Vik was a nice town along the coast.
Here is a shot on my nondescript guesthouse. Like most buildings in Iceland, it is functional in design
I backtracked East a bit from Vik to hit Reynisfjara and the basalt columns along the coast after hitting up a church
These hexagonal columns are formed when the igneous rock cools and contracts. When objects contract, they often crack or fracture. When contraction occurs at centers which are equally spaced, then a hexagonal fracture pattern will develop.
Some crazy Asians were taking wedding pictures in the windy 40 degree morning on the columns…only Asians would be doing this.
Heading back West I arrived at Fjardargljufur Canyon. As I drove the short entrance road I saw a bunch of locals gathered and went to check it out. It turns out that they were having one of the fall sheep gathering I mentioned the previous day
It was cool to see the sorting in action. A few tourists were on hand taking pictures, which I am sure annoyed the locals. Here are a couple shots of the canyon
I continued along the coast getting some nice shots of the shelf above
I was pulling up to Skaftafell NP where I could get a good look at a glacier and go hike up alongside it. I choose a couple hour loop that was not too difficult and arrived at a perch with good views of the receding glacier. I was fortunate to get a break in the weather for about 10 minutes to get these shots
I had seen glaciers on my trip to New Zealand and also the Icefield Parkway in Alberta, but this was a great shot of the classic glacier and its accompanying moraine.
I scurried down to make the most of the day as I still wanted to make the glacial lagoon in Jokulsarlon before ending for the night in Hofn. Another quick stop at the neighboring glacier in Skaftafell.
I was bouncing around in my shorts and flip flops for the above shots. I had only intended to jump out the car for a quick shot but kept walking as I found the view amazing. After about 20 minutes of hiking it became too dangerous and cold for my attire and I had to make my retreat.
I was coming close to Jokulsarlon lagoon, a stop on my itinerary where you could get close to floating glaciers. I saw a turn off about 5 minutes East of the lagoon and decided to follow to see what was at the end. As mentioned this is how a lot of the attractions were found due to poor signage. I was struggling with my 2WD along the road and came to this incredible lagoon at the base of a glacier. Not only was it impressive but I was all alone for as far as I could see. I knew the published lagoon ahead would be jammed so I savored this rare moment where I could experience such an environment in silence.
Another car pulled up in the pouring rain and I left to allow them the same experience I was awarded. When I came to the advertised lagoon I was left speechless by the sight. You come upon a bridge that crosses a narrow river where SUV sized icebergs are floating by towards the ocean. They get to the ocean and then are washed back upon the black sand beach
This was the most impressive sight I had seen on the trip and possible on all my previous trips. The blue color was beautiful. The looked like gentle giants in the water silently moving out to sea. Here are some duck tour boats to spoil the above images
Not sure if I mentioned this yet but the tourists are incredibly stupid. There is one main road around the island and people will just park there car on the main road (very little shoulder in some parts) and often on blind curves to get out and take pictures. Meanwhile you are coming along at 70mph and almost ram right into their parked car. They just look at you with a blank stare as you extend the middle finger.
I arrived in Hofn and found my hostel. It was a chain Hi Hostel and I was not impressed. I paid $100 for a tiny room with no sheets or towels. I had to pay $25 to do a load of laundry. If I was in Asia $100 would get the the best room in town and servants to feed me my Pringles.
I had a nice fish dinner at the best restaurant in town. The wish was caught on the boat about 15 ft to my left.
Until Tomorrow
Darren
