The volcano!
crossing the magma field (all cold now) it's like tourists always say 'it looks like the moon' well I wouldn't know! But it certainly feels unearthly!
the route up Hverfjall is pretty steep with a cold headwind, I should have bought a scarf! Breathing isn't the easiest!
looking back does give me the chance to see the tiny red dot in the parking that is my van!
Yep it's high!
Cresting the ridge you feel the battering of an Icelandic wind, it's damn strong!
Looking into the quiescent caldera is hard to imagine how much molten rock was blasted from here! Even with the crusty magma fields!!
Now is much better time to visit!
I follow the still steep lip of the cone in a clockwise direction to the highest point, I think this image shows how much I was fighting to stay on my feet!
and keep my glasses on!
I lose or break them and I'm knackered!!
With this in mind I retrace my steps back down pausing briefly for a bit of silliness..... Never too old to make a snow angel!!
But I do get to see a thermo electric power station up close!
and to dabble my fingers a beautifully warm steam going down the valley!
with the warmth of this water in mind I go to a hot spring spa..... That's the first spa I've ever visited..... It may not be the last!
After freezing my bits of getting from the changing room to the pool I'm in heaven!
I really needed this!
blissfully looking back to the volcano... In the background!
Stepping from one pool to the next was weird my limbs felt so heavy!
You'd think they'd be lighter after the clean! 😁😁😁
But I can't stay here forever, so I'm out dried and on my way.... Glowing!
I stop in Ryklalid for diesel and food, getting my first chance to try out the famous Icelandic hotdogs! No idea what the dressing is but it's damn good!
Filled and restocked and the road is calling....
I'm not planning to go far but there's a waterfall I must see .... You think I'd be used to them by now?
Not when they're like this one!
looking like a small Niagara! It's damned impressive!
Godafoss is it's name, literally meaning gods falls! After a local Chieftain cast his Norse gods icons into the water upon converting to Christianity!
Worth the stop.... Nice that parking is free for once!
There's a souvenir/outdoors shop here, I buy a nice woolly hat too replace the silly hat I bought in Switzerland.... Amusing myself with finding the old hat a new home....
i really should have asked what the story was of this scruffy mannequin!
But the hat at least suited it!
Travelling on I unexpectedly find another tunnel! Briefly spotting the tiny sign right next to the entrance saying it's a toll road!!!!
More tourist tax!!
Tho for the few quid it worked out it wasn't bad, and it was also the longest tunnel so far at 7km!
They have to recoup the cost I suppose.
Straight out and on my right is the largest town I've seen so far Akureyri, with a population of 18000 it's considered the capital of the North! ....
It's here I have a campsite to stop at for the night... As usual a reasonable price, nice to have the facilities, makes life that bit more comfy!
I sit up watching a movie on the phone feeling so relaxed!
A happy day indeed!
