Monday 25 sept home now safely

I had to just finish my blog for Iceland. It was very windy all night Saturday to Sunday  and thick clouds to greet us in the morning.

We had a good journey passed Borganes where we picked up a packed lunch for eating at airport and then passed Reykjavik towards airport which is half and hour further on travelling through barren volcanic lands, mainly flat and bordering the sea. By now the rain clouds were threatening and so we left Iceland in the wind and rain.

At Heathrow we sailed quickly through passport control

 …But then had to wait over an hour for our luggage to be loaded on the conveyor belt!

…..A further long wait for the lifts to take us down to the bus. 

……A further wait for the bus to long stay carpark

We found the car quickly, we had been worrying that we couldn’t remember which stop it was parked near.

Home safely after midnight, very tired but Vince stayed up to do all the washing, what a star.

So goodbye Iceland we had such an experience there, the scenery, the waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers, fault lines, hot pools, weather, the people we met, the places we stayed in, expensive food! (Everything was very expensive) and the beauty in a mostly natural unspoilt environment.

So here’s to our next adventure ….

23 sept last full day in Iceland so sad.

Today we had beautiful weather, sunny at times and little wind..

We could see the mountain tops and the glacier was cloud free too.

We have done the tourist favourites and so we wanted to find our own views. 

All day we explored side roads and parking spots, walking along tracks and taking photos of everyday life in Iceland countryside. 

We found churches, horses, reflections, waterfalls not visible from the road etc. so here are a few of my photos.

Tomorrow we leave at 4pm from the airport, I may have time there to write about our last day…….

Sept 22 Stykkisholmur to black church and beyond Iceland Snaesfellsns

Another cold but clear day. We had a pretty sunrise too.

After breakfast we headed over the mountains towards Stykkisholmur. 

We stopped on the way to admire views.

The harbour and its dominating basalt cliffs are here.

We were now heading anti clockwise around the peninsula. We saw a sign to a shark museum and followed the road through the larva fields covered in jagged lava and moss. Here we found a lovely little church surrounded by a sheep farm and some beautiful horses. What an idyllic place surrounded by streams and the sea.

We turned left over the mountains this time heading towards the black church. It is a popular spot and nearby is a tall waterfall falling over basalt columns.

From the black church you can see the glacier and f roads lead up to it.

(We are not allowed on f roads ) 

We entered the Snaefellsnes national park at the tip of the peninsula and stopped at DJUPALONSSANDUR

Here we were  most suprised  to find a grimsby ship had shipwrecked and the crew drowned but 5 men were rescued in terrible sea waves. The pieces of the ship are strewn on the beach and left there as a memorial from 1948. As well as this poignant scene for us being born and raised in Grimsby Cleethorpes this beach was interesting. 

2 lagoons are there still fed from seawater but with fresh water on surface. Then many larva features. We saw lots of faces in the stacks and cliffs. It was a black pebble beach. So quite tired we explored the beach and then up on the top at the viewing area.

Back to the hotel eventually after a long picturesque view. 

Alcohol is expensive but we treated ourselves to 2 beers, well deserved!

P.S can you see a pumpkin head on the hill side?

21 sept Exploring snaesfellsnes

Last night as soon as it was dark the northern lights appeared ….really strong ones. At times it looped right over our heads. It seemed to be in all directions not just north. This is my best pic, you can see the plough star consternation in it. We are hoping to see it tonight too as the sky is clear of clouds.

We explored the peninsula today, we headed north west on A56 over the mountain towards kirkjufell, a famous landmark.

Again we are in a unique part of Iceland, well everywhere is so beautiful in different ways.

Here there are many small volcanoes, huge lava fields, black sands and also agricultural land and yellow sands.

This photo includes the waterfalls and kirkjufell close by. There were many tourists here but it was possible to take images of the landscapes.

We walked right down the steep sided waterfalls and then back up which was harder😂

We went to a small harbour and found a cafe that sold traditional Icelandic foods, like rotten shark meat yuk! A sign shows how it stomach it with help to swallow it. An acquired taste. Never for me!

We found another route over the mountains A54 and traveled the south east coast visiting Arnarstapim . Here pathways lead you along the cliffs to the sights of basalt caves, stacks, cliffs and arches, it is amazing.

By now it was 4pm cold but sunny, we felt tired so returned to our hotel.

Tomorrow we can explore some more, there are many more waterfalls and beaches and the black church to see, also the ferry port and fjord at Stykkisholmur

Must admit we are getting very tired, but doing well and still have 2 and a half more days in Iceland.

Love you all xxx

Sept 20 travelling to Snaefellsnes 

Daily weather forecast .. The wind eased at about 4am, sun and clouds

Thank goodness for that!

After a huge Breakfast,( I don’t need to eat again for ages), I really have enjoyed my birthday hotel.

Do you like Thor killing the Troll, this is for Otis Louis and Xavi and Alice

We packed up and went first to the magnificent Gulfoss. It is so powerful and huge. We went down to the lower viewpoint,it was scary but I’m pleased I did it.

Look at the tiny people here. 

 That is where we stood! Can’t believe I did it.

Leaving Geysir is sad but many memories.

We traveled through the Pingvellir national park towards Reykjavik . We saw this beautiful church .  

Once we reached the  A1 road we had done a complete circle  of Iceland.

Now to head to Borganes to our favourite bakery for lunch.

We were in sight of Snaefellsnes over the sea.

It was 2pm when we arrived and too early for going to our last hotel destination . We went to a nature reserve about 8 miles along from the hotel.

First we saw these whale bones.

There is yellow sand here, sea birds and seals on the rocks. We spotted about 7 baby seals. We walked along the beach in the sunshine.

Our last 4 nights…… hoping to see the northern lights tonight. fingers crossed x

19 Sept MY BIRTHDAY TODAY IN ICELAND AT GEYSIR

Well….. last night the wind blew the rain lashed all through the night. 

It’s my birthday today and after I opened all my family cards secretly brought here by Vince,and opened my birthday present, we went to breakfast. What a choice, what a spread! I’ll never forget this!

No rain now and It was gale force winds that seemed to get fiercer as the day progressed.

It is now like the hurricane from the 1986 outside! It is too windy to rain I guess

It was hilarious at Gulfoss . Vince took my birthday pic. I was literally being blown over and hanging on to my hat for dear life.

As I took these photos, Vince hung onto me to keep me still enough to click the camera.

We went up to the glaciers, as far as the tarmacked road goes. 

I took this pic through the car window as I couldn’t physically open the door due to the force of the wind. Please don’t think I’m exaggerating, I’m not!

We wanted to go to the Pingvellir national park to see this waterfall Oxarafoss. You can only travel there at 30 mph speed limit. So the journey is slow. 

It actually was not too windy there, perhaps the mountain shielded us?

Here is the plate drift between Euroasia and America’s . It is so fascinating. I hope my photos show this. There is a huge lake here too. lake .Vallavatyn. It flows through this long Rift Valley. Where Asia meets America!

The moss and small plants in this area are all yellow orange red brown and green, very striking, especially the red ones.

Back at GEYSIR Grandad needed to fill up with petrol. We laughed so much, he had to force the door open to get out the car. There was no shelter, he was being blown off his feet almost. His clothes and trousers were flapping so much. He forced his way back into the car. It was unbelievable.

Next we parked outside the hotel and battled our way across the pavements. In the hotel lobby they had removed the entrance mat and all the vases and ornaments, they were blowing up and over everytime some one entered such fun….

I will never forget my birthday adventure. 

Sept 18 leaving south coast Iceland travelling through inland routes to the golden circle and Geyser Hotel.

We got up an hour early by mistake this morning! But it meant we set off in good time. We had an early morning rainstorm and then just as we left the skies cleared and we saw a huge rainbow, what a good farewell to this area…

On the A1 route we passed by the Katla glacier and then came to Skogafoss. Don’t  these photos of it look better than the rainy ones two days ago!

Passing through Hella we stopped at the bakery. I took a pic of all the breads and pastries , why don’t we have bakery’s like this anymore?

Next we were on a mission to reach a waterfall we had seen in a photography book. The route took us away from the A1 road into inland Iceland we crossed a national park for many miles. It was all tarmacked roads so no worries. Again we found the highest roads were on a huge plateau. 

This route eventually turns to a F road a tough gravel stoney road that eventually reaches the north coast. So of course we turned back at this point. But we did manage to find this amazing waterfall. Look at the turquoise waters, how beautiful.

We passed wide rivers and a dam and lakes. Lots of electricity stations here.

Eventually we reached the road we needed to lead us to the luscious Geyser Hotel . It’s so extravagant and luxurious here, a treat for me! 

We look onto 2 geysers that erupt every 20 minutes or so.

Up the road is a huge powerful waterfall.Gulfoss, I can’t wait to see it again, it was one of our highlights last year.

Love to you all missing you 

Sunday 17 Sept

Rain stopped at last in the early morning and when we looked out of the window we could  see the lighthouse and hill tops again.

Now we could do the coastline here of black sands and sea stacks and caves.

First we went up to Dyrholaey peninsula with the lighthouse. You cross a marshy lagoon via a causeway. The waves were tremendous today. It was very atmospheric. There were different views of black sand beach from up here. Paths up and round the area.

The sound of the waves was very loud.

Next we saw black sands beach. The tide was in and so not so much room to explore as last year. Also too many people there.

In Vik we explored the beach further. We got better experience here.

After a packed lunch we followed 2 different gravel roads leading inland.

We saw a lake with a farm nearby.  So pretty….

On the second route we passed hotel Katla. (We stayed there last year.)

They were herding all the sheep to lower pastures. A lady was shouting like a whooping noise and a farmer was higher up shouting . They had a Sheepdog too. The 🪤 were really high up following each other down the steep hillsides. We watched for a while. 

Now the sun is shining and everything looks so fresh and sparkling.  

We are in our wooden chalet feeling so happy to be in Iceland. The horses  are nearby and the sea is calmer.

A Viking ship for Otis…. It is a full scale model near the shops at vik.

He’s doing Vikings and Anglo Saxons at school.  

Sept 16 WET WET WET!

This picture sums up the weather today. It is pouring down relentlessly!

After 2 warm days now rain and sleet.

We first went up to the lighthouse. This has views  over black sand beach and the sea stacks at vik….. we could barely make them out!

Next plan go to vik and fill up with petrol have a coffee and chill.

There are no coverings overhead for fuel. You stand in the rain….

Everyone had had the same idea about the cafe, long long queues…..

We set off for the waterfalls. This is SKOGAFOSS. We had a coffee in the hotel lobby there before we got too wet. There was a painted mural there, vince posed there in front of it.

We were wet and in a silly mood…..

Next stop 20 mins away was Seljalandsfoss 60 metres high. You can walk behind this one and people actually were today !

We chatted to a young couple from mitchigan usa for a few mins until we got so wet we gave up. We are now back in the dry at our little house. We made the effort in the rain pleased we did 🌧🌨❄️❄️💨 

a few more from friday night

15 September on the south coast towards and just past Vik.

(for some reason all my photos have uploaded above! i am too tired to workout how to change this so enjoy then read about them below hee hee!)

We did not have such a long journey to do today, and so we kept stopping at all the viewing place along the road. Again we had beautiful weather.

As we left our hotel I took some views of Skaftafell so I can remember it always. Big exciting thing was we saw the northern lights! Last night I could see them with my eyes dancing over the mountains behind us. I opened the window and took photos of them. I should have used my tripod but it was in the car and I was in my pyjamas…nevertheless they turned out well.

Then I lay in bed just watching them, it was priceless experience, and from the warmth of our room!

Here are some of the views we saw on our journey today. The light was so good for photography today and we made the most of it!

So south coast is again very different. The sea used to come right up to the inland cliffs but continuous volcano eruptions over eons of time have made a black infertile landscape covered in parts with light green moss.

In other parts, areas with lupins and wild flowers,grasses etc; and mostly black lava everywhere in lumps, bumps and smooth, with boulders, rocks and stones everywhere. 

Rivers meander through the plains, bringing melt waters from the glaciers and there are many waterfalls. Long single span bridges cover the wide river beds and pools lakes and streams are everywhere. The reflections in the water today were superb

As you travel further along, the land becomes meadows with farming. Mostly sheep farming. All the cliffs have fulmar birds swooping round them. There are also large black crows.

I think in my next life I shall be a travel writer! What do you think. 

Now we are at a farm in a small cabin apartment. It has lovey views over the sea and a few horses nearby in the field. We are very happy here for 3 nights. Hope this weather continues!