The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more

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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Back to the hills
September 12, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
First order of business - up a rather big hill (at least relative to what we have been doing lately). Though it’s early it’s already hit which only adds to the fun. Cruise down the other side and find some breakfast. Veer off the highway for some quietness and find a water cross. Make our way across and return to big road. End our day at Ban Sop Soem and another little bungalow. Fortunately there is an attached restaurant.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Lamphun
September 13, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
Another hilly day - but the morning is a nice warm up. Enjoy a muddy path before joining the highway. Unfortunately no other option to get to Chiang Mai. Last hill is long and hot and noisy with semis. But another cruise down. Stop at a local market for a cold drink. Arrive in Lamphun. Nice dinner and then wander through night market.Read more
Hannah Boe Are they little eggplants?
9/15/25Reply
Helene Rimberg Yup. I think we have been eating little green ones like that
9/15/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Chiang Mai
September 14, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
Head back to town to check out sights. First up - cat cafe! Visit Wat Phra That Haripunchai where many people have come to pray. Try to stay out of the way and be inconspicuous (hard as only white people). Back to hotel and ride the 18 miles into Chang Mai. Pretty easy entry to rather large city. Check in to hotel. Long walk on outskirts of
old city for very good pizza and gelato.Read more
Hannah Boe Yum!
9/15/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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Chiang Mai walking tour
September 15, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
Slow start. Make our way to a bagel shop and have bagels and lox for brunch. Fueled up, we start our tour through Chiang Mai and the many Wats. Cover a few of the more than 120 before we are templed out. Hot and sunny day so seek out a watermelon smoothie. Get some pool time before out for a good Thai veggie dinner.Read more
Hannah Boe Elephant pants AND elephant shirt??
9/17/25Reply
Helene Rimberg Kind of clashing but he likes his elephants
9/17/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
A day of maintenance
September 16, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
My day is spent getting a physical and getting my bike tuned up. Doug gets a hair cut and a massage. Manage to see a Wat or two. Out for an excellent dinner - trying the local specialty of Khao Soi - coconut based stew with noodles and crunchy bits and a protein. So good.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Botanical Gardens
September 17, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
Quick breakfast at our hotel before mounting our bikes and heading out of town. Roads are quite congested and in need of repair. Eventually find a lovely protected bike path. Wind our way to Mae valley and begin windy climb up to Botanical gardens. Steep climbs (walking) within the park but do find some nice paths to stroll through. Such a variety of trees! Bamboo, bananas, firs …. Very cool canopy walk above the trees. Walk back down and enjoy the coast back into the city.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
More Chiang Mai meandering
September 18, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C
Slow start (we are trying to relax a bit) but eventually head out. Find our way to a few more Wats and then exit out of the walled city towards the east. Stroll through very busy market, buying nothing - just browsing. Stop for very good food on the way back to our hotel.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Back to ruins
September 19, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Head a bit south to a complex of ruins that were only recently discovered (1990s). Sites were sprinkled amongst peoples homes. A relaxing afternoon before out for dinner - best seafood that we’ve had in awhile.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Moving up in the world
September 22, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
Use our credit card perks to stay in a fancy hotel for last nights. Pack up and ride a few miles to Melia hotel. Check in early and set up by the pool. Then the rain hits. Deluge for hours. Venture out for dinner.Read more
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
TravelerHappy Birthday, Birthday Buddy! What a beautiful way to spend your birthday, Helene!🎉✨️🤗
9/24/25Reply
TravelerHappy Birthday! We are sending lots of birthday wishes from Portland! 🥳🍾🎂
9/25/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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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
Traveler Wow!
10/1/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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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
Traveler Oh my!
10/1/25Reply
Traveler Interesting public service announcements
10/1/25Reply
Traveler Helene, this place is eerie!😳
10/1/25Reply
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Weather delay
September 30, 2025 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
After much dithering, opt to heed the weather alerts warning of torrential rain and floods and stay in place. A true rest day! Do some planning, a bit of shopping and a good dinner.
Traveler 🤣
10/1/25Reply
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
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
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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
Traveler Happy Anniversary!
10/11/25Reply
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