KO and the Turk: Trolling the Fjords of the Peninsula of the Trolls and the Westfjords

Fjords would be the theme of the next few days as we traveled along the fjord fingers of the northwestern parts of Iceland. Since we would not be traveling the tourist 'Ring', we would be in remote, rugged areas. Hence the car rental upgrade we were required to have. In these areas, we met the most Icelanders which grounded the trip to provide a bit of reality.

Our drive today took us to Davik (known for their blueberries that were ripe NOW) and then along the coastline, through numerous tunnels which were typically one-lane. This required driving through dark tunnels intently looking for car headlights in the distance in order to plan the best pullover space that appeared occasionally on our side of the road. (the other lane always had right of way).

We stayed in a hotel near Homavik built near a 'Troll House' with a Witchcraft Museum nearby as this area is the Troll Peninsula and very 'sorcery' in their tales. We got to swim in the local hot pool after enjoying a morning dip in the Hofsos town hot pools with beautiful views. Lots of hot pools to enjoy! We eventually arrived at Isafjordur, a larger town complete with a cruise ship dock which dwarfed the town with visitors. We did some mountain biking there and enjoyed the local brewery and a unique dinner restaurant while staying in a local house made into a basic hotel.

looking down on Sudavik from 'blueberry hill'

he didnt want to hike uphill until...BERRIES

our Icelander advisor on all things blueberry

old berry scooper

quaint restaurant known for fish soup, rye bread

all you can eat! YUM

after all - its the Troll Peninsula! at town pool

cute house in Siglufjordur-former herring center. no more herring

found YARN at local brewery, of course

harbor, former spot for herring packaging

local art..and old men

art at metal shop Siglufjordur

our drive to the Westfjords

driving in the countryside is DIRTY

road congestion

picturesque town warm pool beside fjord - Hofsos

of COURSE we swam

turk stayed in hot tub

pools in Iceland have underwater detection cameras, not lifeguards

passed modern, out of place, church Blonduos

Purebred Icelandic horses everywhere

last execution Iceland 1830

volcanic 'mounds' of Vatnsdalsholar

Volcanic mounds of Vatnsdalsholar were created by enormous landslide at end of the last ice age, creating numerous hills along the mouth of the valley.

typical Icelandic farm

1947 pool from ancient bathing hot spring

one must walk to bathhouse from hotel

nearby natural hot pool

a 'must' before dinner

same pool as community swim club used in 1940s

nearby Troll House!

Troll chair

escape from Troll House-it had a TROLL!

Where the giant rocks came from !!

Taking seriously the need to bring protection and aid on daily basis!

controversial salmon farming in fjords (Norwegian owned)

a stop at old house for tea and cake, and a break in the drive

quaint room with view to fjord

glacier in background

cloudy, misty, chilly, fjords and more fjords

waterfalls everywhere

Isafjordur, which had a cruise ship with more than town's population :'(

ship in distance, town abuts to avalanche wall-which we biked

sheep-run brewery!

oldest house in Iceland-older were made of turf and didnt last

biked, then climbed to falls

a fishing town working to be tourist town

'dottir' means daughter of fathers name

animated host of dinner at T.joruhusid

long tables, fish buffet, all you can eat

Turk is READY

cast iron skillets of fish caught that day

where did these old USA cars come from?

... and why a hearse?

start of 7 tier Dynjandi waterfall

just the lower part

Despite driving rains, we head north/west through the Westfjords.

much roadwork to open theWestfjords to tourism

built same year as Titanic

purposely beached here in the Westfjords when it was put out of commission 70years of service

water is different!!! its the Atlantic ocean, not fjord.

decommissioned WWII plane from Keflavik, here

Latrabjarg-westernmost land of Iceland. lava layered cliffs 14mil yrs old

We drove to the westernmost part of Iceland, also considered the oldest land here. Latrabjrg is largest bird cliff in Iceland, and considered significant for the world (to the birds). But weather was awful - strong winds and rain. So, no birds for me to see. and no puffins!!