Anti clockwise bus trip Days 1-4 (23-26 July)

Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Hella, Iceland
On mid afternoon arrival (23 July) into Reykjavik we drove about an hour to the town of Hella which on the south coast of Iceland. The bus was ready to roll by 8:30am despite getting to bed about 11pm Oslo time - there is a 2hr time difference. 
The bus was very impressive with its own Wifi connection (free) and USB charging socket by each window seat. We had plenty of spare seats.
We have four nights in  four different hotels as we work our way around the ring road which follows the coast line of Iceland. Then two nights at Hellnar and a final two nights back in Reykjavik before joining the boat 'Silver Sea' to the UK on the 31st July. We travel ant-clockwise from Reykjavik.
It took us about 2hrs from leaving the airport, We still had considerable light even at 9pm as sunset is is about 11pm. Sunrise about 4am
First today (24/7) was an hours  stop at the Lava Centre.
This had an excellent display of the volcanic activity of Iceland over the centuries. This included an excellent video of various eruptions and that the island has minor tremors nearly everyday. We were told that the Island is slowly be torn apart by volcanic activity via a number of 'active'volcanoes. The volcano that spewed the ash cloud that stopped air traffic is called E15 instead of Eyjafjallajökull = note the 15 letters.
Then two stops for waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and then Skogafoss Each spectacular and falling about 60 meters. Each had a large carpark with many buses and  cars. Apparently this section of the road is within a days trip from Reykjavik hence the popularity. Weather is cold 13C overcast with the occasional. rain shower 
Around lunch time we drove down to Reynisfjara black sand beach. Very spectacular with black sand and some rock stacks sticking out close to the shore. Also packed with people
After lunch at Vik we had a two drive to our nights hotel at Freysnes. We had some spectacular  views of lava fields rock faces and as we got closer to the ends of glaciers.
Next day (25/7) 10c and light rain. Our first stop was diamond beach which was so called because of the many pieces of ice some quite large which littered the beach and on the waters edge. Just about 100m away was a glacial lake. 
Lots of icebergs in the lake which we saw close up because we had a 40min ride on an amphibious vehicle 
The a spectacular cliff drive with the road very close to the sea
Next day 26/7 another wet and cold start. We followed a glacial valley now farmland
We were off to the Myvatn Nature Baths very similar to the Blue Lagoon which will vist on our second last day. We stopped briefly at some boiling water pools  wBathshich hadnot developed - the water  was too hot to swim in.
The Baths were  much like a Japanese Onsen except we wore bathers. The water was a creamery colour and not too hot. Both Leith & I went in. We had about 30m walk from the changing rooms to the water, very bracing since it was about 15c with light rain.
Stopped at the Gooafoss waterfall very impressive before our hotel in Akureyri

Comments

shelagh
2019-08-01

Most impressive/massive. 69 and 70 look as tho the Horseshoe falls at Niagara have crept in from somewhere, or have I had one too many wines??

Joseph + Wai Yoong
2019-08-01

Yes, Iceland is on our Bucket List. Have a fantastic time, David and Leith. Beautiful pictures.

2025-02-09

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