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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

    Southbound

    December 20, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    Generally spared from the mozzies in the kitchen. With the wind at our back, head south and roll along amongst the farm animals. So many sheep! Short day and stop at Puken, first stopping for NZ fruit ice cream (a mix of vanilla ice cream amd frozen fruit turned into soft serve). Manage to set up the tent just as a cloud opens up on us. Quick lasting and we head off to check out the nearby reserve. Splurge for a seafood dinner out. Great view - lousy service.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Cape Reinga

    December 19, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Swarmed by mosquitoes during the night and into the morning. Make our escape to the kitchen. Spend the morning cleaning sand and salt off the bikes. Ride the remaining 12 miles (hilly ones) to Cape Reinga. Very rugged and isolated. Apparently the cape is where the spirits go to exit this world. Return to our empty campground and opt to sleep in the kitchen.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    1

    90 Mile beach

    December 18, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Early morning to catch the low tides. Hit the beach and begin our journey along the 90 mile beach. Very favorable wind as we cruise northward. As the tide rises look for a spot to wait. Incredibly beautiful and windy. As ride recedes, resume our journey to Te Paki stream where we slog up the creek bed to the dunes and road. Find our way to empty campground.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Tasman Sea

    December 17, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Nice down hill to catch ferry across the bay. Sunny day on a nice quiet road. Hills don’t seem too bad especially with a nice tail wind. Cross over the ‘mountains’ and cruise down the other side to Ahipara and the Tasman Sea. Check out the 90 mile beach.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    A proper cycleway …. not

    December 15, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Turn our backs to the Pacific and begin our journey across the island. Seek out our first ‘Great Ride of NZ’. First check out the famous toilets in Kawakawa - done by Hundertwasswer. Find the trail head and make it about 5 minutes before hitting our first barrier. And then the next and a rancher tells us they continue. Hit the road instead. Quite quiet. Vacillate as to which way to go. Opt to go another 40k after already going 50k to get to Rawene. Arrive exhausted but find lovely holiday park.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Around the Bay of Islands

    December 14, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    A beautiful sunny day! Depart our lovely campsite and make our way back to the road to begin our windy and hilly journey along a beautiful coastline. The day heats up nicely and the blue sky turns the water a beautiful shade of blue. Hills add up. Rest along bay before finishing our journey. Arrive in Russell just in time for ferry. Ice cream in Paige’s before finding our campground.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Along the coast

    December 13, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Take a quick tour of
    the highlights of Whangerei before making our departure. Opt for a more direct route to the coast. After a bit on the less busy roadway, turn off onto a quiet rural road. Lots of animals including these friends from South America. A few long climbs and we hit the coast. Stop for lunch in lovely Helena Bay. Continue along to Oakura Bay. First ice cream of the top before tackling last hill to campground.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Mangawhai Heads

    December 11, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Opt to stay and explore Mangawhai Heads. Day is a tad bit cloudy and misty but the beach walk is lovely. Return via the cliff walk. Somewhat reminiscent of Oregon coast. Restful afternoon as the rain intensifies.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Backroads to MAngawhai

    December 10, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Rain overnight gives way to clearing skies. Opt to take the shorter and less hilly gravel roads north. Enjoy the quiet roads. Surrounded by rolling hills and lots of sheep and cows. Return to pavement and cruise into Mangawhai. continue on to Mangawhai Holiday park. Stroll along the beach and then into small town for some groceries.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Evading the rain

    December 9, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Very unsettled night as the neighbor youths partied all night long. Threats of rain keep us moving and we cover the distance to Warkward quickly. Get useful advice at the tourist info and opt to take the coastal route. All is fine until the last very long hill and then gravel descent. Make it in one piece to Pikuri holiday park. Few others around though a number of through hikers join our empty field.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Just like riding a bike

    December 8, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Seem to remember how to pack up our bikes and ride fully loaded. Make our way on nice cycle paths to the ferry and take a short hop across the water. Busy and hilly roads. Veer away and head towards the coast. Lunch at very windy beach. Continue along hilly coastline and stop at Wendeeholm regional park. Set up amongst the ducks.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Auckland: Day 2

    December 7, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Morning spent putting bikes together and ensuring in working order. Head off on a different route , passed the rugby stadium and a fun shopping district before hitting the water again. Admire the beautiful boats. Pas through a few special markets and make our way back to our ‘home’.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    1

    Auckland

    December 6, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Wake up to a windy and warming day. Fuel up with coffee and begin to unpack. Are one pannier short - hopefully it was empty. Head off towards the coast to coast walkabout. Enjoy great views from the top of Mt Eden and venture through a lovely park and gardens before hitting the water. 13 miles in total but a great day of wandering.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    The lost day

    December 5, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Somewhere along the way we cross the international dateline and it becomes the next day. Sun sets as we arrive in Auckland. Slowly pass through the extensive bio security. Emerge into drizzly Auckland. Find our shuttle and then our Airbnb. Sleep.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    And we are off

    December 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    After gathering up our belongings, boxing everything back up and wedging them into a car we make an early morning drive to the airport. Chaos ensues and we barely make our flight as errors on our part and the airline’s delay check-in. 6 hours later we arrive in Honolulu for a brief layover as we reboard. A 9+ hour flight awaits us.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    And we are back

    September 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Spend the night trying to curl up enough to fit on two seats. Manage - barely. Beautiful morning as we travel through northern Washington. Arrive in Seattle and manage to catch an earlier train. And just like that we are back in Portland. 2 month break and then travel resumes.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Adios Montana

    September 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    One last day to enjoy Montana. Have “birthday cake” for breakfast - why not?! Relax by Whitefish Lake for most of the afternoon. Back into town to check out very busy farmers market. Bonsai Brewing for beers and dinner before catching train to Seattle.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    1

    Its my birthday!

    September 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Wake up 60 and feel no different. I suppose that is a good thing. Organize and head into town. Stop for pastries and a cappuccino and catch an Uber to the Big Mountain Resort. Head up the Danny On trail. Day clouds up but still nice views. Lunch at the top and back down we go. Opt to walk almost to town before getting another Uber. Have another hot tub and drinks before out for dinner at Abruzzo. A very nice way to spend the day!Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Grouse Mountain Lodge

    September 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Another cold morning but we are in no rush to go anywhere. Stop at the Grouse Mountain Lodge and are able to check in early. Unload and head for the hot tub overlooking golf course. Walk into Whitefish and explore. Stop at Brewery and then Mama Blanca for dinner. Sweet peaks ice cream and then chilly walk back.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Whitefish

    September 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Very cold morning. But the fisher people are out scooping up the fish. At least the sun has some umph in it as we head south. Wide open plains gives way ti forest. Roll along the highway - finally making it to Whitefish. Check into whitefish state parkRead more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Back in the USA

    September 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After packing up, hit the pastry shop again. Sooo good! Ride out on the much safer side road. Unfortunately after 8 miles it really deteriorated but we were stuck on it. Popped back out by the ice cream shop and had to indulge again. Tail wind kicks in and we ride down hill towards the border. Cross over and ride to Eureka MT and the city park.Read more

  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg

    Mt. Fernie

    September 19, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Challenging hike planned for today. To the top of Mt. Fernie. Short (4 k) but steep (3000+ ft). Must was a constant climb except for the last scrambling. A bit scary. Lunch at the top and then a slow climb down. Great views. Our first lovely meal - Bramasole.Read more