please note yesterdays photos are now uploaded please see them! look them up for sept 5th

Today we followed a trail to see 2 impressive waterfalls and volcanic eruption devastation.

The whole area is very different in each case. 

Leaving AKUREYRI we went through a long long tunnel saving us 15 kms. 

The first place on the route was Godafoss.waterfall.

It is so dynamic. You park the car and then can walk along the top of the side of the river and over up to the waterfall. I thought it was wonderful.

We next followed the A1 route over where 2 volcanoes had erupted along fissures. We called at the information centre to find out more.

Put simply as the larva erupted it caused a huge lake to form and the water cooled the larva forming mineral columns usually seen under the sea. Also the steam came from the earth forming huge mounds (and these kind of humps are found on the surface of Mars too)

We passed oozing mud and sulphur mining. It did not smell pleasant!

The next waterfall was so outstanding in scale force and noise.

Look at my photos and see how small the people look beside it.

Dettifoss is truly magnificent in every way. 

I’m so pleased we have been lucky enough to see all these wonderful sights, I count my blessings.

Back in town we noticed the traffic lights have red hearts ahhhh!

This is the 2nd time I’ve written my blog today. I lost the first attempt pictures and all so fingers crossed this time. Xxxx

the view from our window and below along the road…

I woke up today to sun streaming through the valley. Everything looked so different much better.
We set out to explore the East side of the huge peninsular.
As we travelled along we stopped at waterfalls and jaw dropping views.

Again we saw loads of swans and ducks and geese, stone-terns, arctic terns and many other small birds.
We crossed over the plateau and today could see the views, not obscured by clouds today.

The countryside was so pretty and varied. Lots of deep fjord water, streams joining up to make small rivers with waterfalls all along the hill and cliff sides.

It’s difficult to explain how beautiful it is. I hope my pics help!

We eventually came to a small village with a jetty near a causeway.

We explored around and found a tiny sandy beach. We sat down to eat our picnic and watch the seabirds all around. Then we noticed steam rising from the beach and surrounding water. The water was hot!
We had found a hot spring seeping into the sea.
There were lots of shells and as well loads of tiny white coral washed up on this beach. We were delighted to see this…

What a brilliant last day in this area, we travel along the north of the island tomorrow , but sad to leave here.

This is for our grandchildren. Down the road from our holiday house is a Viking house and museum,

The vikings grew grass on their roof.

this is a game they played with the rules. can you play it? you will have to teach me!

grandad and grandma little people

For a fleeting glance this morning we saw the sun. As it shined on the cliffs opposite our wooden house, they shone gold!

Then the rain came back and as we set off, a rainbow.

We wanted to explore the north west peninsular. It is an area of rugged beauty but difficult terrain and mostly unreachable by car.

The weather was changeable all day with squally rain bursts and poor visibility and then sun and a very cold wind.

We travelled along the coastline and saw many swans and geese.

As we headed north the road turned to gravel and had hairpin bends with no crash barriers and a long drop down cliffs to the sea. We felt nervous so turned round.

There was a gravel road marked on the map that went up and over to the other coast so we tried this. After a safer climb we reached the top and it was a huge never ending plateau. We were the only car up there and saw hundreds of geese, some arctic terns and swans. There were pools of water and lakes and the road weaved round them.

At one part we saw this shelter. It looked so forelorn up there in this isolated spot!

As we rejoined the main road we returned eventually back to Budardalur.

It was pouring with rain again.

It seemed too early to go back to our little wooden house so we set off after a picnic lunch over the dalir Dales to the volcanoes near Bifrost.

We walked right up the many steps to the top volcano. it was soooooo windy. We were almost blown off our feet. It was a good walk but scary.

The view was spectacular. Everybody was battling the wind and looking at each other in the same situation with sympathy! I’m pleased we did it such an achievement in a force 10 gale(exaggeration )

Now I am home and feeling sunburnt on my face even though it was 5*c.

And an icy wind.

What a lovely day 8 hours out all day. We will sleep well even if the wind and rain whip round the house.😉

Only got a few hours sleep last night as the rainfall and wind was tremendous. i was worried we were going to have the roof blown off.t It eased a bit by 3am but continued raining.

So today we decided to make the best of things and set off along the A1 north towards Vatnsnes peninsula. We went over the dales pass as we knew that road was good and reached Stadarskali at the end of Hrutafjordur. We stopped for a rest at the cafe and it was packed with coachloads of tourists on the way to whale watching. It was so quiet when they left…. (No photos as the rain and clouds obscured the hills.)

We followed the road along this fjord then crossed overland to Midfjordur. This fjord again was beautiful and we travelled along it as far as the seal sanctuary museum at Hvammstangi. If the weather had been better we would have gone all the way around the peninsular but didn’t feel it was safe today. The wind was gusty. 

The museum was interesting and all about how they caught seals in the past and used them for oil, skins and food.

There was a small harbour, the wind whipped around and we had gloves hats scarves and boots on to keep warm. It had stopped raining by then.

We returned  along a quicker route braving across a gravel road through a series of hills and valleys. It wasn’t too bad and after about 12 miles the road became a tarmac road. We went to the nearby village of Budardalur 

And Vince washed down our very muddy car. At all the garages you can hose down your car for free.

We had had quite an adventure and in spite of the weather we were pleased we had been out.

I hope you like the pics! 

Otis Xavi Louis and Alice grandma was so brave to make friends with a walrus don’t you think? 

1st September

We first had a quick road tour around Reykjavik before getting on the A1 to head north.

The buildings in the city are beautiful designs and even the graffiti looks good.

T

the scarpa building made of glass and the Viking ship statue. I took all these photos from the car!

On our journey up the A1 we went under the fjord. The tunnel was 7 kms. This is the water we travelled under…

At Borgarnes we stopped to photo the bridge and mountains.

From the coffee shop you get a view of the mouth of the fjord and at low tide lots of seabirds.

We did our shopping at bonus. Yellow, with a pink pig logo.

Now we were only an hour away from our next nights location.

We went along the road as far as Bifrost where we saw volcanos and moss covered lava fields. The mountains surrounding the road were gigantic.

From here we went over the dalir  (dales) pass to Budardalur. What a beautiful road. We enjoyed all the views as we climbed up and saw small gorges and small waterfalls and then down to the lower coastal  lands.

At Budardalur we stopped for an Icelandic hot dog…..not sure what we were eating but it tasted good with onions mustard and sauces over it.

By the coast it was so pretty, I could live here. Sea birds, fjord reflections and black sand.

Now we are close by for 4 nights, inland by a lake in a small wooden cabin. It is very cosy and a good job because high winds and rain is forecast.

We will be exploring from this area further north west and north east as much as we dare!