Today we crossed over so many different environments. northern Iceland is a land of huge contrasts.

It has been sunny and warm all day but very windy at times.

This is Akureyri as we left, cruise ship in and a sunny town. We took this from the top road as we left. 

Up here is a hot stream where we saw quite a few people bathing last night in the foggy rain! There are municipal thermal baths but this was free I suppose.

The first part of the journey we had done on the silver circle trail. So we left the oozing sulphur muds, the volcanic hills and scree, the lakes boulders and ash and travelled over a huge undulating plateau. Sometimes there was no vegetation just volcanic larva fields, other times grassy banks and lakes with birds and geese and swans flying over.

We stopped at a remote cafe in the middle of volcanic waste. It was still being  built. It was eco friendly with grass roof, grass sods piled up around the base more like peat. And huge wooden interior. The seats were covered in horse skins and sheepskins for cushions. I wish I’d taken a photo. The owner was selling his artwork and souvenirs too. He also had a jar asking for donations towards his next holiday to Japan😀.

Our quest was to take a photo of huge basalt cliffs and the roaring river at Studlagil Canyon. You follow gravel roads for quite a few miles. At the carpark you walk down lots of steps to a viewing platform. It was so interesting. The basalt is formed as crystals as the larva cools.

(If you go to the other side there is a 5mile plus return walk to view and you get a better view) 

It was so windy there. It took all our strength to walk back up the many steps that were grouped into 18 steps that i kept counting to encourage me to keep going! So pleased we did it.

Further on the a1 road we saw many waterfalls. We climbed up to see this one.

Next we began to see loads of sheep farming. The farmers are rounding up their sheep at the moment for winter and we saw this happening.

The roads on the East are easy to negotiate and no worries. We reached small towns and were getting near to our destination. 

To our surprise we had to climb 3000 metre mountains with hairpin bends up and then down to the fjord, we wondered where we were going.

Seydisfjordur is the fishing town we are staying at. It is gorgeous and historic. It has lots of old traditional wooden houses and craft shops. 

We are in the old bank in a cosy bedroom under the eaves, with a large double bed and tucked in an enclosed corner a single bed.

At this town the ferry comes in once a week from Denmark.. what a journey over the mountains for all the cars vans and lorries!

More tomorrow as we explore this fjord and close by.