Today was a damp day! We started off by exploring basalt caves along the black sand beach in Vik, where G was able to take shelter from the rain. 
We drove to this really cool lava tube to do some spelunking . Lava tubes form when lava flows through a crack in the earth, the outer layer solidifies and then if the lava flow is abruptly cut off then the inner part flows out and a hallow tube is all that remains. The guide books all recommended that all visitors wanting to explore the cave should have the following; good flashlight, hiking boots, warm clothes, helmets, and kneepads. We had none of the above except the warm clothes which we have lots of! We entered the cave anyway because it was so cool to have the chance to explore a lava tube! The cave was 1.5km long and was said to have amazing ice formations at the end, but the last 1km of it would be pitch black. We ventured in just wanting to go as far as we could since we only had a bad flashlight on the back of a pen and decided hiking in the dark cave with that would not be too smart. Luckily there were 3 collapses in the roof of the cave so we were able to go quite far in the cave with that light and see some ice and lava rocks. 
After that adventure we hiked up this geothermal valley. It was filled with steaming sulphur vents and bubbling mud pots and so many steam fissures that it looked like there were forest fires in the valley. The river flowing down this valley was warm enough to bathe in because of the hot springs flowing into it. 
Tonight we are staying in the town of Laugarvantn on a beautiful lake. We spent the last 3 hours of the day soaking in the soothing waters of the geothermal spa to relieve our aches from the hikes of the past few days. 
Check back in for tomorrow's adventures.....