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The Grand Adventure
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  • Helene Rimberg

The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more
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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Dunedin

    February 8, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Slow start as bodies are tired, but head out into the sunshine for some sightseeing. Wander passed the Chinese gardens and the impressive train station Farmers market is next - full of summer fruit and veg! Slow walk through a street fair and make our way to Botanical gardens and aviary. Cover quite a bit of ground like usual! Head back to organize and prepare for tomorrow’s bus ride.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    To Dunedin

    February 7, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    One last day of riding. And the winds are not in our favor. Feeling the miles in my legs! Continue on the Clutha Gold trail until the end - passing through wetlands and along a huge lake. Wind our way along side roads - avoiding the main highway as much as we can. Slow going into the wind. 2 big hills and we drop into Dunedin. Check into hostel and do a little walk about into the city. Fish n’ chips and gelato for dinner.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Long day in the saddle to Milton

    February 6, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    As forecasted, rain comes in during the night but lets us by morning. Cloudy skies aren’t going to dry our tent so pack up as we have a long day ahead on the Clutha trail. Services are minimal so need to do a 50+ mile day to get to a campground and be able to get to Dunedin the next day. Cruise along the river until Beaumont and then into the hills. The sun makes a few appearances. A hill and a tunnel before our lunch stop in Lawrence. Treated to a large herd of alpacas! 2 more hills and tunnels and we are done the hard stuff. Wind picks up but we make it - rather late into Milton. Steak dinner to replenish our iron supplies.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Clutha Gold trail

    February 5, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Day is split between riding the very hilly highway and then a dedicated cycle path. Hills are hard, traffic is nasty and it’s hot. But we make it down to the Clutha river, passed a very large dam and hop on the trail. Beautiful gravel and cement trail (mostly) along the fast moving river. Stop for lunch and ice cream and continue on. Find a small beach and plunge in (slowly - it’s a bit chilly). Continue on to Miller’s Flat.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Down to Alexandra

    February 4, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Beautiful day as we continue on the rail trail. Relatively short ride but a lot of varying scenery. One long tunnel, a few bridges and viaducts and we coast down to the largish town of Alexandra. Check in to a huge campground but find a quiet spot by the river. Finally make it all the way in!Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Otago rail trail

    February 3, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Still feeling tired but alot of coffee and breakfast revives us. The sky is clear as we continue on the gravel road to Naseby. Lots of gold and mining history. Enjoy a brief bit of pavement and proceed back to gravel and the Otago rail trail. Nice quiet path in the middle of big valley. Short ride and we are at our destination- Oturehue. Nice short day.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Dansey’s Pass

    February 2, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Misty morning as we leave the lovely farm and our cozy trailer. Make our way back to Duntroon and head onto the Dansey pass road. All ok for first bit though weather is less than ideal. Road kicks up for the first incline but it’s still pavement. We cruise back down and hit the gravel road. It’s well compacted and the moisture keeps the dust down. Clouds settle on us and we revert to pushing UP. Hug the side of the mountain yet can’t see around the next turn. Hit the top but can’t see a thing. Zip up and head down. Skies begin to clear as we wind down to Dansey Pass hotel. Fortunately for us there is a room. Lovely old hotel and comfy room. Pub dinner and collapse in bed. Very hard day.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Into Waitaki valley

    February 1, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Seek out penguins in the morning but they have already returned to the sea. Opt to check out conservatory. Great penguin info and see some up close in their nesting boxes. Backtrack a bit to catch road heading into valley. Lots of farmland as we make our way to home of Steve and Petra- childhood family friend of Boe family. Lovely evening in their piece of paradiseRead more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Pints, pizza & PENGUINS

    January 31, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Set our sights on Oamaru to visit a larger penguin colony. Only 56 miles or so away. Ride highway 1 but it has a nice shoulder. Stop for strawberries at a converted church. Then fall upon a beautiful gourmet cafe. Eat some sustenance and carry on. Able to get off the highway for a bit. Make it to Oamaru - phew! Head to brewery for pints and pizza. Sadly viewings for penguins returning to land is sold out. Stake out a spot on the beach. Only see them as we walk back to our campground.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Geraldine

    January 29, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Incredibly windy night. Carries on into the morning. Finally settles a bit and we crawl out of the gorge. Fortunately we turn with the wind and have happy cruising along the mountain range - including Mount Hutt, their ski resort. Stop for lunch and have “toasties” (grilled cheese Sammie’s). Wind has changed but we are going slightly down. Make it to Geraldine. Sadly the power is out in the entire town and thus can’t get any food or take showers. Fortunately it is a quick fix. Nice dinner if lamb.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    From one gorge to the next

    January 28, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Hug the mountain range as we go further into the Canterbury plains. Not much around besides sheep. Beautiful, sunny day - best we have had in awhile. Stop in tiny towns for lunch and the unexpected ice cream. Wind picks up, creating a challenging final leg up and then down to the Raika gorge. Set up in nice campground by the river and head off on a little walk. Very windy!Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Ashley Gorge … and a deluge

    January 26, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Short distance to Amberly for breakfast. Load up on food and hit the country roads. Nice tailwind keeps us moving - but not fast enough to beat the downpour. On the plains there is nowhere to duck for cover. Arrive at the campground quite soggy. Opt to stay in a pod. Let it pour! (Which it does)Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Into the Waipara valley

    January 25, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    After yesterday’s adventures, opt to get off busy main road for a bit. Unfortunately, it turns to very loose gravel and we struggle for the next 20 km. Return to the highway and breeze into Waipara. Small town, surrounded by vineyards. Too late for wine tasting. Stay at campground comprised of old train cars.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Beautiful scenery, treacherous roads

    January 24, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Misty morning, this we take our time. Ride along the peninsula in search of more sea creatures. Do see some dolphins from afar and more seals. Walk amongst rocks that were displaced from most recent earthquake. Head south along the coastline and get some up close views of seal friends. Road becomes more narrow, especially as we head inland. Make it to Cheviot - barely. Find a lovely campground and opt for a nice cabin.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Ah, the wind at one’s back

    January 23, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Up and out early to catch the favorable northerlies. Road is fairly quiet and has big shoulder. Roll through the brown hills and grapes until we cross over and plunge down to the sea. Ride alongside with the mountains, close on the right. Seems to be an alp ridge in the middle of this island. After a lunch spot find ourselves amongst the fur seals - with babies! Long day but make it 64 miles to Kaikoura. Lovely fish dinner.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    And the ride resumes

    January 22, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Spend much of the day at the campground waiting for the bike to be finished. Finally hit the road at 2:30. Ride the Whale Trail safely out of town, up the mountain and back into wine country. Wind slows us down but only have to go to Seddon, 20 miles or so. Set up in tiny Motor camp - squished between others.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Wairau Lagoons

    January 21, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Transition to campground closer to town and the bike shop (much quieter). Ride south to Wairau Lagoons. Nice walk though seems to be part of wastewater management system. Quite a few birds. Back through town, drop off bike and have local green tip mussels for dinner.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    White Bay

    January 20, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Another ‘rest day’ for exploring. This time head to the coast - Rarangi. Hike up the coastal hills and drop into scenic White bay. Relax as the waves crash and tides slowly turns. Back we go - though have a nice tailwind on our way to the campground.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Wither Hills

    January 19, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Hit a chocolate factory and farmers market before heading up into the Wither Hills. Lovely, almost 360 views of the hills surrounding us and valley below us. Sunnier and warmer than it’s been for awhile but still windy. Finish our adventures at a winery - of course. Nice first day of being “stuck”.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Our first major mechanical

    January 18, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    As we need to get to a bike store before it closes, get an early start to Blenheim. Beautiful and quiet coastal road gives way to busier road, winding through a valley. Livestock gives way to grapes as we enter one of the premier wine regions. Zip past the wineries - for now. Wait for awhile at the bike shop to then be told it will take 5 days to order the rim, wait for it and then rebuild his wheel. No other options. Make our way to Spring Creek Campground - nice place though on top of busy road.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Queen Charlotte track

    January 17, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Beautiful but chilly morning. It warms up quickly once the sun clears the hills. Ride to the start of Queen Charlotte track and walk along coast and ridge line. So many colors in the water! Manage to get in up the knees - barely. Back to our campground.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    To the south island we go

    January 16, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Up early to catch our 8:45 ferry. Easy check in and boarding! Find some nice seats and get comfy for our 3 1/2 hour ride. Beautiful day for a crossing. Arrive on the South Island, get some supplies and ride west along the coast to Smith family farms campground. Greeted with banana muffins, a towel and food to feed the animals. After f d inner, walk to the waterfalls and the glow worms.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
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    Wellington: Day 2

    January 15, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Museum Day! Walk ourselves back down to the waterfront and the Te Papa (museum of NZ). Spend the next 3+ hours in a mix of natural, cultural and social history. (The ‘people were about 8 feet tall and so life like. Done by Weta studio). Emerge into the sunshine and walk to Mount Victoria lookout and seek out LOTR filming sites. Another stop on the beer route and we are back on the bus towards our ‘home’.Read more