Sep 12 – North Coast of the West Fiords

Another rare day in Iceland. Sunny, clear and no wind.

And another long, mostly driving day.

First we drove up to the town of Isafordur through another 6 km tunnel.

This one was interesting because the first half was single lane and thankfully the people that had to give way and use the pullout were going the other way. At near the halfway point another tunnel joined this one at our first underground T intersection and from then on it was 2-way.

We got some gas and wanted shop for food but the grocery store didn’t open until 11.

So we decided to checkout the nearby Bunarfoss.

The trail we took up went through that planted forest you see above Jennie’s head.

Then steeply up through high bushes.

You can see how steep it was from the angle that Jennie is standing.

There is much more to the waterfall above this section but the trail got much rockier and even steeper so we decided that this was enough.

A photosphere.

Looking back down towards the van.

The trail down went right beside the stream but was straight down.

Since the store was still not open but drove to a viewpoint high on a mountain. To get there we had to go through another 5 km long (2-way) tunnel to the town of Bolungarvik. Then to a relatively smooth dirt road that zigzagged up.

A thick bank of fog was rolling in from the ocean and we were worried that we wouldn’t see anything at the top.

We were half right. It was clear to the south and you could see the ex NORAD radar station, now used by the Coast Guard.

After walking out a road we could see down into the valley on that side.

A bit hazy but still a great view.

A wider view.

Me out taking this photosphere.

Trying to use the new looking viewing platform on the north side was another story.

Looking down.

Out at the end of the platform, with see-thru grating of course.

Then I looked down with the sun directly behind me.

The rainbows were more prominent through our polarized sun glasses so I tried a shot though them.

While the halo effect was pretty cool it was too bad it was so foggy here because I have seen pictures of the sheer, very high cliffs and the amazing view across the fiord.

We had lunch and headed back down to shop.

Heading east going down and back up a series of beautiful fiords.

Through this short tunnel through a rock cut.

The view at the top of two of the fiords.

And the photosphere.

I love these amazing long distance views.

Even a glacier.

We eventually left the fiords and climbed high up to a plateau that still had some snow.

Then steeply down and along the shore to the village of Drangsnes.

Once again the description of the campsite online slightly oversold itself. It said the village had some hot tubs on the shore that we could use. It didn’t say that they were $12 a person, small and when we went by, full. They were also just artificially heated tubs much like what we have at home.

There was a small field that you could park in but we always choose the gravel parking lot. The fields can get very muddy and the lot is closer to the facilities.

The fog was rolling in here so the village disappeared.

Jennie headed up to the warmth and comfort of the kitchen / dining area to work on her computer.

I walked out to the shore to check out this tiny lighthouse. I guess it didn’t have to be tall because it was on a hill.

Another cold night with the heater in the van going all the time.