EU Part 7 Iceland 1
Sunday, 21 April 2019 6:52 pm
Our ship to Iceland will take 3 days.
It’s the only way to get there other than flying.
Sailing in through the Shetland Islands
But it is Iceland we aim for and this is our first glimpse.
Yes covered with ice and snow.
Perhaps a little more than we expected.
The port of unloading is rather small town of Seydisfjordur.
We were well informed to bring no fresh meat, fruit, vegetables or dairy products. We had precooked some supplies we had and generally obliged. Alcohol is also limited to 1Lt spirits and 2 bottles wine/ person so again we were within limits.
Only to find no checking on arrival, but could have been different.
Our aim is to circumnavigate the island starting clockwise from the port of disembarkation.
The first 30 kms was like this, we were seriously thinking had we made a big mistake being too early in the season.
Off to explore some side roads.
The plan was to get down into a narrow fjord but just looker too risky with the twisty down hill snow covered road.
The next side road takes us to the worlds largest spar ( a type of calcite) mine. Known as Icelandic Spar this mineral from the Helgustadanama mine revolutionised the optical industry from 1780 through to the 1830‘s because of its unique properties. It could split light into two parts, ideal initially for microscopes and other optical instruments.
Camp E89: Above an unused road
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 157 metres
Temp: +5 *C
Today 140 Kms
EU Total : 7734 Km
And what a view !
Awake to another very foggy day - low cloud and visibility about 10 metres.
We wait and wait, eventually moving around 10am.
The roads around the fjords are breathtaking and we can not even see the tops of the mountains.
Everywhere are water falls.
At 3pm we stop as we really cannot see too much, so decide to have our evening shower and drive into the evening. - Hoping the cloud will lift.
It worked somewhat.
So up a road that passed the above waterfall and into the snowfields and clouds.
View from Camp
Camp E90: In the cloud
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 397 metres
Temp: +7 *C
Today 176 Kms
EU Total : 7,911 Km
Thursday 25th April 2019:
Today we awake to blue sky - well almost.
Following highway 1 for most of the way then take side tracks to interesting places.
Black sand beaches and scree slopes just south of Djupivogur.
Reindeer, counted over 100 today.
They were introduced around the 1800’s and can only be seen on this eastern side.
Up another side road ( the side roads are ‘F’ roads and only accessible in a 4x4) this leads us into a national park. We travel about 16kms until deep and fast water in the river prevents further exploration.
The scree slopes change colour constantly.
Camp E91: Remote River camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 96 metres
Temp: +9 *C
Today 143 Kms
EU Total : 8,055 Km
Friday 26th April 2019:
NO BLUE SKY today !
Rain, Low Cloud,
But we have close encounters with Reindeer.
Being fans of the ‘Viking’ series a visit to the set built for the Iceland episodes was necessary.
Very cold and very wet + crazy strong wind = not a pleasant time for us.
My God !
I am turning into a birdie lover !
Nesting Hooper Swans only found in Iceland
Now more interesting stuff:
We are in Europe’s largest Glacier field...
First the Hoffellsjökull Glacier : Receives the highest precipitation of any glacier global and expels the largest meltwater. It moves down the mountain at 2 metres per day ( yes per day - we just checked Google), yet is still receding. The depth of the ice in front of us is 300metres BELOW sea level. WOW WOW WOW !
Its raining, fog is moving in but I want to drive to the top of the glacier.
It is a ‘F’ road that can only be driven with a 4x4. ( F 985 )
‘F’ road also because Lyn is thinking that word beginning with ‘F’ at every steep grade, severe drop off, numerous ‘Z’ bends, snow covered surfaces etc etc.
At 400 metres and 12Kms along we are thwarted by fog and cannot see a vehicle length in front.
Turning around and we nearly are nearly bogged in a ‘quicksand’ of rocks. Just managed to get out, with a quick flick into 4x4.
Never experienced that, just so much water in the ground, even the rocks are floating.
Camp E92: Mountain Lake Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 145 metres
Temp: +5 *C
Today 145 Kms
EU Total : 8,200 Km
Tomorrow we will try the road again - IF the sun is out
Here’s hoping...