Iceland 2021, was it worth it?

BDG

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I'd spent a lot of time during the boredom of lock down reading various ride reports from all over the world, dreaming of places to visit. The various Iceland reports caught my attention as I've never been there. Then when I spotted Iceland was on the green list for travel my interest shot through the roof.

Contact was made with Tim, there was space on his second trip. Two mates, John and Christy said they were in as well. The fly in the ointment being my knackered knees and waiting for knee replacement surgery, but i thought if I can't cope with the off road I'd just resort to riding on the road.

Then the God of Sod's Law shoved his unwanted ugly head in and our pre booked flights got cancelled or the dates changed to days not suitable not once but a total of 5 bloody times. Not only was this getting frustrating but i began to think is this an omen, telling me not to go!

Then the day of loading the bikes at Hull, I'm en route to Hull when the fuel pump on my 690 craps itself, swiftly followed by me crapping myself as I'm doing 70 mph in the third lane overtaking traffic and the bike dies. Fortunately a very observant driver realised something was wrong and he shielded me in heavy traffic as I coasted across three lanes and onto the hard shoulder. Many thanks mate. By this stage, I'm thinking is this really another omen, "don't go to Iceland"

Plan B kicks in, get my 500 sorted, new tyres, air, oil and filter change etc and condense luggage down to fit on the enduro bike. Tim and the shippers are very helpful and they're happy if my bike arrives a few days late at Hull and all of the relevant customs and insurance paper work is changed. Jobs a good 'un. All sorted at last.

Then on the day of departure, through into the departure lounge at Manchester airport, an hour before the flight departure time, the announcement comes over that our flight is cancelled. FUCK and I'm getting seriously paranoid about going on this bloody trip. A week at Butlins in Skegness suddenly sounds appealing. However on checking Butlins is full so the only viable alternative is a flight later on that day from Stanstead. A few calls later and a very good mate turns up to drive the three of us from Manchester to Stanstead. As we board the plane I'm worriedly checking Bruce Willis isn't boarding and that nobody has a blue fuse poking out of their trainers.

Luckily the plane doesn't crash, we land in Iceland very late on. John goes to bed, Christy and myself go to the pub.
 
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Christy in the pub. More pics to follow.
 
I’m in! :thumb2
Not off to the greatest of starts! :blast
 
Day 1 dawns damp and gloomy but I couldn't give a monkey's. I'm here in Iceland after all the drama of getting here and it's time to pick up the bikes and go riding. Ecstasy. So off we go to meet the crew and pick up our bikes. The crew who I haven't met before as I missed the loading day in Hull consists of
Tim, our leader on his very well travelled and prepped KTM 640, font of all knowledge with an evil glint in his eye. Sounds so posh I keep wanting to doff my cap or salute him every time he speaks
Gary on his high mileage GS who turns out to be the quiet psychopath who will try anything on his GS.
Harold otherwise known as H on his GS who I'm amazed to find out is 73 and grows massively in confidence off road, especially for such a small guy on a big heavy bike, respect.
Jon on his sparkly new GSA with every gadget known to man. Jon is a veteran of many of Tim's previous Iceland trips. Jon has some very interesting tales to keep us amused.
Liam the effervescent Irish entertainer who's a laugh a minute on his very trick 500 exc that several people offer to buy. I just contemplate what bits to steal when his backs turned.
Plus my mates Jon on his 500 exc, quiet, calm and collected, yet still giddy like a kid in a sweet shop as he's dreamt of Iceland for a few years now.
Christy the quartermaster with his overloaded 500 exc complete with supplies for the entire population of Iceland just in case there's a blockade.
Plus moi, BDG (big daft geordie) aka Shaun, pre trip drama queen on another 500 exc.

We load up and head out of town getting on the first trail within about half an hour, heading along a trail longer than virtually anything in the UK without a single gate to open heading off into this mysterious land.

Tim had warned us all that we needed a 150 mile range, so during the mad rush of preparing my 500 I'd managed to borrow my mates 15 litre tank. John and Christy are both carrying extra fuel containers as they only have 12 litre tanks. Within 5 miles off road John's spare fuel parts company with his bike so Christy and myself rescue the bright red container.

It's just epic to be riding off road. Time to do some work, so narrative will continue.

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First cafe stop by the fault line of the 2 tectonic plates.

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The dreaded black sand, looks like riding on another planet; real handful on a GS.

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Is Tim pointing again?
 
Arrrrrgghh. That first day on the sand. That was hard work. Must have had the GSA chuck me off at least 6 times. Did I mention I hate sand. I was somewhat bruised and battered after that trail. At least I didn't break anything and managed to carry on. Great start to the report Shaun, Looking forward to this. .
 
This looks absolutely ace! Enjoy and have a safe trip all. Must see how Liam shipped his bike from IRL.
 
And if anyone's wondering why Christy never seems to get off his bike for the whole trip, here's the reason why?:D

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His broken side stand left him feeling isolated as we could all chat out of earshot from him :D
 
Arrrrrgghh. That first day on the sand. That was hard work. Must have had the GSA chuck me off at least 6 times. Did I mention I hate sand. I was somewhat bruised and battered after that trail. At least I didn't break anything and managed to carry on. Great start to the report Shaun, Looking forward to this. .

A couple of Shaun's photos can give you a reminder of that first day in the sand..... especially the optional (or not) floral excursion :eek:

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There are worse places to crash. The lupins were lovely. Shame I squashed a few.
 
This looks absolutely ace! Enjoy and have a safe trip all. Must see how Liam shipped his bike from IRL.

i didn't John, I'm one of Charlies 80's exiles - bike was shipped from Hull.

Myself and Jon flew from Heathrow -
- I was refused travel by BA because my passport said Liam and Covid docs said William - or vice versa - gets confusing.
No amount of manners, bad or otherwise could convince the check-in lady (and I use the term loosely) that I was one and the same.

Long story short..
- Plan-B: quick PDF doctoring of Covid docs. On close inspection of finalised article, it was decided it was more likely to get me arrested than safely across an international border,
- Plan C: Taxi to Windsor, beg GP to change name on NHS records (involved promise of a bottle of Midleton for Xmas), refresh NHS app, some records changed on-line but not the bastard Covid passport - but reckoned 50/50 was enough to blag if challenged on next attempt.

Went with plan C & D which involved expensive last minute tickets for a later flight with Icelandic Air.

Icelandic were delighted with my PDF and no issue boarding unlike their BA colleagues with their '..thems the rules, so sorry'.

Landed and entered Iceland without further incident and headed to the port to prep the bikes.

We're off - but have to admit I'm thinking to myself.. is this really worth it? Answer later.
 

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