Iceland Trip Account - Day 13

Day 13

• Second to last blog for this Iceland trip *crowd goes “Awwwww”*
• Today we had a lie in as we had no intentions on doing any expeditions of the grand variety for that day. I love that the French say “faire la grasse matinee” for “to lie in” which literally translates to “"to do the fat morning". Such a beautiful language.
• Despite having what the British would describe politely as “torrential rain” pouring down onto us, we did venture out of the house before lunch to walk to the nearby farm/campsite that was a couple of kilometers down the road to us called “Ulfljotsvatn”. There was a Scout camp and a quaint little church perched on the coast of the little lake that goes by the same name of Ulfljotsvatn.
• I stayed in the house after lunch whilst everyone else went shopping. I did want is known as a “coffee nap”, the idea being that you have a mug of coffee; have a twenty minute nap (in which time you have absorbed the caffeine); and you wake feeling more refreshed. Okay, I didn’t sleep, so I compensated by getting up and having another coffee.
• The remaining time of the day was, and has been, spent packing and being ready to fall out of bed, into a car then into an aeroplane. Even as I write this now, it is still raining. But it is a refreshing transition from holiday and to getting back home.
• Up at 3:00 so relaxing with a cup of tea and some reading before bed. Good stuff.

Iceland Trip Account - Day 12

Day 12

• Just as I thought we were getting up later, we broke the short term tradition and got up earlier because the weather was forecasted to rain at 2:00 so we wanted to get ourselves a walk in before that.
• We left for a location just north of a cluster of mountains called Hengill. This is located on the south side of the Thingvallavatn area which is the lake with the famous Thingvellir (see day 3). Hengill is almost directly parallel across the lake to us on the lower half but because it is off road tracks going below the lake we had to drive aaaaaall the way round the top of this 11km lake rather than a 15 min drive beneath it.
• As with everywhere else in Iceland, the landscape is what stands out. An electrical power plant sat at the base of these mountains creating an enormous plume of smoke acting as a compass point as we walked up and round one of the ridges. We made sure we settled down for lunch at 1:10 before the rain started and just as planned the drizzle started coming down as we reached the car.
• By the time we were home for hot tub time, the rain had really picked up. Once in the hot tub the juxtaposition of the exterior cold rain at the 38 degrees celsius water was unusual yet oddly refreshing. It was like enjoying the refreshing feel of being under the rain yet being pleasantly warm at the same time. It was also hilarious to watch the other hobble over the patio from the back door in their swimming trunks to find the comfort of the hot tub.
• Being home earlier than usual we also enjoyed some board games, reading and general chillaxing before having our crepes and pancakes. Good stuff.
• Oh and on a side note, we found this buried blue barrel just a few meters off the path that, after we surrptitiously opened, found that it was lined with some sort of insulator but nothing at the base. We had no idea what it was, so if anyone has any ideas let me know! [Photos included at the end]. 

Iceland Trip Account - Day 11

Day 11

• Alex earnt us a little lie in this morning for his Birthday, so thank you for being born today when I needed some catch up sleep.
• Today was another hike. Everyone is getting a bit more tired everyday. I don’t think we’re used to being so active which is a bit embarrassing really! We started near the Reykjanes Peninsular where the walk started with a friendly reminder of some ground vents that were coughing up some nose-wrinkling sulphur smells so we were soon well on our way on the walk. The ground was bizarrely the most interesting aspect of this hike. The blends of iron deposits and dust volcanic rocks made for a unique scenery. Something out of a Sci-Fi, really, and it’s not the first time I’ve said that about Iceland.
• When it wasn’t dusty red tracks, the ground was laden with fluffy white/bluey kind of moss which was as comfortable as it was pretty. It made for a suitable lunch spot whilst we had lunch in front of a lake. I assume the colour has something to do with the volcanic deposits, but I couldn’t say for sure.
• In the evening we celebrated Alex’s 18th. Champagne, prawns and chocolate cake galore. It was great. We even fired up the garden’s barbeque to cook the fish in. Alex got some of his gifts too of course and now everyone is winding down with their own business as usual before bed. Good stuff.

Iceland Trip Account - Day 10

Day 10

• Double digits, yay! This morning when I got up mum, dad and JC had already left for car tyre replacement. Once they got back it had pushed out time forward than our usual leaving time of 9:00 to 10:20.
• Our first stop was Thjodveldisbaerinn [location shown on map marker] which is a mockup of a long house which settlers from around 1,000 years ago would have lived in. Although a little bit more wood was used in the mock up (for safety reasons) than the original (when wood was very sparse for them back then) it was still very close and was very interesting to go in and experience a hint of what life was like back then.
• We originally wanted to go up another mountain which overlooked the the volcano Hekla but unfortunately access to even get to the base of it was shut for power stations being built and new roads so we bailed and went down river to Hagafjal. This valley started just off the road at a cluster of farm houses where we made friends with two very friendly labradors and their owners kindly allowed us to park on their land to start our trek. I never anticipated the sun to be like it was today. I am so glad I packed a sleeveless top and shorts as well as lathering myself in sunscreen. I was laughing to myself last night because I have a gradient tan from sunburnt on my forehead to pale white on my chin. This is from looking down at where I am going on the uneven terrain whilst the sun is beating down on us!
• As we neared the highest point of the valley; Marion, Francis and Alex headed up a small mountain on the side of the valley whilst the rest of us relaxed on some super soft and comfortable moss on a saddle of rocks at the base of said mountain. We chatted and relaxed whilst watching the silhouettes of the 3 mountaineers reach the little peak.
• On the descent we encountered the farm horses who were keen for some fresh grass that was of course out of their reach as well as some curious calves feeding. At the car we were greeted once again by the dogs (one older and one much younger), the younger one brought a palm sized block of wood that we threw endlessly before leaving whilst Alex and I filmed as it charged through the dusty gravel to catch it’s prey.
• Once home we settled eagerly into the hot tub before eating. Tonight Cathy and Mum watch Frozen seen as Catchy has not watched it before. Good stuff.

Iceland Trip Account - Day 9

Day 9

• That’s it. I failed. It’s terrible. I know. I missed a day. But there is a good reason for it! And we shall get to that later.
• Our first visit was returning to the waterfall “Skogafoss” for more of a walk that just being tourists. There is a steep stairway of 528 steps to get up to the stop of Skogafoss waterfall and once you’re on top you follow the river up. There are supposedly around 25 waterfalls up this river but after several kilometers of the same thing we turned back. Picturesque of course, but they were essentially less visually appeasing versions of the first one.
• Once we had returned from the walk we headed back towards Vik to “Reynisdrangar” where we had also visited previously however not quite as far as Vik. We had misunderstood the guide as to which black beach was the more famous one with the basalt columns so seen as we were nearby we decided to check it out. As soon as Alex and I saw it, we recognised it to being the set of Game of Thrones where the Dragon Glass is buried. The spectacular compressions and contortions of hexagonal basalt are formed from them cooling slowly hence forming a crystalline structure. If you look on the photo on the top half you will see it’s a bit more of a mess but below they are a lot more uniform. This is because of the different rates of cool each one has undergone.
• On our way back, soon after leaving the black beach of “Reynisdrangar” we were going down a gravelly road (not uncommon for Iceland) when suddenly we started hearing a loud thudding sound coming from one of the back wheels. 2 minutes later we pull up on a lay-by to examine and our concerns had become reality. The back right tyre of the Citroen was dead flat. Luckily there was a spare tyre tucked under the car (which took about 10 mins to work out how to get to) and we were efficient enough to get it up, removed and replaced within good time. from pulling up and then leaving however we had consumed a good half hour to and hour. So it was belly rumbling all the way home only getting in at 9:00.
• After eating, clearing up and showering I was far from ready to write a blog and took an early night in whilst Dad and JC made phone calls to the car hire to explain and get a tyre replacement first thing tomorrow morning. All in all we made it home though all together and I am now well equipped to change a tyre now. Good stuff.

Iceland Trip Account - Day 8

Day 8

• Okay so the last few nights of bad sleep (whether it be being too warm, random noises from the refrigerator or Alex doing some sort of gymnastics in the neighbouring bed) have finally caught up on me so apologies in advance because this is probably going to read like a 7 seven year old wrote it.
• Today was Reykjavik day. The capital of Iceland holds almost half of the entire country’s population. The throng of people is almost juxtaposing to the normal rural environment that I relate Iceland with - but it was a refreshing change of scenery all the same even if I’m not much of a city person myself.
• The winding dual carriageways are the first indications that you’re off the country roads. It did take a good 30 mins to find somewhere to park without having to take out a small loan just to visit the city for short amount of time as well as a family domestic on map directions. But at last we found a free spot off a main road which we were all very suspicious about actually being free or if we’d get back to find the car had been pulled. Nevertheless we head for the info centre to get the ball rolling.
• The first thing you notice in Reykjavik is the cranes that poke over all the building. I read online how people complain about it ruining the city however renovation is key in a city for people to visit it in the first place. The other thing that stands out - somewhat more positive than cranes - is the insane street art on the walls of buildings. Photos didn’t quite do them justice but on every couple of corners there would be some form of art or mural that was good enough to make crowds stop and look at. I’ll add a couple at the end of course.
• One of the main attractions Reykjavik is the Hallgrimskirkja church which is a beautiful white building that stands at the end of one of the main roads. Standing proudly in front of it is the explorer Leif Eriksson (lived around 970AD and 1012AD) which was a gift from the US in 1930. This makes for a very picturesque scene and you can also go into the church (and the steeple, but it wasn’t open that day unfortunately). It stands at 74.5 meters high and took 41 years to build starting in 1945. Like most churches it is undergoing constant rejuvenating repairs, including when we were there.
• After lunch we stopped off at one of many bakeries (chosen because passed some people eating just outside it and asked “is it good?” and the couple replied with a mouth of “Mhm!”). So we bought a variety of cinnamon bun each and I tucked into mine as we headed to a museum.
• The museum called “The Settlement Exhibition 871 +/- 2” is an exhibition showing the dig site of an actual settlement that dates back to one of the earliest settlements in the history of iceland. Even if it is solely the foundations that remain, along with the odd trinket, it was still fascination to see what archeologists were able to determine and piece together based on a ruin that had even been built on in the 1800s. The basement of this building housed the actual site that you walk around reading and interacting with all the information provided about the site. I did also enjoy using the colouring station to make my own Icelandic warrior colouring in picture… It is relaxing to colour in, okay!
• Tomorrow we are up at 8:00 for a hike… fingers crossed my knees survive it! Pasta and spinach tonight which always goes down well… Good stuff.
• Oh and thanks Derek for the great idea to add map markers!

Iceland Trip Account - Day 7

Day 7

• It’s 8:40 this time round. I think we are gradually accumulation tiredness. We're going to need a hybernation to catch up. But there is plenty to get through in the day. After yesterday’s escapade, my poor knees had received a bit of a battering. A bout of pain from “Patellar Tracking Syndrome” was well overdue. And I wasn’t the only one; dad and Francis both had their own knee issues. It’s like being on one of those pensioner’s escapes with everyone’s aches and pains. Bizarrely enough, I found that Alex’s tripod made for an excellent make-shift thigh massager and without it I don’t think I would have made it out the door.
• With the group being weighed down by 3 cripples and everyone being tired from the previous day's’ hike we took it easy today. A tour of the southern coastal towns was the perfect way to do so, hence first stop was Stokkseyri. Known primarily (and perhaps solely) for its former fishing port. The little village is protected by a small stone storm wall which made for a quant wonder whilst we snapped photos of old boats and... rocks.
• Eyrarbakki slightly larger than the previous Stokkseyri. It boasts the title of the best harbour in Iceland (during the early 1900s that is) though boats were not easily launched as there is a decent stretch of beach to them to sea first. Aside from sand and water, what makes this town unique is Iceland’s largest prison which is the main source of employment for those living locally. The houses built from the early 1900s still stand and were fairly picturesque.
• Lunch at 12:42.
• Grindavik was the last location before home [see map marker for location]. Just south of Keflavik (where the airport is) and 5km from the Blue Lagoon. This was a key trading centre back in the day. Enough so that it was raided on multiple occasions by pirates. Nowadays, large amounts of fish are caught and processed there. The local chippy scents waft through the town so with our pining stomachs calling for relief we headed home for spinach, omelettes and the remaining fish cakes. Good stuff.