• Helene Rimberg
Current
  • Helene Rimberg

The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more
  • Onto the Camino

    October 17, 2023 in Spain

    Beautiful sunshine to start our day. Find our way onto the Camino de Santiago. Route varies between road, gravel and eventually rocks. Many pilgrims are making their way west to Campostela de Santiago. Take a few diversions to get off the rocks and enjoy brief moments with a tail wind. Stay in a small town in an ALBERGUE with fellow pilgrims.Read more

  • Onto Burgos

    October 16, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Travel on gravel bike path amongst beautifully colored rocks. Path goes gradually up and into our friend - the wind. Beer off of the gravel as we head into Burgos. Quick tour around including an impressive cathedral. Head out of town to meet our warm
    Showers host. After some miscommunication, find our way to finca (farm). Santi joins us later and enjoy a lovely evening - practicing Spanish and drinking wine from his bodega.
    Read more

  • Oña

    October 15, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Valley fog lifts and we start the day with climbing. Beautiful views as we clear the mountain pass. Long cruise into a canyon. Scenery seems similar to Utah. Fun caves on the side of the road. Stay in a hotel in small town of Oña.Read more

  • The rain in Spain …,,

    October 14, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    As forecasted the rain has arrived. Head out anyway, enjoying incredible bike paths as we clear Bilbao. Rain ends for awhile as we enter the river valley but returns off and on throughout the day. At least it’s a warm rain. Once again the cycling gods are looking after us and we find ourselves camping for free on the porch of a cabana.Read more

  • A day to tour

    October 13, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Take the metro in to Bilbao and spend the day exploring. Highlights include the large market and the mix of old and new architecture. Enjoy a tapas lunch! Mostly sunny and warm as rain holds off until we are back in the campground. (More photos to come)Read more

  • Bilbao

    October 12, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Sun rises and it is actually warm. Spot dolphins and even a whale as we make our way to Spanish coast. Arrive and it is a return to summer. Amazed by all the people out. Turns out to be National Spain Day aka Columbus Day. Take a swinging gondola bridge and an elevator towards our campground. Hit the very crowded beach. Must eat out as stores all closed.Read more

  • On da ferry

    October 11, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Very rainy and dark ride to the 8 am ferry. Get soaked while we await getting checked in with the cars. Luckily they pity on us and allow early entry. Gather up our provisions and tuck in for 29 hours. Grey day all day. Read, cards and silly ferry games like trivia quizzes kept us amused.Read more

  • Day 100

    October 9, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Incredibly foggy morning as we can barely see the water in front of us. It lifts enough for us to make the short ride to Wexford - a small harbor town near our ferry departure. Great cooking facility and enjoy a lamb dinner.Read more

  • To the Hook

    October 8, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Opt to stay where we are and explore the Hook Peninsula. First Tinturn Abbey and then to oldest working lighthouse in Europe? Closed for some reason but enjoy crashing seas. Return to a completely empty campground.Read more

  • Back to the sea

    October 7, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    A sad goodbye to our friend. Wish we could take her as she seems to have no owner and is pregnant. Very warm day - even back in shorts. Ride through farmlands - complete with usual sights and smells. Even a lengthy cow crossing. Arrive at our campground on the inlet. Another very nice kitchen set up.Read more

  • Kilkenny

    October 6, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    With lots of time and few miles to our ferry opt for a day to explore Kilkenny and celebrate our anniversary. Drop my bike off for a tune up and head to the castle. Many churches and cathedrals within small town. Nice dinner back at our campsite - providing the kitten with her own kibbles.Read more

  • Onto Kilkenny

    October 5, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    A rainy morning this we dawdled around in our dry kitchen. Finally head out into the drizzle and relatively calm day. Fortunately veer off the busy road we have been on and enjoy the quiet countryside. Arrive in the medieval town of Kilkenny. Nice campground complete with a resident whom we quickly befriend.Read more

  • Again with the wind

    October 4, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    A dry and mild day but the winds are swirling from the south. Great to warm thing s up but unfortunately we are heading straight into it. Highlights of the day were excellent cappuccino and pasta dinner in a campground we had all to ourselves.Read more

  • Giant’s Causeway

    October 1, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Promise of sunny weather has us out early. Opt for a coastal walk to the Giant’s Causeway. Lovely weather. Though many people exploring the Causeway there was enough room to spread out. Amazing views. Slow meander back along the coast.Read more

  • Belfast

    September 29, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Sunny drive north toward Belfast. With no fanfare, enter Northern Ireland. Hit some highlights of the city including the St. George”s marketplace and Botanical gardens. Real mix of newer buildings and much older. Continue on, along the coast to our second home in Carnlough. Catch the full moon.Read more

  • Up the Spinc

    September 28, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Better weather has us out the door early for another hike. Though it is right next to where we had been earlier it is on the other side of the hills. Well marked trail up and over Spinc - a ridge on the top of the mountain. Many more people, including gaggles of school kids. Though the sun never popped out it was beautiful.Read more

  • A mountain top attempt

    September 26, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    With our hiking route planned, we head off into the cloudy day with hopes of climbing a popular summit in the Wicklow park. Easy trail to start yet it eventually comes to a waterfall. Quite the scramble up amongst the sheep and boggy terrain. Wind and storm clouds emerge. Call it and head back down after a quick lunch. One of our smarter moves. Nice day anyway!Read more

  • A tour of Dublin

    September 24, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    An early start to go on an organized tour to include Guiness and Book of Kells. Learn many interesting facts, drink a Guiness before 11 and see parts of the city we wouldn’t have otherwise. Fish n’ chip dinner and make it an early night.Read more

  • Onto Dublin

    September 23, 2023 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Very chilly morning. Packed up and went a few blocks to train station. Three trains later, we make our way to the warm shower host to store our bikes. Get a ride to bus stop and check into hostel. Lots of people. Meet up with Mertzs’ at the swan bar. Pizza, beer and rugby.Read more