum. Very cool exhibit on the first ever medical aviation program which is still in use today. Stock up on food, do laundry and check out local brewery.Read more
Traveler I don’t think looking at all these is good for my med school dedication
5/20/25Reply
Helene RimbergSorry. I could carry on about the flies, heat and dust? Maybe that would help
5/21/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Onto Alice Springs
May 14, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Another early morning to catch the sunrise over Uluru. Afterwards, hike around the base. Retrace our drive back to Stuart Highway and then continue north to Alice Springs. Find a campground, set up and try to avoid flies. Have determined that flies are the worst natural annoyance that we have come upon. Escape only really happens at night. Venture into town for really good pizza. Lots of gates in this rough town.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Kata Tjuta
May 13, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Wake up early to catch the sunrise over Kata Tjuṯa - the other structure in the park. Amazing colors as the sun hits the red rocks. Hike the Valley of the Winds - wandering through the chasms and up and over formations. Additionally, short hike in the gorge. Explore the Cultural Centre. Great exhibits on Aboriginal culture. Avoid flies in the late afternoon (worst time) before going to watch sunset over Uluru.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
700+ KM to Uluru (Ayers Rock)
May 12, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Another early start. Many miles of Outback in front of us. Coming out of town pass many opal mines. See a dingo but not much wildlife - except for flies which swarmed as soon as we got out of the car (so avoided that as much as possible). Many podcasts later saw Uluru poking up. After setting up camp in the ‘resort’, go for a walkabout. Watch sunset and get a bonus full moon. Thankfully flies go away when it’s dark bRead more
TravelerThese might be some of my favorite pictures!
5/18/25Reply
Helene RimbergIt was so hard to really capture the colors and magnitude
5/19/25Reply
TravelerWow!
5/22/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
The Breakaways
May 11, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
With a fixed tire (2nd flat of the trip), off we went on a bike ride. Quickly established how to wear a bug hat with a helmet. Easy ride on an outback road and then turned into the red dirt. Ride along the dingo fence- 5000km long meant to keep dingos in the western side of Australia. Rode the colorful rock formations. Flies got insanely bad. Back we went, trying to pedal faster than they could keep up with. Spent the rest of the day trying to avoid the flies!Read more
TravelerWhat us the reason there are so many flies?
5/22/25Reply
Helene RimbergLots of livestock. At times standing water. Heat. And according to legend to torment people. Or maybe that was in NZ.
5/22/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Coober Peedy
May 10, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Up and out early. It’s amazing how much faster you can go when don’t load up bikes. Drive for a bit, passing very large salt flats. Stop in a tiny town for gas and a break. Continue along the Stuart Highway. Continue to be glad we didn’t attempt to ride this. Set up and walk into town. Explore Opal Mines and local art. This is the opal capital of the world. Battle the flies but they do disappear as night falls.Read more
TravelerHappy mothers day, Helene!
5/11/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
To the Outback
May 9, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Another chilly morning. Head up our little hill to watch the sunrise. Pack up and head north to Blinman - lots of animals out. Turn onto gravel road and drive through Parachilna Gorge to other side of the Flinders. Opt to not go for a walk - a bit buggy. Back in car and just drive. Back through Port Augustus. Stop in roadside campground in Pimba, on the edge of nuclear test site.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Wilpena Pound
May 8, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Chilly morning (45) thus sleep in. Sun quickly warms us. Head along main trail towards Wilpena Pound (enclosed valley). Continue up to lookout and then opt for another hike up Mount Ohlssen Bagge. Quite the scramble but great views. On the way down spot a yellow footed wallaby! Find ourselves surrounded in the campground by a school group. At least they go to bed early.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Into the Flinders Range
May 7, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Head north, stopping in Port Augusta for supplies. Quickly enter the red rocks and open plains. Detour to Warren Gorge for a hike - seeking yellow footed wallabies. Nice views big no yellow wallabies. Continue into the mountains, arriving at Wilpena. Set up and go for a wee walk.Read more
Hannah Boe Oh cute!
5/9/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Hike up Mount Remarkable
May 6, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Drive to the other side of the mountain range to get to trail head for Mountain Remarkable hike. Nice quiet hike, winding our way up and over the mountain. Quite a bit of scree along the way. Thankfully, flies don’t seem to like this hike. Back down and return to our campsite. Make friends with a wild cat - steak fat always good for making friends.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Onto Mount Remarkable NP
May 5, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Chilly morning but the sun quickly warms things up. Pack up car more efficiently and continue northward. Buy more food and after driving through arid prairie, arrive in lovely Mount Remarkable NP - also arid but more interesting topography. Go for hike along dry riverbed. Break out bug hats for the first time. Spot mountain goats, deer, wallabies and lots of flies.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
A walk amongst the vines
May 4, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 24 °C
Unfortunately, Doug is not able to fix my flat tire ( only second one of entire trip) so we walk along the Riesling Trail instead of cycle. Very windy day as we walk along vineyards and empty spaces. Stop at a winery for some tasting.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Switch to 4 wheels
May 3, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Clear out of the hostel and pike all our stuff, including bikes into a car. Make our way out of the city and head north. Relatively short drive to Clare. Set up and reorient ourselves to living out of a car vs. on our bikes.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Adelaide: Bike & Hike for Koalas
May 2, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Another sunny day. Head off on bikes to Cleland park in the nearby Adelaide Hills. Hike a bit before spotting first one. Very dry park. Spot a fire burning in the distance. Wind up with 10 Koalas spotted - half of them within 500 Yds of where we left the bikes.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Adelaide: Neighborhoods & errands
May 1, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Get a late start so opt to wander a bit and take care of our errands. Walk by large Oval (stadium) to North Adelaide - one of the oldest and prettiest neighborhoods. Lovely oak lined streets and stone buildings. Back through garden to wine museum and get a lot of our shopping done on busy Rundle street. Stop for a pint and back to hostel for delivered pizza. Very good!Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Adelaide: Museums & Gardens
April 30, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Returned to the Central Market to get food for the day. After, set off into the coolish morning heading for the South Australia Museum. A few interesting stops along the way. Good museum with an extensive exhibit of Aboriginal history and artifacts. Nice pastry break before walking along the river toward ghe botanical gardens. Nice exhibit of Chihuly art. Back to hostel for fish dinner.Read more
Traveler I remember this!
5/8/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Onto Adelaide
April 29, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Beautiful morning for a bike ride along the coast. Lovely bike path right by the ocean. Dark clouds building around us. They do eventually open up on us. Follow a series of city cycle ways leading us into the city. Find our hostel, unpack and do some exploring. Go out for very good Greek dinner.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Vineyard trail to Moana
April 28, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Start our day with a pancake breakfast - out. Pretty good but spendy and small. Start our ride along the coast and quickly head up a steep hill. Nice views but tough climb. Pass a rather large Chinese temple. Decide to take scenic route on the Coast to Vines rail trail. Surrounded by vineyards. Do stop at a winery for some tasting but have to race to campground in Moana before dark.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Normanville
April 27, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Pack up and head up and through the Inman Valley. Finally have more trees! Lots of grazing animals and a few kangaroos. Stop for a pastry and opt to go to Normanville and the beach. Set up before taking a nice long walk down the beach. Apparently, there had been a great white shark spotted recently along this beach. We only see a few dead fish. Big camp kitchen is full of teens on a school kayak trip.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Exploring The Bluff
April 26, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
As we have lots of time to get to Adelaide, spend another day around Victor Harbor. Beautiful sunshine gives way to some clouds and drizzle but we continue down cycle path the the end - the bluff. Spot dolphins frolicking in the water before hiking up to the top. Find an echidna and a little burrowing scrub like animal. Walk along the beautiful coastline. Day turns cold and windy so spend most of the remainder inside the warm TV room.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Victor Harbor
April 25, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Opt to move to Victor Harbor as it seems better placed for exploring. Ride along the Encounter Cycleway - with the ocean on one side and lovely homes on the other. Arrive in VH and check in. Walk back to town - bustling as it’s a public holiday (Anzac Day). Walk along causeway to Granite Island.Read more
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