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The Grand Adventure
  • Helene Rimberg
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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
    Low hanging clouds
    Lots of these little trucksReturning to pointy peaksA better section of roadOur walkway to the restaurant1On the scenic walkwayTrees growing right out of the rocks12Our capsule

    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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Beerlao owns Laos!

    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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Little ferry1Who left our bikes in a creek?Sun returnsLovely fish dinnerShower buddy

    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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Lovely morning
    Beautiful sceneryEven the goats struggle to get pastWater buffalo eyeing meOur view

    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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Rebuilding roadHoly shitAmazing peaksPool or lake? Lake!Ahhhhh!

    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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    1

    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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Royal pond
    Royal boatsFancy boats on the Mekong1Reminds me of New Orleans.Fish marketSo many types of rice1A boat for tomorrow's parade making its way into townA boat being assembledLaotian temples have a lot of muralsVery fun lanternsTemple built into hillsideTemple inside a caveView from the top

    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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Quite hilly!
    Not sure if it's meant to be so tippyBack to terraced rice paddiesSleeping bear pileIn the dry season the water is clear. And much lowerOpted not to have our lunch here1Fun swing bridgeView from the topCafe amongst the treesSemi-awake bear. I believe it is an Asiatic black bear

    Anniversary adventures

    October 6, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    In honor of our 34 years of marriage, ride 34 miles (RT) to Kuang Si waterfalls. Scenic ride with some very rough sections (e.g, water filled potholes). Explore very full waterfalls with many other tourists. Even have a bear sanctuary. Get a great view from the top. Enjoy the cool
    water before heading back to town. Enjoy some anniversary bubbles before pizza dinner.    Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Morning fog
    Our hotel from the riverTrain bridge for high speed China-Laos trainSteep steps to roadDaily night market

    Mekong: Day 2 and onto Lubang Probang

    October 5, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Earlier departure and more crowded bought. Yet sunny day as we continue winding our way downstream. Very isolated villages along the way though seem to be building roads all along the river. Arrive about 7 hours later and schlep our stuff up steep steps. Manage to ring our way into crowded city without our typical navigation tools (our global internet seems to neglect Laos). Find our hotel and out for nice French-Lao dinner.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    View out hotel window
    Our bikes strapped on topVery hilly around this areaFriendship BridgeCrowded boat. Lots of internal backpackersRapids and eddysImpromptu waterfallsOur boat was a bit stuck and local ladies pushed usSkies did clearVery cute village girlsPakbeng streetView from our hotel. Bikes still there

    Crusing down the Mekong

    October 4, 2025 in Laos ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Oddly, the skies darken after we wake up. And then the skies open. Crazy storm that lasts almost an hour and delays our departure to the boat dock. Finally able to go; get our tickets, load our bikes on top and grab some food before boarding boat. Wait quite awhile as it fills to capacity and then set sail. Cruise along at 16 mph - passing little villages perched in the hillside. Spend the next 6 hours reading and watching the world go by. Definitely ready to get off at the point we dock. Arrive at Pakbeng and our hotel is very conveniently located to the dock. Take a short walk through small village before dinner.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Same poses but very different looking

    Laos

    October 3, 2025 in Laos ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    Pack up and head for the “Friendship Bridge” and the border with Laos. Unable to ride across the bridge; instead crossing in a shuttle bus. Manage passport control fairly easily. And just like that - new country. And we are back to riding on the right. Forget this a few times on our short ride into Huayxai. Check out the boat dock for tomorrow and then find our hotel. Walk onto local Wat and meander a bit in this town though quite hot and not much to see. Out for our first dinner in Laos. Side note - Laos is a communist country.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Rubber treeWat is in process of being builtI think grey is waiting to be bedazzled

    Last day in Thailand

    October 2, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Head out on bikes to Wat on top of a steep hill. 18% grade is tough on a bike and walking. Great views from the top! Downhill is hard in a different way! Ride along the bike path, do a bit of shopping and watch the the river flow by. Nice last dinner in Thailand.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Lovely bike path along the river

    Chiang Khong

    October 1, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Dry yet dark morning and off we go. Relatively long ride to the border town of Chiang Khong but mostly flat and have a bit of a tail wind. Lots of rice and corn fields. Storm clouds are around us but no rain falls. Make it to Chiang Khong and check in to our hotel with a great view of the Mekong river. Watch rowers struggling against the current.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Lovely blue sky.
    First inlaid Buddha we have seen11It keeps getting odderWhite reflects purity of the Buddha1Reflects suffering or hell1Walkway across from birth to deathMirrors reflect wisdom of Buddha11Each of these have messages written on them1Love it!Same artist. Light show in the evening

    Wat Rong Khun

    September 29, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Short ride to Wat Rhon Khun aka The White Temple. A local temple that is being rebuilt by a well known artist. He hopes to be done by 2070 (training others). Very wild place! Also busy with tourists. Not much else to the day. Watching weather to track incoming typhoon remnants.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Lovely lily pads with lotus flower
    There were a lot of these sculptures on the groundsBeautiful carvingTeak carved polesFlutist in the backgroundThis building was made from pieces of local homesHappy fat Buddha1Jade Buddha. Replica of Emerald BuddhaWrite jade and very jolly

    Chiang Raí wandering

    September 28, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Beautiful sunny day so put on our walking shoes heading for grand adventures. First stop, Mae Fah Art and Cultural Center. Beautiful gardens and exhibits of local,craftsmanship using teak. Continued our walk to Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong and then to Wat Phra Kaeo. Check out the overflowing river before returning to town. Round out the day with a visit to the cat cafe and excellent Thai/Burmese dinner.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Cloudier Mountain View
    Pond in our "resort"Little yellow bungalowBuddha on one side of the roadAll things from 1971 on the otherTopiariesSerene pondSketchy bridgeVery flooded lakeI was the only person besides the workers wandering aroundOur neighborhood WatBeautiful clock tower in middle of cityBeautiful sushiSpring rolls of all kindsWe tried these mushroomsQuite the production for mango sticky rice

    Chiang Rai

    September 27, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    Very short day (18 miles) so take our time getting out. Cruise down the highway - going south for a change. Stop at the Botanical Gardens for a quick visit. Nice exhibit of medicinal plants. Finish the ride to the city of Chiang Rai. Check in to quiet B&B. As we prepare to head out, rain starts. Settles after awhile and venture out to night market and then pizza dinner (just can’t eat Asian food every night).Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Corn
    Rice of courseVery cute hay hutsOrderly crops on the hillsideCurrently used mainly for garbage cansCitrusMyanmar in the distanceTop of the hill. Huts clinging to the slopeCorn growing on a very steep hillAfternoon shadows are getting so long

    Mae Chan

    September 26, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Day is much sunnier, making for great views of the mountains around us. Ride amongst many crops including; corn, oranges, limes and of course bananas. Quiet road becomes a busier road but not much traffic as we hug the border with Myanmar. A very big hill awaits us and it is as tough as it looks. Lunch at the top before cruising down to the next valley and Mae Chan. Nice bungalow always us and a restaurant on site.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Serene retreat
    Our bungalowLove these peppersCraggy mountain topsRoses? Who knew?

    Fang

    September 25, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Leave our pleasant “retreat” noting all the rain that filled in the gullies. Sunshine quickly gave way to clouds and drizzle as we began climbing. Jagged peaks poked through the clouds and mist. Hit the top and the rain really started. A bit treacherous as we descended. And then it stopped. Relatively easy ride into Fang though surprisingly alot of people and traffic. For a novel treat, went to the store and ‘made’ our dinner.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Mostly healthy
    Cake for breakfastEveryone needs one of theseBig looming mountains

    Chiang Dao

    September 24, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Another buffet breakfast topped off with another birthday cake, with singing. Pack up and leave our fancy hotel, resuming our northward journey. Quickly find quiet roads. Day warms up as we find ourselves back on a big road to do some climbing. Gradual descent into Chiang Dao and check in to nice bungalow just as rain begins. Do manage to try out the pool during a break in the rain.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Roof was quite purple but looks more blue here
    They actually sell eggs for your boiling pleasureNice massaging water featureNot just a cave - a temple tooNo idea if the significance of zebrasRoof top viewsNegroniBoomer cloudsFrench 752 of our dishesNice surprise

    Another trip around the sun

    September 23, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 31 °C

    Start my birthday with a bountiful breakfast buffet. Once fueled up, mount our bikes (yes spending my birthday on my bike) and head into the countryside. Nice rolling hills and quiet roads lead us to San Kamphaeng Hot Springs. Do a bit of feet soaking in very hot water and then take a dip in a 39 C pool. Ride up to a cave very worthy of exploration. Ride back to town, clean up and check out roof bar. Walk to lovely dinner! A birthday cake finds its way to my room.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Rice field on the farmOur toolsTiny eggplantsMod explaining the herbsMy stationSoup ingredientsSoup cookingPad see ew ingredientsFinished productsPrep for curry pasteLots of grindingDone!For Khao SoiSticky riceDessertKhao Soi

    Cooking on a farm

    September 21, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Easy morning and afternoon. Picked up by the cooking school van and drive first to a market and then out to the farm. Tour their garden, learning about the ingredients we will be using. We each get a cooking station and all needed ingredients- already prepped. Quite fun and tasty.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Chiang Mai way down thereSo many butterflies on this hikeWoodwork was fabulousReally liked the peacock above the doorStreet is closed every SaturdaySmoothies for dessert

    Hike up the Monks Trail

    September 20, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    After the morning shower (seems to be the norm), caught a lift to the base of the Monks Trail heading for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Trail was pretty busy up to the first temple. As we continue downward, crowds thinned and trail became muddier and steeper. Poles were very helpful. Very sweaty even though temp and humidity are lower. Nice views from above. Attempt to go down via a waterfall trail but it was closed. Back down via the windy road and then a new very quiet trail. Nice outing. Check out our evening market before venturing out for dinner (another round of pizza).Read more