• Helene Rimberg
  • Helene Rimberg

The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Les mer
  • The final stretch

    5. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ 🌧 6 °C

    Day starts with a very steep and long climb. Waterfalls and rushing rivers surround us as we climb. A long descent leads to the ferry terminal at Puerto Yungay. And a 2 1/2 hour wait until the next one. Light rain and sun breaks finally gives way to constant rain as we board. An hour later we continue along the Carretera. Rain increases as we arrive at a campground with no host. Let ourselves in to the cyclist Refugio and make camp.Les mer

  • We made it!

    7. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    With only 30 kilometers left we slept in and had a late start. Mostly dry, and clear skies afforded great views as we wound our way through the valley to Villa O’Higgins - el fin de la Carretera Austral. It was a tough and amazing route and I am glad to be done! Stayed in a little hut and out for dinner and beer!Les mer

  • Villa O’Higgins

    8. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    Rainy night but stayed warm and dry in our pod. Wandered around in the cold rain in the little town looking for a bike repair store as my bike took some abuse on the ripio. No luck. Did our best to round up food from depleted stores. Finalize plan to take the bus back to Puerto Yungay to catch the ferry to Puerto Natales. Dine again at the nearby cerveceria.Les mer

  • The bike is not the only means of travel

    9. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    Early morning to catch 7:30 bus. Still dark as we walk ourselves to the bus stop. Very bumpy 3 hour journey over the road that it took us 2 + days to ride. After crossing on the small ferry, hang out in the shelter, watching our bigger ferry and the smaller one switch places on the dock. Chaos ensues as they board our ferry but we get on and settle in for almost 2 days.Les mer

  • On da boat

    11. mars 2024, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    Long and fairly uncomfortable night. Breakfast (and all subsequent meals) is not very tasty or nutritious but we have snacks. Spend the day staring at the horizon, waterfalls and towering peaks alongside us. Do a ‘tour’ around a shipwreck and make a port stop in Puerto Eden - though we can go no further than dock. Eat some pastries and reboard. Partial clearing affords colorful views and rainbows.Les mer

  • Ruta del fin del mundo

    13. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    With the help of a bus, jumped past a rather stark and dangerous road. Headed east with a nice tailwind. Cruised along, spotting Rheas (like Emus) and Guanacos (like alpacas). Enjoyed a nice lunch spot in a Refugio and was stopped by a very large herd of sheep shutting down the road. After 100kms stopped for the night at another lovely Refugio.Les mer

  • Hola tierra del fuego

    14. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ 🌬 6 °C

    A sunny and windy morning- fortunately blowing in our direction. Quickly make it to ferry dock only to miss one by minutes. Wait for the next one and cross the Bahia Azul. Wind becomes more variable and skies open up a bit. After getting what food we could at tiny store fight the wind to our next Refugio. Attempt a fire but get smoked out. Chilly night.Les mer

  • Hola Argentina

    15. mars 2024, Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Beautiful and frigid morning. Head out into crosswinds that become intermittent headwinds (wind is the foe down here). Not much around besides sheep and guanacos. Finally make it to junction and after a quick lunch, turn east with the wind. Fly to Argentina. Clear customs on both sides and settle into warm waiting area for the night.Les mer

  • Along the Atlantic

    16. mars 2024, Argentina ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    Fortunately for us the westerly wind had a northern influence so we were treated to a tail wind. Road quickly through flat and rather barren land. Surprised by the presence of oil drilling. Made it to Rio Grande in good time. Checked into our rather grand apartment. Dinner and gelato ended our day.Les mer

  • Penultimate day

    18. mars 2024, Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Sun is shining, it is chilly but the winds are quiet. Sadly lose all our early start energy on a dirt road indicated by Komoot that goes nowhere. Finally get to the main road and are rewarded with guanaco and fox sightings. Also have a re-emergence of trees and hills. Long day but make it to Tolhuin and find the casa de ciclistas - aka Union Bakery. Set up amongst large bags of flour but stay warm and cozy.Les mer

  • Fin del mundo

    19. mars 2024, Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Early start as big day ahead of us. Quite chilly as we head out of town. Minimal wind to contend with but no assistance either. Road quickly turns to follow vey large lake surrounded by mountains. Make good time in the sunshine and find ourselves at the pass. Scenic lunch spot before diving back down. Quite chilly. More ups and downs amongst beautiful scenery. Arrive in Ushaia quite cold and tired but happy to be there.Les mer

  • FOUND: PENGUINS

    22. mars 2024, Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Winds much calmer as we again trek down to the port. Board the catamaran - 5 hermanos. Stop first by a small island to admire the sea lions and cormorants. Pass the lighthouse that used to be the most southern one in the world. Caught glimpses of seals and dolphins swimming by the boat. And then we found them - penguins 🐧!!!! Though we could only watch them from the boat - they put on quite the show. Returned to the port and spent the rest of the day packing up. Another seafood dinner out and gelato.Les mer

  • Retracing our steps

    23. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Clear and cold as we make our way to the bus stop. Take our departure pictures (too tired and cold to do this when we came in). Manage to wedge our bikes in without having g to do too much. Settle in for 8 hours, covering what we had done in 6 days on bikes. Arrive in Punta Arenas without breaking a sweat. Manage to quickly secure bike boxes and find our hostel.Les mer

  • Migrating north

    27. mars 2024, Chile ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    And after 2 short flights we land in Antofogasta. Put ourselves together and head south. Path varies between lovely cycle path and uneven sidewalk. Get groceries and finish the ride to our oceanfront apartment. Hand out on the beach, enjoying the waves and catching up on sleepLes mer