Current

The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Photos Share

The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Day off bike
May 17 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Lazy morning as we are not riding today. Do head up into the hills for nice views. Predicted rain holds off. Walk down into town to do some food shopping. A bit harder coming back up. Have a nice dinner with Tim, Sophie, and Artie.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
1
Salt Lake City
May 16 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
With the great route provided by Aaron, we headed out on quiet country roads - south towards SLC. The mountains continued to build on both sides. Hit the Jordan River Parkway Rail Trail - a beautiful paved path that will take us to Provo. Take a lunch break in a park and continue along marshlands. Arrive in SLC, and head through the city and up the other sides. Bit of a climb to our host, but it is well worth it with our own little apartment. Settle it and have pizza for dinner.Read more
Traveler Coyote
5/18/26Reply
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Mountain, Missiles & Temples
May 15 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Chilliest morning for awhile but the sun warms quickly. Hit I84
for a bit a do a bit of climbing through the hills. Finally get off onto a frontage road that starts as paved and becomes gravel. Bounce along and return to I84 for an exit. Take a very quiet side road through the hills and alongside military installations. Come upon the “rocket garden” and check the war implements. Continue along to Brigham City and arrive at the home of Aaron and Denise. Have a nice evening, chatting and looking at route possibilities.Read more
2 likes
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Utah: State #3
May 14 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Up early and though it’s chilly out, we are nice and warm in the motel. Get ourselves together quickly as we want to get to Utah - almost 80 miles away. Enjoy a nice backroad with a decent tailwind for almost 25 miles. We then enter I84 which has a very decent shoulder. Spot 2 big snakes lounging in the shoulder. Wind continues to help us along. Climb our first and only pass in Idaho. Wind turns against us but we make it into Utah and then Snowville. Check in at Hitching Post RV park. No stores do out for another diner meal.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
A blustery ride to Burley
May 13 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
Get ourselves together, saying goodbye to Kathy and her adorable pup. Easily leave Twin Falls, and hop on Frontage roads along I84. Wind is blowing from the south as we go east. Find ourselves in the middle of the road and trying to avoid the sprinklers watering the road. Finally wind shifts, pushing us into Burley. Can’t find a place to set up our tent so end up in a motel. Oh well, a comfy bed!Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Onto Twin Falls
May 12 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Short day but winds are not in our favor. Push through it as we travel through a lot of cattle farms. Lots of moooing and unpleasant smells. Finally turn south and get a bit of relief. Cross over the Snake River again and enter Twin Falls. Wind our way to our Warmshowers host, Kathy. She and her cute pup take us to all the cool sights and we do a few errands. Sleep inside, in her wood shop.Read more
2 likes
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Snake River Canyon
May 11 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
Wake to traffic noise along I84. Pack up, and head into the hills. Very brown with the exception of where they irrigate. Very quiet roads though we do a very short stint on I84. Arrive in Bliss which turns out to be less so as Doug gets a flat. Mend it and then go screaming down the hill into the canyon. Quite a bit toastier. Head east with the winds and arrive in Wendell where we opt to stay in a very spendy RV park - no discounts for tents.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
I HATE WIND
May 10 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
Somehow wind reversed direction overnight and thus we have a headwind. Set off, yet find it very slow going. We are amongst the wind turbines and cattle guards. Nice views of Snake Canyon below. Stop into Glenn’s Ferry and find a park for lunch. Opt to stay out vs. battling more wind. Find a campground at the fair grounds. Check and have the whole place to ourselves.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
I ❤️ wind!
May 9 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 23 °C
When it’s behind me! Have a terrific breakfast with our hosts before setting off towards Boise and then south. Get on the Greenway trail and ride on beautiful bike paths along the river. Make our way south of town and have to hop on the freeway for a bit. zoom along with wind behind us. Get off and continue along the Old Oregon Trail Hwy. Not much besides us and the sagebrush. Arrive in Mountain Home, find an RV park, set up, and enjoy a good dinner.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Boise area
May 8 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Pass back through Homedale and then ride into the hills heading towards Boise. Make the switch to fruit orchards and even a few wineries. Cruise back down into the valley and pass through a series of suburbs (Caldwell, Nampa) before arriving in Meridian. Get my phone fixed and do a re-stock at Trader Joe’s. Make our way to Tammy and Ben’s home- our Warmshowers hosts. Have a nice evening swapping travel stories.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
State #2 - Idaho
May 7 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Morning is quite a bit warmer than they have been. Do wake up “later” with the time change. Get ourselves together and ride amongst farm land - onions in particular. Pick up a few stray ones alongside the road. Nice quiet roads with views of distant mountains to the north and east. Cross over the snake River and into Idaho. Ride along the Snake River Canyon scenic byway into Parma where we get lunch. Ten more miles amongst hops to get to Wilder. Unfortunately not much in the way of stores so after seeking out a camping alternative, continue on - downhill - to Homedale and an Albertsons. Get dinner food and head to campground by the Snake River.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Long and windy road
May 6 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Funny, it was both (windy and windy). As expected it was through a lot of nothingness- mostly sagebrush. The distance (65 miles) and the wind almost killed us. Crossed 2 more passes and a time zone. Oregon has an odd section in Mountain Zone. Arrive in Vale and found a decent RV park. Went to the store but decided too tired to make dinner. Went to a local diner for fine diner food and ice cream.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Sometimes you just call it a day
May 5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Another clear and chilly morning but the sun quickly warms up our spot. Head back up to the main road and begin our major ascent is the day. Cross over Blue Mountains Pass and wind our way out of the forest land to the open high plains. Come to tiny town of Unity where there does happen to be an RV site. Decide to make it a short day, putting off more miles, until tomorrow. This way we have access to a shower (vs. wild camping). Relax and plan for the rest of the day.Read more
2 likes
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Around Strawberry Mountain
May 4 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Another hilly day awaits. Short ride to the town of John Day where we get our breakfast. A rather large town in comparison to the recent ones. Check out the Kam Wah Chung Interpretive Center and learn a bit about Chinese presence in Eastern Oregon. A tad bit difficult to truly explore as it is full of school kids. Load up on food as we are entering the wilderness for a bit. Unfavorable winds pick up though the mountains next to us are spectacular. It’s bizarre that we have never been out this way before. Stop in Prairie City for lunch and once again, a pass to climb awaits us. Winds are very tough but we make it over Dixie Pass (#5). Cruise down, stop at Austin Jct cafe for pie to go and head for Bates SP. Nice little campground. Very satisfying dinner after long day.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
1
A chance encounter
May 3 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Relaxed morning in the Spoke’n Hostel. Even with no tent to take down, it still takes 3 hours to get ready. Perhaps it is the 6 mile uphill awaiting us straightaway that causes us to dawdle. Turns out to be not too bad. Quiet road and very beautiful. Make it to the top (Keyes Creek Summit #4) and have a very long and gradual down back to the John Day River. Ride through stunning gorges before coming to tiny Dayville. Eat lunch and tackle the remaining 20 miles to Clyde Holliday SP. As we are pulling in, Doug hears his name. Longtime friends Nancy and John happen to be camping here. Spend the evening chatting and catching up.Read more
Traveler Looks like the bike is eating out of that pot. 🤣
5/6/26Reply
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Painted Hills and Mitchell
May 2 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
A tad bit cloudy as we gather ourselves together. Gradual incline warms us up quickly. As we climb, the forest becomes denser with big redwoods. Top out over our second pass - Ochoco Pass. Great down into the valley. And the heat. Last few miles into tiny Mitchell are a big rough but end at the Spoke’n Hostel - heaven for cyclists! We are greeted warmly and provided lemonade by Jalet. And because we are the first Transamerica trail cyclists of the year - our stay is free. Bring bikes in and relax. Walk to “town” and eat at the pub.Read more
2 likes
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Onto the Transamerica Trail
May 1 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Rise early with the sun and take our normal 3+ hours to get ready. Crazy. Nice tailwind to start as we head northward to meet the Transamerica Trail in Redmond. Very nice roads; well paved with a big shoulder. Turn east and get a less favorable wind. Stop In Prineville for lunch and dinner supplies. Finish the ride to Ochoco Lake. Nice spot right by the lake.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
A day in Bend
April 30 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Some of us sleep in! Do our morning activities and organize ourselves for errands and fun in Bend. A few camping replacements are needed so make our way to REI. Continue to be amazed by how bike friendly it all is. Crosswalks, bike lanes, people stopping - it’s crazy! Walk along the river and through the downtown. End at 10 Barrel where we have tacos and a beer. Ride back to campground. Light salad dinner.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
2
I ❤️ Central Oregon
April 29 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
With only a short distance to go, have a lazy morning drinking coffee and chatting. Finally pack up and get breakfast in Sisters (US prices are going to kill us. 2 pastries and 2 coffees for $20). Short ride to Tumalo State Park. Set up in yet to be opened hiker/biker spot and then ride to edge of Bend for food. Go for stroll along the Deschutes. So many happy memories!! Nice steak dinner on open fire.Read more
Traveler Damn, next time buy a bigger steak so you don’t go hungry
5/1/26Reply
Helene Rimberg We are hungry cyclists!
5/1/26Reply
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Santiam Pass
April 28 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
A cloudy and cooler day greets us as we attempt to get an earlier start. Third day of 3000+ feet of climbing, topping out over the Santiam Pass. It is slow going but we carry on. Stop for lunch alongside the road before the final ascent. Summit, crossing our first mountain range (Cascades). Bundle up and speed down, freezing along the way. Arrive in Sisters, and find our way to our warmshowers. Arrive just as Rhonda arrives. Lovely shower, great meal and conversation with Scott joining us later.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
1
Along the Clackamas river
April 27 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Chilly morning but manage to rouse ourselves and hit the road (taking 3 hours to do so). A gradual up as we ride alongside the Clackamas river. Find ourselves in and out of the burn area. Find a fresh water source and continue our climb to 3600 feet. Quick lunch and zoom down towards Detroit Lake. Intersect with busy HWY 22 and grab a few things in Idanha. On the shopkeepers recommendation, head towards the local RV park. Nice little place on the river with showers! Set up, make a fire and relax after another long day of climbing.Read more
Hannah Boe Bird's nest fungus! When raindrops land in the cups the spores pop out!
4/30/26Reply
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Philly here we come
April 26 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
After a few stressful and emotional weeks, it’s time to hit the road. Leaving is never easy and this time is no exception. The day is sunny and cool as we ride familiar roads out of Lake Oswego and into rural Clackamas County. Roll along the hills to Estacada where we stop for lunch. Head along Clackamas River Scenic Bikeway. Beautiful scenery and the cars thin out as we venture further. The hills tire us out but we push on. Enter burn areas from the Riverside fire in 2020. Make it to Ripplebrook where the ‘“camp host” outside the closed store tells us to just of in any closed campground. Which we do. Set up. We still remember how, make dinner and in our tent before it gets dark. Tad bit chilly.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Hello Portland
April 8 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Manage to get a bit of sleep on the floor of SFO. Able to check our boxes in at 4:00 and head through security. Find a lovely lounge, get the coffee flowing and watch the sun rise. Board our last flight and head north. Am reminded that even though this country seems to be going to shit, it is amazingly beautiful. I am looking forward to riding through familiar territory where I know the ‘rules’ and can blend in. Land in Portland and assemble our bikes (first time for this). Take the Max to get closer to the city and ride to Maddie’s to drop off gear. By end of day we are settling in. Will attend to family for a bit and then will head East - with the wind!Read more
2 likes
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Hong Kong and the endless Tuesday
April 7 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
After our short flight to Hong Kong check in to a hotel in the wee hours of the morning. Get a bit of sleep before heading off to briefly explore Hong Kong. Fuel up with coffee and wind our way through the beautiful park on our way to the Peak. Pass through an aviary full of fun birds. Walk alongside the tram tracks as we head up. Very quiet on the streets (later determine it’s a holiday). Day is cloudy and cooler but we still sweat buckets on our way up. Clouds obscure the view but pretty nonetheless. Back down the very steep way and do a quick walk through of zoo. Back to hotel to grab our bags and back to the airport. Find a lounge and await next flight to Taipei. Rejoin our baggage there and have to check back in - at another terminal. Fortunately we have a lot of time and we navigate the sky train with our big boxes. Check in again and relax and shower before boarding the big flight. Leave at 12:05 am on Wednesday but arrive in SFO at 8:30 pm Tuesday. So confusing. Unfortunately can’t recheck our bags until Alaska counter reopens. Settle in on the floor for some sleep.Read more
1 like
The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Goodbye Asia
April 6 in Cambodia ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C
After more than 10 months, we are finally leaving Asia. For a continent that I was less enthusiastic about visiting on bikes, we certainly dove in deep. It was a good adventure albeit very challenging. Where to now? The plan had been to return to Europe and make our way to Italy. But the Middle East “operation” intervened and in the end we opted to not gamble on a flight that took us through a war zone. So we are heading east to go west. We will land in Portland and will head across the USA - the reverse of what we did 33 years ago. There will be a bit of a break while we attend to family and some practicalities. First we have 4 flights over 2+ days. First stop, Hong Kong.Read more
1 like