Eruptions, erections and Champagne.
- Thread starter Timolgra
- Start date
I only took photos for the first half of today, driving rain soak my camera later. We rode through very strong winds which whipped up the black ash sending it snaking down the road finding it's way into your helmet and eyes.
On long straights like this it would normally be tempting to just crack the throttle but nobody really drives fast in Iceland and it was wonderful to soak up the felling of this wild and barren area.
It continued for perhaps 100 miles where we stopped in a cafe/garage at Vik soaking wet.
Looking south towards the sea.
And to the north occasional narrow strips of more fertile land.
I could describe this area as stunningly miserable if that makes sense.
On long straights like this it would normally be tempting to just crack the throttle but nobody really drives fast in Iceland and it was wonderful to soak up the felling of this wild and barren area.
It continued for perhaps 100 miles where we stopped in a cafe/garage at Vik soaking wet.
Looking south towards the sea.
And to the north occasional narrow strips of more fertile land.
I could describe this area as stunningly miserable if that makes sense.
Our neighbours from the past two nights pass us.
Sensing it's 'THAT' time we pull over near small farm buildings.
I share my biscuit and have a friend.
All around here the effects of last years volcano, which is close by, can be seen.
We passed the small town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, try saying that after a few beers, then around 40m miles of desolate nothingness amongst the lava fields in strong winds and cold, hard driving rain.
Calling it a day at Skogar we stopped in a small but lovely campsite to sit out the rest of the rain.
I chatted with two Spanish lads who were cycling, one had tried to battle the wind and rain back to Vik, only 35 kms away, after 4 hours he'd only made 10 km so tuned around and was back in 10 minutes!......they were waiting for the bus.
We sat it out drying our gear on the underfloor heating in the shower.
Sensing it's 'THAT' time we pull over near small farm buildings.
I share my biscuit and have a friend.
All around here the effects of last years volcano, which is close by, can be seen.
We passed the small town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, try saying that after a few beers, then around 40m miles of desolate nothingness amongst the lava fields in strong winds and cold, hard driving rain.
Calling it a day at Skogar we stopped in a small but lovely campsite to sit out the rest of the rain.
I chatted with two Spanish lads who were cycling, one had tried to battle the wind and rain back to Vik, only 35 kms away, after 4 hours he'd only made 10 km so tuned around and was back in 10 minutes!......they were waiting for the bus.
We sat it out drying our gear on the underfloor heating in the shower.
Despite it raining all through the night it was a great spot to camp.
I spoke to the locals about the effects of last years volcano as this was the most severly affected area, there was around 5 inches of black ash over everything.
You can see from this photo that the volcano, Eyjafjallajokull is on the top left and we're on the bottom left at Skogafoss.
Most folk outside of Iceland had a good moan about the effect on air traffic forgetting about those struggling to continue with their lives nearby.
The effects are still very much evident.
This has lead to some great T shirts like the one I posted earlier for Ash and this one
I spoke to the locals about the effects of last years volcano as this was the most severly affected area, there was around 5 inches of black ash over everything.
You can see from this photo that the volcano, Eyjafjallajokull is on the top left and we're on the bottom left at Skogafoss.
Most folk outside of Iceland had a good moan about the effect on air traffic forgetting about those struggling to continue with their lives nearby.
The effects are still very much evident.
This has lead to some great T shirts like the one I posted earlier for Ash and this one
We camped every night and in Iceland you need a good tent.
I had bought a Hilleberg Nallo 2GT but with two of us, plus wet bike gear and the possibilty of being laid up in poor weather we would have also need a tarp to stay comfortable which would be a right pain in the arse with the wind. (Isn't it funny how a sentence turns out like that).
So I had the chance of swopping mine for a Hilleberg Kaitum 3GT, a vestibule at each end meant bike gear at one end and loads of space yet packs down small and fairly light.
It was perfect.
Washing and drying in the same old way.
24 hour daylight is great until it's time to sleep but the good thing about travelling with a woman is they carry very handy eye patches.
Women also tend to do a lot of forward planning so after a slap I was handed some proper ones she'd brought. Either are recommended.
I had bought a Hilleberg Nallo 2GT but with two of us, plus wet bike gear and the possibilty of being laid up in poor weather we would have also need a tarp to stay comfortable which would be a right pain in the arse with the wind. (Isn't it funny how a sentence turns out like that).
So I had the chance of swopping mine for a Hilleberg Kaitum 3GT, a vestibule at each end meant bike gear at one end and loads of space yet packs down small and fairly light.
It was perfect.
Washing and drying in the same old way.
24 hour daylight is great until it's time to sleep but the good thing about travelling with a woman is they carry very handy eye patches.
Women also tend to do a lot of forward planning so after a slap I was handed some proper ones she'd brought. Either are recommended.
I wanted to visit Pingvellir, the junction of two tectonic plates of the mid Atlantic ridge and are more visible here than anywhere else in the world.
Don't worry, I'm not snapping one off.
Pingvellir was also notable for many other reasons amongst them was the drowning of women in the lake, Drekkingarhylur.....I expect they deserved it
Don't worry, I'm not snapping one off.
Pingvellir was also notable for many other reasons amongst them was the drowning of women in the lake, Drekkingarhylur.....I expect they deserved it
We want to ride across Iceland off tarmac next so get up to near Gullfoss where the route starts proper, we camp at the nearby geezer.
It's hot!
It's like the earth ejaculating ..........every few minutes.
The only other UK riders we met were these guys who'd shipped their bikes out and flown themselves in to save time.
On of the Dakars had had a rear brake seize on, melting the piston and warping the disc out in the Western Fjords, miraculously Vikingbiking had sorted them out.....I checked Ange's rear brake that night.
It's hot!
It's like the earth ejaculating ..........every few minutes.
The only other UK riders we met were these guys who'd shipped their bikes out and flown themselves in to save time.
On of the Dakars had had a rear brake seize on, melting the piston and warping the disc out in the Western Fjords, miraculously Vikingbiking had sorted them out.....I checked Ange's rear brake that night.
It seems everything Icelandic undulges in intimate rituals.
See what I mean.
I want to wait for the weather to pick up before riding across the interior so stay put for another day.
The campsite has no showers but we're allowed to use a hotel's hot tub, with water straight from the earth. It had a strong smell of sulphur as did nearly all the hot water.
Great once you dashed from the changing room in freezing winds and got in.
See what I mean.
I want to wait for the weather to pick up before riding across the interior so stay put for another day.
The campsite has no showers but we're allowed to use a hotel's hot tub, with water straight from the earth. It had a strong smell of sulphur as did nearly all the hot water.
Great once you dashed from the changing room in freezing winds and got in.
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
We camped every night and in Iceland you need a good tent.
I had bought a Hilleberg Nallo 2GT but with two of us, plus wet bike gear and the possibilty of being laid up in poor weather we would have also need a tarp to stay comfortable which would be a right pain in the arse with the wind. (Isn't it funny how a sentence turns out like that).
So I had the chance of swopping mine for a Hilleberg Kaitum 3GT, a vestibule at each end meant bike gear at one end and loads of space yet packs down small and fairly light.
It was perfect.
Cracking looking tent Tim, so I googled it. Just had the shock of my life when I saw the cost!!! How the blazes can it be so expensive?
Yes very, very expensive!! There's no way I could afford one new it came to me through a chance exchange complete with a full length footprint.
I saw quite a few Hillebergs on this trip and their after sales service is 1st class should any problems arise.....even 20 years later from some reports!
We have a couple of hundred miles of mainly offroad riding to do today....or perhaps we'll camp in the middle of nowhere half way.
Whatever we decide, the weather's looking promising, Ange has washed and dried all her knickers etc. so we're good to go with an early start.
Just before the tarmac ends we spend some time at Gullfoss waterfall before the hoards of coach parties arrive.
Right it's time to make Ange's dream come true, ride across the interior of Iceland, off tarmac.
Whatever we decide, the weather's looking promising, Ange has washed and dried all her knickers etc. so we're good to go with an early start.
Just before the tarmac ends we spend some time at Gullfoss waterfall before the hoards of coach parties arrive.
Right it's time to make Ange's dream come true, ride across the interior of Iceland, off tarmac.
Yes very, very expensive!! There's no way I could afford one new it came to me through a chance exchange complete with a full length footprint.
It's heartwarming, seeing it being put to such good use
I'm thinking of venturing all the way up to The Peak District this weekend with your old tent, must be all of 40 miles north
Pingvellir looks fantastic... did you feel the earth move?
It was only later in the trip I realised how close to her own 'comfort zone' Ange was, in fact later she was well out of it before I realised
So regardless of her being my better half, I do take my hat off to her for pushing this dream to come true.
So regardless of her being my better half, I do take my hat off to her for pushing this dream to come true.
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