Started Day 2 driving eastwards from Vik through the lava field Eldhraun, formed from the massive Laki [volcano] eruption in 1783 (which also caused a crazy, cold summer in the States – snow in June & July).
A paper written by Benjamin Franklin in 1783 blamed the unusually cool summer of 1783 on volcanic dust coming from Iceland, where the eruption of Laki volcano had released enormous amounts of sulfur dioxide, resulting in the death of much of the island’s livestock and a catastrophic famine which killed a quarter of the Icelandic population. Northern hemisphere temperatures dropped by about 1 °C in the year following the Laki eruption.
Bright green moss voraciously clings to volcanic rock in this area creating a spongy layer — which in turn supports other herbaceous life like crowberries (a tasty, tart berry – I ate 2 handfuls 🙂 )
From the lava fields of Eldhraun, we stopped briefly for an elf story (Icelanders love their fables – elves, ogres, trolls) before travelling on to Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where I snapped an amazing shot of the Foss waterfall with Icelandic horses grazing in the foreground.
Glaciers & Icebergs
Today’s tour completed the loop around southern Iceland — entering Skaftafell National Park to view the mighty glaciers formed by the Vatnajökull Ice Cap. WOW²! (used when WOW just isn’t enough 🙂 )
Europe’s 2nd largest ice shelf covers almost 10% of Iceland. Glacier blues, mucky silt-laden rivers, crevasses large enough to hide a bus – WOW, WOW, WOW! Seriously addicted — I could not get close enough. Soooo…paid for a super jeep excursion which drove out onto the glacier itself, allowing time to climb up volcanic rock overlooking a snow-filled crater. INCREDIBLE!
In between glacier viewings, logged in a couple hours at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Had never previously rode in an amphibious vehicle – SUPER cool! First motored, then drove into the Lagoon, boating around recently calved icebergs from the surrounding shelf. Ate a piece of 1000 year-old iceberg – compacted glacial ice chipped away with an ice axe. AAAAAMAZING DAY!
Gonna enjoy the rest of Iceland but check – already hit all of my ‘bucket list’ highlights, only 2 days in. SPECTACULAR!
-
- the lava fields of Eldhraun
-
- green moss clings to volcanic rock creating a spongy layer
-
- crowberries (a tasty, tart berry – I ate 2 handfuls :))
-
- Foss (waterfall)
-
- Basalt rock & Icelandic horses
-
- Kirkjubæjarklaustur – home of elves
-
- size-compare homes near the tongue of Vatnajökull – MASSIVE glacier!
-
- Icelandic Vanna White has a tougher gig than her American cousin
-
- WOW moment! LOVE LOVE glaciers!
-
- new snow 🙂
-
- crevasses large enough to hide a bus
-
- never tire of tundra colour – AMAZING!
-
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
-
- baby’s first amphibious vehicle – LOVED it!
-
- Icebergs!
-
- try to stop smiling – not possible
-
- SPECTACULAR!
-
- check out those glacial blues – WOW!
-
- 1000+ year old ice
-
- don’t mind if I do
-
- baby’s first super jeep – I want one!
-
- glacier trekking in Iceland
-
- cold wind-swept landscape
-
- quick climb UP – had to, right?
-
- volcano crater
-
- WOW² – most amazing day!
I discussed Iceland as a ‘bucket list’ destination with my friend Dawn more than 4 years ago.
Soon after, a massive volcanic eruption (Eyjafjallajökull) disrupted air traffic not only in Iceland but across all of Europe as well. Additionally, I closed on my Colorado home in December 2009 (moved in Jan 2011 – a full year later).
Summed up – life happened.
Fast forward 2013. Dawn put the Iceland bug back in my ear in January. I laid down a $300 trip deposit in March. Purchased airfare in June & bam – on September 10th, boarded a plane to Reykjavik.
Had planned a volcano hike on Wednesday but landed late due to bad weather. Ho hum. Plan B – boarded Flybus at the airport with Dawn & Stephen (who arrived 2 hours earlier from Boston) and spent the day at Blue Lagoon, a hot springs resort outside of Reykjavik. Plan was to stay active & awake – adjusting to ‘Iceland’ time before our island circle tour departed Thursday (the following morning). Check, done.
Waterfalls & geysers
Spent Day 1 travelling southern Iceland. Highlights: Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss & Skogarfoss waterfalls. Each came with a unique Viking saga; each imprinted a permanent indelible memory. Gullfoss “Golden” waterfall is thunderous & powerful – similar to our Niagara Falls. The spray alone pulled me in – addicting, left me wanting to feel a part of this amazing force. Temps hovered just above freezing but [that] didn’t stop me from my first Day 1 drenching. Adventurous, amazing start.
Trekked literally behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall – BEAUTIFUL (and cold and wet – all at the same time 🙂 ). Our tour guide Ingi-Gunnar gave us only 20 minutes at Skogarfoss waterfall. Just enough time to run UP & catch a view from the top. How many opportunities does one get to climb a waterfall in Iceland, right? FAAANTASTIC!
In between waterfalls, toured Geysir, Iceland’s largest geyser (& from where the term ‘geyser’ originates). Additionally, watched its sibling Strokkur spew boiling sulfur-laced water upwards – before nabbing a bowl of fish soup for lunch.
Ended the day at Dyrholaey, Iceland’s southernmost point, climbing large volcanic rocks overlooking the sea. WOW WOW WOW!
Glaciers & icebergs tomorrow – seriously LOVIN’ this place!
-
- Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland
-
- first sight of land after 7 1/2 hour flight from Denver
-
- Welcome to Iceland & Hekla volcano
-
- much colder than yesterday’s Colorado temps
-
- Gullfoss “Golden” Waterfalls
-
- HUGE waterfall – check out folks on rock shelf (center left)
-
- thunderous, massive power
-
- not just green but EVERY shade in my Crayola box – LOVE!
-
- check out that spray – AMAZING!
-
- crazy wet start to my Iceland adventure
-
- Geysir – Iceland’s largest (& where the term ‘geyser’ originates)
-
- Geysir’s active sibling, Strokkur
-
- not as big as Old Faithful but erupts every 8 minutes
-
- sheep gathering after free-ranging the Highlands all summer
-
- bus detour/turnaround – literally miles of sheep
-
- Seljalandsfoss waterfall
-
- trekking BEHIND the waterfall – SUPER fun!
-
- today’s WOW shot!
-
- nope not dreaming – I’m really in Iceland
-
- Skógafoss waterfall – yep, climbing this one
-
- well worth the hike UP — FANNNNTASTIC!
-
- look who’s at the end of my rainbow – Dawn!
-
- South Shore black sand & volcanic rock
-
- Dyrholaey, Iceland’s southernmost point
-
- awesome day of waterfalls & geysers — glaciers & icebergs tomorrow
