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!

Sept 14 Ice lagoon and Diamond Beach

This morning we went on a little hike from behind our hotel. It leads to Skaftafelljokul I.e the local part of the glacier.

The views were so pretty. The area is covered in lupins growing wild everywhere.

We then went to near the lagoon area. It was pouring with rain there!

 We went to the museum we visited yesterday for a coffee and had a chat with the manager. She told us all about the life of the author I mentioned yesterday and showed us the mountainside and explained some ways of travel and life in the late 19century before roads and cars of course.

I included this one of grandad because he jumped in front of my camera on purpose to annoy me !

The rain had eased and we went to amazing diamond beach. It is such an experience to see this. I feel so lucky…

Then we returned to the lagoon further down and then near the bridge where the ice flows into the sea.

 I hope you enjoy my photos, I took nearly 150 today!

can you see the sea dragon?well maybe….

On the way back to the hotel the clouds had lifted and you could see the top of the ice glacier.

We move further west on the south coast to Vik tomorrow. 

Just this moment taken from hotel window, the sunset on the top of mountain..

13 sept Arrived on South coast Iceland

We felt sad to leave Vestrahorn and Hofn, we enjoyed this east coast area.

Off we set filling up petrol at Hofn and again on the A1 route.

Our first stop was at a museum coffee shop. We went there last year  and this time we entered the museum with headphones explaining about life in poverty in this area at the start of 20 century. It was about the life of famous Icelandic writer/poet . 8 people slept here in 4 tiny beds!

 

Sooner than anticipated we were at the glacier lagoon, jokulsarlon. It was not too cold, mind you we were wrapped up with scarves hat and gloves and our backpacks kept our backs warm!

There were loads of icebergs calved off the glacier and lumps of ice from the icebergs floating at the edges. Amazing… the ice then is swept along the icy watery river into the sea at this point.  Large pieces of ice wash up by the tide onto the black sands. This is diamond beach. We will return there tomorrow.

Leaving the lagoon we continued down the A1 and came across a stopping place by part of the glacier. (Fjallsjokull.) You can walk right up to the pool created by the melting glacier. Again there was floating icebergs and ice everywhere. The rain started falling but we did not care, we were having such a good time. Can you see the heart shape the glacier makes.

We passed other side roads to the glacier that we want to explore tomorrow. We are now at skaftafell

hotel. Looking at skaftafellsjokull glacier. Nearby we saw this rainbow, so pretty…

The huge glacier on top of the mountains is Vatnajokull. Each part off the glacier as it descends down valleys has different names.

We have television here so can watch a film tonight for a change., although still reading my book Alex xxx

12 Sept     last day around east coast Iceland 

Again a sunny dry clear sparkling day! At times not a cloud in the sky.

It is 10*c but out of the wind it feels warm.

We spent the day enjoying this beautiful East coast. 

Vestrahorn and it’s sister  Eystrahorn, the swans, geese, lagoons, scree on mountains that reaches the road (with dangerous looking angle of repose😵‍💫)

Stacks out at sea, the fulmars nesting in the cliffs all along. The wide rivers with long single track bridges, the small fishing villages. The glacier peaking from the tops of mountains and Hofn and its harbour, such memories! And now my photos…

P.s. had fish and chips today xx

11 Sept

A brilliant day today, sunshine 10*c (but a wicked icy wind) and clear views everywhere. What a contrast from yesterday!

We are actually at Vestrahorn staying in their farm guesthouse. So after breakfast in their Viking cafe we got onto the beach.

It is black sanddunes and striking cliffs. So many colours, orange green grey and topped with snow.

We are below a glacier field which is why the wind feels so icy….it is!

We spent ages exploring the beach and up to a nato radar station commanded by the Icelandic coastguard. The lighthouse is located close by.

There is a Viking village replica made for filming, but it is neglected and not up to its hype….

Otherwise here is beauty of a natural environment, seabirds and views to die for.

We back _tracked north for an hours drive  this morning to see the sights that were covered by clouds yesterday. So a few of todays photos. We take hundreds!

Back in Hofn we went to the harbour and it’s surroundings of marshland and islands. You can see the glacier so well from here.

Oh and an icecream. They fill the cornet with vanilla icecream from a machine, and then you chose dark chocolate or milk chocolate, it is runny and poured or rather dipped over the entire icecream and hardens with the cold of the icecream. It is really nice, we’ll be going back there again!

Also do you like this house we passed by Louis, Otis, Xavi and Alice? It had trolls everywhere and even little houses and a church for them!