Sep 11 – Crossing the West Fiords

Our path today.

It was a cold night and clearly went below zero as this is what we saw when we drove out.

But the day was glorious. Sunny and NO WIND at all.

Before we left we went out to check out the red sand beach.

The photosphere.

I had brought my drone with me but up until now it had either not been allowed or it was just too windy. Today was perfect EXCEPT that when I tried to fly it, it said that the batteries were too cold to supply enough power. Lots of blue language followed. I guess the drone will not get any use here.

So some pictures from the ground.

A wide one.

The photosphere.

Looking back at our campground.

Then back in he van and back to the other side of this peninsula but first another look down on the beach from the switchbacks we were climbing.

There is an old fishing boat that was purposely beached that has become a tourist attraction. We didn’t stop but lots of people do.

As you can from he reflection the water was like glass.

More beautiful fiords to look down upon.

Next was Fossfjordur waterfall.

Again with the nice sky reflection.

The photosphere.

We passed by this tiny house (or something).

Next stop was Reykjafardarlaug Hot Pool. There were some artificial ones that looked kind of slimy.

But also a great looking natural one.

It had a nice sandy bottom but it was very hot. The guys in there said that their guide book said that the water temperature was around 50C.

The photosphere.

I just had to go in. It was too hot for Jennie.

I probably stayed to long because I was a bit dizzy and very red according to Jennie but did I ever feel good.

We had to stop while driving down this next fiord because the reflections were so good but then noticed that a seal was just floating in the very clear water near shore.

 

Jennie tried to have a conversation with it.

The roads we had been on so far today we dirt and most in not very good shape. This is what most of the road looked like.

It’s very hard to avoid the potholes when they are everywhere.

More fiords.

 

And even some snowy mountains.

Next stop was the giant waterfall Dynjandi.

It is quite the climb to get to the base but along the way there a whole string of small waterfalls.

The first part of the way up had a very civilized path and lookouts.

Then the “path” got a lot rougher. We were mostly scrambling over rocks. There was a lot of construction going on as they are trying to build better paths.

These were taken on the way down but you get the idea.

Getting closer.

This is one very impressive waterfall when you get up close.

I tried a blurred shot. I think I like unblurred better

Here is one with me in it, for some sense of scale, down in the right corner. You can see my hat but I should have worn my brighter jacket.

The photosphere.

Looking back down and out on the fiord that we were at the end of.

On a previous day we had noticed that one of the bolts that hold the license plate on had come loose and it was hanging down. We had a bit of string so we tied the loose end and held it up by tying the other end to the rear windshield wiper.

Today when we got back to he parking lot we noticed that the other bolt had come loose and the plate was only being held on by our bit of string and had been flapping around in the breeze.  I don’t know how it lasted but we were very lucky that string held over those rough roads. Since we couldn’t get at the nuts for the bolts because they were covered by the insulation on the inside of the door we just tied the plate to the spare tire. I pulled a lace out of my spare shoes and used it as well for added security.

I am sure that the campervan company is going to think that I drive like a madman since we broke the spare tire holder twice and now jiggled the license plate loose but on the road we have been on, fast or slow, the van is going to get a good shaking.

Just past Dynjandi there is a tunnel that takes you to the next fiord but there is also a dirt road that goes up and over.

It first goes along side the mountain and gave us this amazing view of the string of peaks on the far shore.

Up we go.

The scenery at the top was not that great, mostly just gravel, but the views of where we came from and where we were going down to were pretty good.

Down to our campground in the village of Pingeyri.

We checked out the rocky beach.

Across the fiord was a lonely house with a church below what looked like a huge volcanic crater.

And a fishing boat coming back to harbour.

It was a long day so we had an early night.