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The Grand Adventure
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The Grand Adventure

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

    From one gorge to the next

    January 28 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
    1

    Wellington: Day 2

    January 15 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

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    11

    Wellington: Day 1

    January 14 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Sunny day for a tour of Wellington. Meandering up for good views and then down through the Botanical Gardens. Downtown seems very slick and modern. Even their government buildings are sleek (beehive). Walk along waterfront and hang out at a bit of sand for a moment. Water is very chilly. Back through town for a beer stop. After 9 miles of walking opt to take bus back up to our flat. Nice touristy day.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    To Wellington we go

    January 13 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    And yes, more wind is forecasted. However, hit a cycle path almost immediately and enjoy quieter and safer riding. Though at times it is right next to the highway it is much better. Ride into small towns and lovely parks. Follow the beautiful coastline up until we hit the suburbs of Wellington. Struggle up the last climbs to our Airbnb. But we made it.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    1

    More southerlies

    January 12 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    And the wind continues. Seems to be ever present. First part of the ride into Fulton is pleasant. Visit the little main square that seems to have Dutch roots. Rest of the day is on a busy road and into the wind. Make it to Otago and opt to splurge a bit on an indoor flat. Nice to get out of the wind.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Into the wind

    January 11 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Chilly morning but need to move on. Ride along the river and use the tunnel and elevator to top the hill out of the city. Great view and no sweating. Enjoy a quiet ride until we hit the main highway. Carefully continue on. Stop in Bulls for lunch and though we consider a bus, push on into the wind. Take a circuitous path to keep us off the highway but the wind is formidable. Opt to stop at Himitangi beach.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Whanganui river road

    January 9 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Begin ride along beautiful and quiet river. A few bigger rollers keeps us working. Stop to investigate historical sites like the flour mill. After having lunch in the free campground (not much there) opt to continue on to Whanganui. Check into another Top10, overrun with teenage rowers.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Whanganui River

    January 8 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Relatively quiet road as we head south and away from the mountains. Opt to ride on, first stopping at Raetihi for a snack. A woman in the cafe asks if she can buy us coffee - we graciously accept. Very long and very windy downhill to Pipiriki and Whanganui river and lovely, bike friendly campground. Spend the afternoon hanging out in the cozy reading room and kitchen.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Tongarino Alpine crossing

    January 7 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Early morning wake up to catch the 6 am shuttle to the start of the hike. Quite cool out, especially with wind. Arrive at the trailhead with many other hikers and head up and into the fierce wind. Sun tries to come out but we climb into a cloud. Difficult to see much of anything. Pretty brutal conditions but press on. Make it to Red Crater - the top - and quickly slide down the scree with hordes of others. Nice views of alpine lakes. As we descend it gets clearer and less windy. Nice, warm lunch spot looking out to Taupo lake. Hike through forest to the trail end (19 km later) and hop on our shuttle. Relax in the sunshine for the rest of the day.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Waterfall walks

    January 6 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Amazingly sleep in until 9 - we must have been very tired! Head off on unloaded bikes toward Whakapapa Village. Stop along the way for short walk to an impressive waterfall. At the village do a longer walk to Taranaki falls. Nice views of the mountains as well. Skies cloud up as zip back down again. An active “rest day “.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Tongarino Park

    January 5 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Though tired, decide to ride on to Tongarino Park. A short ride but mostly up. Take our time and watch as volcanoes come into view. And yes, they are snow covered. Battle the wind to Discovery Lodge and our camping hut.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Timber Trail: Aborted

    January 4 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    With more rain in the forecast and pinch barriers on the trail ahead opted to take the gravel road out to the main road. Pretty farmland and even with the wind, much easier riding. Even passed an alpaca farm. Made it to Tauramina, and set up in nice campground by the river.Read more

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