EU Part 10 Iceland 4 - Northern section
Wednesday, 8 May 2019 6:56 pm
Today a long drive to bring us back to the circuit road around Iceland.
Some really great fjord driving
Camp E103: Side Track Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 55 metres
Today 360 Kms
EU Total : 10,584 Km
Wednesday 8th May 2019:
This was the typical construction of houses from the time of settlement AD 870 up until the 1930’s
The floor was dirt, the walls made of turf and over 2 metres thick, the roof was covered with growing turf.
All the structural supports were from drift wood. Some walls were stone.
In this ‘communal’ sleeping area, here the workers and their wives shared the individual beds. The farm owner had the north end and the children the southern end.
This is also the lounge room and meals were eaten at the beds by removing the timber slat that held the bedding in place when sleeping.
The kitchen.
This was built in the 18th Century and was in continual use up until 1910.
Meals were prepared here for 10-20 people.
Cooking fuel was peat or dried sheep dung.
Wide ‘U’ shaped glacial valleys was the order of the day.
Camp E104 : Roadside Truck Stop outside Akureyri - Icelands 3rd largest town
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 330 metres
Today 285 Kms
EU Total : 10,833 Km
Thursday 9th May 2019:
Also a strong wind that makes it bitterly cold for us.
Myvatan Region.
Similar to the area in the south this is also part of the rift between the two continental plates.
This is the edge of a lave flow and a gaping fissure with steam emerging from the super heated waters below.
The locals used to swim here however recent volcanic activity increased the water temperature to where it is a ‘cooking’ temperature and hence no longer permitted.
Climbed the 2,500 year old Hverfjall Volcano .
The crater is about 1km in diameter.
Following a 1 hour dip in the Myvatn Nature Baths it was almost 8.30pm when we headed off to find a camp
Yes! it’s snowing
Camp E105 : Quarry camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 348 metres
Temp negative 2.7*C
Today 147 Kms
EU Total : 10,980 Km
Friday 10th May 2019:
A good measure of snow last night, I can just make out out wheel tracks to get back onto the road.
Now travelling the less travelled north part of Iceland
Found another set of turf houses.
The town of Hüsavik is the main whale watching centre for Iceland.
These tall ships seem the go.
It’s too overcast and very cold with the wind - simply not worth it, BUT the Whale Museum was great and spent a couple of hours there.
And the best seafood soup EVER !
Camp E106 : On an old road - The Hringsja Viewpoint Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 143 metres
Temp negative 1.5*C
Today 94 Kms
EU Total : 11,075 Km