Iceland- Day 2
Thursday - July 12th
Can I just say that camper vans are the way to go? I love waking up and not having to pack all my stuff to go to the next place. It’s been awesome. Maybe I’m just comparing this trip to Europe where I packed too much stuff with me to each different city via public transportation. I understand that public transit and carpooling is better for the environment- but I’m a fan of this solo van thing!
The morning started beautifully- I woke up- hopped in the driver’s seat and headed to Kerid Crater. I left the campsite a little before 6am- so when I got to Kerid there was nobody there. Which I absolutely loved. Kerid is this deep volcanic crater filled with light blueuish water and red walls all around.
The morning started beautifully- I woke up- hopped in the driver’s seat and headed to Kerid Crater. I left the campsite a little before 6am- so when I got to Kerid there was nobody there. Which I absolutely loved. Kerid is this deep volcanic crater filled with light blueuish water and red walls all around.
The morning was really misty and foggy as I wandered around the crater/lake. And as fate would have it, my music randomly landed on ‘On My Own’ from Les Mis. You can bet I did a lot of thinking at that spot. And singing :) no one was around for miles! I love Iceland for that reason. Even the crowded ‘tourist traps’ are not bad at all. I guess I haven’t gone to the Blue Lagoon yet so I can’t say that’s certain everywhere in Iceland.
So soul searching at Kerid and then I drove to a ‘Secret Hot River’. The more people think something is a ‘secret’ tourist spot, the more likely they are to go. A blog I was reading before I came, was from a Reykjavík local who recommended this hike- it’s actually called Reykjadalur Valley. And there are hot streams flowing the whole way up. There were also a couple of really hot pools and springs with signs warning of hot temperatures (100c). It was rainy the whole hike- but rain in Iceland is really just mist so it wasn’t bad at all. The hike was about an hour up, and I was early enough that I barely saw anyone except sheep 🐑
So soul searching at Kerid and then I drove to a ‘Secret Hot River’. The more people think something is a ‘secret’ tourist spot, the more likely they are to go. A blog I was reading before I came, was from a Reykjavík local who recommended this hike- it’s actually called Reykjadalur Valley. And there are hot streams flowing the whole way up. There were also a couple of really hot pools and springs with signs warning of hot temperatures (100c). It was rainy the whole hike- but rain in Iceland is really just mist so it wasn’t bad at all. The hike was about an hour up, and I was early enough that I barely saw anyone except sheep 🐑
After the hike I had lunch (haven’t bought food all day- I used my groceries!) then stopped by two waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss *foss=waterfall* ) that were pretty amazing. I guess I assumed that since Iceland has all these waterfalls they would be dinky little things- but so far they have not disappointed!
I took a quick nap by Skógafoss and then headed to the famous Solheimasandur plane wreck hike - the plane is a DC-3 plane that belonged to the U.S. Navy the motors stopped working (another source said they ran out of fuel?) and crashed on this big empty dirt field in Iceland in 1973. Now people go walk to it and take pictures :)
The sign warned the walk would take 3-4 hours but it took me less than two (round trip) and that was with taking pictures at the plane. I think because so many of the beautiful sites in Iceland are right off the road- people tend to skip the ones that require a little more walking. The walk is flat and almost straight the entire way. I loved it. I also seemed to luck out and arrive at a less-crowded time... there were only a handful of people at the plane when I got there.
The sign warned the walk would take 3-4 hours but it took me less than two (round trip) and that was with taking pictures at the plane. I think because so many of the beautiful sites in Iceland are right off the road- people tend to skip the ones that require a little more walking. The walk is flat and almost straight the entire way. I loved it. I also seemed to luck out and arrive at a less-crowded time... there were only a handful of people at the plane when I got there.
I just realized I haven’t really talked to people today. The most talking I did was to answer ‘how much further is it?’ questions from hikers. Dang. I downloaded a Norse mythology audiobook that I’ve been listening to today- it’s been really cool driving through Viking homelands and hearing stories about Loki and Thor. Stories that explain the clouds make sense in a land with so many clouds. I did see the sun today but my guide yesterday said they had gone 100 days without seeing the sun (clouds) and that was the longest and coldest summer it’s been in like a century.
After the plane walk I went down to Dyrhólaey beach- though the actual beach was closed- they just let you walk around the cliffs at the top. They had a fancy bathroom you had to pay for :/ I suppose I am in Europe again... There are always signs reminding you that you shouldn’t walk somewhere unless there’s a path. I’ve done my best to respect Icelandic plant life- though heaven knows I like to commune physically with nature.
The beach that wasn’t closed was Reynisfjara a black sand beach that has basalt columns made out of magma slowly cooling.
It’s the end of the day and I’m sitting in my camper van writing this. It’s cozy back here with the heater on.
Funny moment from today- there are a couple of spots on the main road where there are one-lane bridges and no regulation on whose turn it is and who should wait for whom. I noticed a line of cars piling up on the other side of the bridge so I stopped and let them go first. The guy in the first car gave me a wave of thanks and I automatically responded with a solemn bow. A few seconds later I was like “what did I just do? I bowed to him like a queen nodding to her subjects! I’m pretty sure I closed my eyes, and I can’t guarantee I didn’t put my hand to my heart to convey sincerity. So there’s proof that my dramatic side is like a reflex now :)