Churches...some images

Seljaland to Skaftafell

A journey through vast Volcanic plain, partly covered by a mossy growth...quite eeire.  Another memory though.

The campsite is a large activity centre with camping vehicles of every conceivable type..apart from big 'American' motorhomes.  A 4x4 towing a caravan is quite a popular combination here, although some of the 4x4s make our 2.4 tonne Touareg look a bit weedy to put it mildly. Have to say, the convenience of the Treg and its off-road abiltiy has been brilliant and with the rot-proof super strong Elegance (notice we're bonding with it...), we've stopped the 'will the next change be a motorhome' discussion. We're adventure-caravanners to the core..confirmed. Technology has caught up with our needs..thank you Swift.

Here for two nights so we have a free guided walk to the Skaftafell glacier then we take a guided walk on the glacier itself....first time we have been armed with crampons and an ice-axe but probably not the last. Brings all the reading and theory to life. Also see the Svartifoss waterfall....famous for the backdrop of vertical hexagonal basalt columns  formed by cooling lava.

We'll certainly need a rest after this adventure, I think...

11.30pm.... in paradise?

Svartifoss waterfall.

Yes...don't mess with us...

Geysir to Seljaland

The availability of 3G and WiFi is a bit iffy around here so this post is a bit is lacking images at the moment...which is a great pity..but we'll put that right in due course...

To Seljaland - the site of the 2010 eruption that brought  Air Europe to a halt.

We leave the geysers of Geysir behind with reluctance and head off to the coastal site at Seljaland ... but not before a few interesting moments as the Treg is called into service as a rescue-the-caravans-from-the-bog duty after very heavy rainfall turns the site into a swimming pool/bog. 

Duty done, we pose the Elegance in front of the geysers for a 'I've been here' shot. Frustratingly, we can't get close enough....although I can understand that caravans parking on top of a world wonder might take the edge off it slightly. Still, important not to get too steamed up about it.

While under way, as ever, we call in at a few sights. Worth noting is the beautiful, elegant, remote wooden cathedral of Skaholt....lots of history about this site...excavations are ongoing. There seems to be a program of classical concerts held here and we are fortunate to see the rehearsals for a small recital of chamber music, laced with Icelandic humour.

After the inevitable coffee we're off and arrive at Seljaland site. Coastal site in Iceland means remote volcanic beach and being surrounded by waterfalls. Adventures from here include a little 4x4 tracking in the Treg (now covered in mud) including a walk to the Solheimajokull glacier, wonderful waterfalls, remote beach visits and, before we leave on Friday, a brilliant drive up to the volcano and glacier in a monster 4x4 'superjeep'.

Then it's off to Skaftafell...

View from our home.....

Around Geysir

We take the Touareg (Treg) out on a longish run, ending in a 4x4 road to the hot springs at Landmannalaugar. Wonderful volcanic vista...close to Heckla.

Fording a river at Landmannalaugar movie>>HERE  

I should point out that this was risk assessed by me despite Sue's comments!!

The geyser Strokkur is next to our campsite...the rain has gone....we walk round to capture an image and movie of it blowing in the midnight sun ... Magic (a kind of)

Movie HERE

Ride in a Storm (Akranes>Geysir)

Storm warning....possible 70mph gusts later in the day....don't panic

This part of the coast is noted for high winds so we set off early, along with most of the other adventurers, hoping to miss the worst. We hitch up in driving rain, heading for the tunnel 165m beneath the Fjord separating Reykjavik and Akranes. 

As we head off the 1 and up towards Geysir on road 35 the storm intensifies with very strong cross-gusts but without any doubt, this is by far and away the most stable caravan we've towed in such a wind -  maybe it's the combination with the Touareg but we look at each other with surprise as we shrug off the increasingly turbulent conditions and horizontal rain.

The storm abates a little as we climb towards Geysir, so we make a couple of stops, once again pausing at the rift vally. It's full wet gear and multiple layers though.

Arriving at the site, Derek the excellent tour leader (with, Iris, his wife) not one to mollycoddle, warns us of the very boggy conditions on the field, due to the storm, and has allocated a pitch. No problem for the Treg though and we're soon having a cuppa, snug from the driving rain. We look back on the journey and reflect that, with this outfit, there is very little we can't do. Have we found the perfect caravan and car?  We'll have more to say about this, I think.

Decide to look at the nearby Geysers (Geysir, the original geyser, is quiet now but Strokkur ejects sulphurous boiling water 60m high every few minutes .. wonderful...but no pics as worried about cameras and phone in the (very) wet conditions...and the rule is...only our own photos on this blog. Perhaps tomorrow then.

Can't resist climbing up the nearby 4x4 track with the Treg to get a view from on high but all we see is cloud....but we knew that really....great fun though.

Finish off the day by seeing the mightily impressive Gullfoss (foss - falls; Gull = gold).

Be dark soon (for a couple of minutes anyway)....