The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more

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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Luang Probang exploration
October 7, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Wake to heavy rains which clear pretty quickly. Head to Royal Palace which is now a museum. Unable to take pictures of the lavish digs. Afterwards long walk to get eSIM cards as our reliable worldwide coverage does not cover Laos. Check out local market Tour a few Wats in town before heading up Phosi Hill for sunset and moonrise. Strangely we aren’t the only ones to think of this. Opt to not wait an extra hour for moonrise. Preparations for Lhai Heua Fai (Festival of Lights), marking the end of Buddhist Lent are starting!Read more
Traveler Agree!
10/11/25Reply
Traveler 😮
10/11/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Two sides to Laos
October 8, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Take a short walk to the UXO museum (unexploded ordnances). Between 1964-1973 the US dropped a plane load of munitions, on average, every 8 minutes, 24 hours each day. And we denied doing it. 30% did not explode and thus remained - creating deathly hazards for the people of Laos and impacting all aspects of their lives. The government has worked to educate and clean them up. It was quite eye opening and disturbing. Juxtaposed to this, the preparations for the festival were in full swing. Spent the afternoon packing and cleaning bikes before hitting the streets for the parade. Bought our offerings which we released into the Mekong (goodbye bad luck- hello good
luck). Watched the flaming floats travel down stream after snagging a table by the water. Tried a Lao fish wrap - very tasty. Make your own lettuce wraps using a whole grilled
Fish.Read more
Traveler Oh my gosh! The clothes and the people, so beautiful
11/5/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Fun van ride over the mountain
October 9, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Early morning departure to board a minivan for Vien Vang. Horrible road conditions confirm that we made the right decision not to ride. And then in slopes up and the road becomes almost nonexistent- a tad scary in a vehicle. Make it down and pick up more people just adding to the fun. Somehow make it to Vien Vang without losing my mind. Gladly mount my bike and ride short distance (still rough road) to resort by very large reservoir. Lovely swim in the lake and enjoy sunset. Nice ending to a rough day.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
A long hot ride
October 10, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Get an early start though it’s tempting to stay! Lots of rolling hills amongst green hills that eventually get bigger. A few tough climbs in the heat. Plod along, especially over the rough sections. Find ourselves in a mud pit. No bueno. Find a decent, and cheap, hotel. Then off to dinner. Another fun time ordering food with no local language skills.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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A waterfall visit
October 11, 2025 in Laos ⋅ 🌩️ 32 °C
Long day planned but we plan to break it up with a visit to a waterfall. Cycling is easier today as road is flatter with longer stretches of good road. Veer off the main road and head into the hills to visit waterfalls. Have a nice dip and watch storm clouds form. Get out of the water just as skies open. Huddle under a little shelter - watching the falls double in size. Finally it stops, yet find our bikes now parked in a creek. Continue on our way. Arrive in Naxay and find a very cheap but acceptable hotel.Read more
Traveler 😳
11/5/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Back to the Mekong
October 12, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
Up and out early as need to find coffee and breakfast. Gather our supplies for the day and head out on horrible road with many trucks and buses. After about 5km, the road becomes smooth asphalt with a big shoulder. Cruise along, meeting up with the Mekong. A few stops for frosty drinks and finally make it to Paksan. Check in to hotel (another one that is mostly empty). Find dinner and spend all evening trying to figure out Vietnam visa process.Read more
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One last long day in the heat
October 13, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
Road stays nice and smooth as we wind our way along the Mekong before turning inland. Back to 90+ degrees with a feels like temp of 107. The promise of a smoothly keeps us going forward. Make it to hotel just as skies open up.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Up to the Rockpoint
October 14, 2025 in Laos ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
Later start as we only have 20 miles to ride - almost entirely up hill. The road is pretty rough in sections but we make it over the first hill. Clouds build and get pelted with a bit of rain but keep going. It does clear pretty quickly; with the sun coming out just in time for the steep part. Sweat our way up and arrive at the Rockpoint viewpoint and Lodge - our destination. Check in to our “capsule” and venture out onto the walkway. Amazing views!Read more
Hannah Boe Looks steep!
10/15/25Reply
Hannah Boe So pointy!
10/15/25Reply
Traveler So cool!
10/15/25Reply
Traveler Oh now that looks nice. Amazing/unbelievable pictures. So unbelievably boring when you get back here.
10/27/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
A day for adrenaline junkies
October 15, 2025 in Laos ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
On our “rest day”, we embark on a full day adventure. For 7 hours we flew on zip lines, climbed up and down sheer rock walls, walked across sketchy bridges and basically did whatever possible to get our heart racing (generally from fear). Though scary, it was amazing soaring high above the craggy peaks. We claimed our mind against the hordes on bugs and heat. And when the rain and thunder began - we just continued on. Great day - especially in retrospect.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Spring river resort
October 16, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Day begins quite cool (relatively) but quickly warms up. Not moving too fast as tired from the previous day’s adventures. Steep downhill to start which quickly levels out into a lovely road through a valley. A big of a headwind but we make good time and arrive at our destination - Spring River resort. Check in and venture out on kayaks. Head into a lagoon which is quite serene. Doug’s boat takes on water and eventually he capsizes. Twice. I tow him short distance back.Read more
TravelerYou should have taken pics on the kayaks of Doug in the water.
10/17/25Reply
Traveler Poor Doug.
10/17/25Reply
Traveler No kayaking with the water buffalo!!!!
10/17/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Kong Lor Cave
October 17, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
As the bungalow is very dark, I manage to sleep in. Late. Finally get up and go have breakfast before it’s too late. Short ride to Kong Lor Cave, a 5km long cave with a river through it. Take a little boat to a motorized boat and cruise up the river - stopping a few times to marvel at the formations. Pop out on the other side and then return. Very cool! Back to
our place and relax for the rest of the day.Read more
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Tham Nam Non Cave
October 18, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
After another nice breakfast, left the resort - retracing our route to the north. Stopped at Tham Nam Non cave, which to our surprise was full of water. Using inner tubes we floated up into the cave. It was quite spacious and the water was clear and a lovely temperature. Turned around when it got too dark and spooky. Continued on Na Hin, finding a decent place to sleep and eat.Read more
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UP towards the border
October 19, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
After a lovely pancake breakfast, head out onto the main road. Climb stats immediately, and the sun bakes us as we struggle upwards. The road is in all sorts of disrepair which as to the fun. Great views though. Finally make it to the top and have a break as we lose a bit of elevation. Stop at Dragon cave and viewpoint. Finish the ride as the headwinds really pick up. Find a cheap hotel and an ok place for dinner.Read more
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Hello Vietnam
October 20, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
Cloudy morning as we prepare to climb the last bit before crossing the border into Vietnam. Load up with caffeine and sugar and head out. The road seems quieter but still a bit rough. Rain begins before we hit the last climb. Wait it out a bit but must continue onward. As we near the border, have to weave in and out of the lanes as the trucks are parked on our side waiting to cross. Fairly easy crossing though it’s very wet. Beautiful road going down with very little traffic. Lots of greenery and flowing water. Make it to Son Tay and check into nice hotel. Venture out for dinner. Manage to order an odd dinner but pretty good - chicken bits and little fish and sticky rice.Read more
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Amongst tea plantations
October 21, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Very late start due to bike repair needs. Set off on rural roads through green hills. Terraced tea plantations dominate. A few hills and some wind slow us down a bit. Make it to “eco- resort” next to a lake and more tea. Rustic but fine. They serve a simple but tasty dinner which we enjoy with a few travelers on motorcycles.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Along the Ho Chi Minh trail
October 22, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Left our bungalow and quickly returned to smaller roads. Quite windy again making for slower riding. Lots of storm damage and overflowing rivers (a few typhoons passed through recently). Meander across several bridges just for 2 wheelers. Staying away from trucks and cars is a primary objective - they are very horn happy! Make it to Tan Ky, and after an interesting mango smoothie find a hotel. Gathered a few basic provisions and order a relatively balanced dinner. Vietnam is proving to be a bit challenging in the food department.Read more
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Some days ……
October 23, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
….. it just feels like too much. Today was one of those. Weather was cool and rainy, quite the switch for us. Donned jackets and headed out. Battled rain, wind and honking vehicles all day. So wet, we couldn’t take pictures. Found our hotel - a relatively bright spot in the day. Went out in search of dinner and the few restaurants were closed. Put together dinner from a little store.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
And another one
October 24, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Another cool and rainy morning. Longer day in store and unfortunately almost totally on the busy Ho Chi Minh road. The horns and treacherous drivers were relentless. Rain did stop and we did make sure to stop and eat lunch. Arrive at the hotel emotionally drained. A bit out of town so limited options for dinner. Walk across the road and choose our dishes from the pots. Made for a decent dinner.Read more
TravelerSome tips/reading that a friend shared: https://myvegantravels.com/destinations/asia/vi…
10/25/25Reply
Helene RimbergCool. Yet I think in the small towns we have been in that would have been challenging.
10/26/25Reply
Travelerhttps://www.happycow.net/
10/25/25Reply
TravelerI love that you are in Vietnam! But I am sorry to hear how stressful the journey is. I remember the horns and chaos of the roads in the city but not the countryside. I hope the weather and journey improve for you soon!
10/25/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Things are looking brighter
October 25, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
A dry and warmer morning. Backtrack a bit to find an iPhone store. With a quick screen replacement it’s all better. Head out and opt for very small roads to avoid the traffic. Mostly decent surface with a few muddy sections. Scenery improves and with it our moods. Return to the big road for final miles and arrive at our home stay. Greeted by the Brit host and shown to our fine room. Chicken curry and rice prepared by our hosts.Read more
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We found our happy home - literally
October 26, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
After an amazing cheese omelette, set off on a short but hilly ride into Pu Luong reserve. Again, we dealt with hills and muddy roads to avoid the traffic. After a stop for coffee (have yet to figure out how to order it here) headed up. Nice gradual climb of 1200 feet. Made it to Happy Home - our homestay! Lovely room and view. Had our best meal thus far in Vietnam!Read more
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Pu Luong walkabout: Day 1
October 27, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
After a nice breakfast, organized ourselves for a hike. First stop - Bat Cave. From there descend into the river valley. Walk along a lovely river and amongst the rice fields. As its harvest time, people are out in the fields and also burning; creating a bit of smoke and haze. Very steep walk out and back to our happy home. Try out a different restaurant for dinner - quite good!Read more
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Pu Luong walkabout: Day 2
October 28, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Another nice breakfast fuels our next walk farther down into the valley. Road steepens to 25% before we hit the valley floor. Village people go about their business of harvesting and making handcrafts for tourists. Though tools and technology have certainly impacted their lifestyle, they still seem to live a simple lifestyle - living off their communal Loop around the rice fields before heading back up - with a mango smoothie break. Back to our happy home and one last dinner.Read more
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Mai Châu walkabout
October 30, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Cloudy and drizzly morning; thus opt for a walk. Head away from the rice fields and into the jungle. Just a few farm homes up in the hills. The trail ultimately disappears so we turnaround and walk a bit amongst the fields. Seems the entire village is supporting the rice harvesting. Find our way to a cave before heading back to hotel.Read more
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A scary Halloween ride
October 31, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 23 °C
And another cloudy morning. As a monster hill awaits us, get an early start. Though it starts gradual, it quickly becomes devilishly steep. Frightfully loud trucks and cars get impossibly close to us as we head towards the pass. The rain begins and the fog descends making for spooky riding. A cold and wet descent and sadly, no views. Get off the busy road and ride the longer yet much quieter route. Find a hotel and another somewhat odd dinner (grilled duck and cake).Read more
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Final push to Hanoi
November 1, 2025 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Rainy morning and not eager to go out into it - thus a late start. Find our way quickly to quieter roads. Roll along, managing to catch views when the clouds lift a bit. Eventually return to the bigger road and begin the harrowing journey into Hanoi. Traffic is bonkers with everyone out for themselves. Probably worst entry into a city - ever. Find a hotel and begin process or organizing for our journey to Portland. Finally do laundry and have Pho (or Bun) for dinner.Read more
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