Done with our BackRoads tour, we were ready to set out on our own with a SUV that was ready for rough roads. We didnt want limits in venturing out to less traveled areas of Iceland. Heading north from Reykjavik, we donned helmets with lights and explored a volcano tube - the open 'tube' formed when lava flows, the outside cooling enough to harden into a rock shell while the molten lava works its way through. Just like we did! Then we found Grabok Crater volcanic cone to climb and walk around because....Iceland.
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| heading down down into the lava tube |
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| Viogelmir Lava Cave |
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| looking thru to the far end of tube |
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| lava field outside the lava tube, with crack |
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| huge Hraunfossar falls along the way |
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| Grabrok Crater in the distance |
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| walk along the rim of crater |
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| made it to the top! |
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| another crater nearby |
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| Koluglijufur gorge-formed by female troll Kola who buried her treasure nearby |
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| sunset in Skagafjordur |
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| Nemos on a rock, no idea why |
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| sunset at Skagafjordur |
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| Turk tries an Iceland hotdog - Meh |
A drive across the peninsula to our first natural hot springs - Grettir's Pool where legendary outlaw Grettir the Strong recovered after swimming over from the island of Drangey nearby. Or so the Saga says. Hot springs are a part of daily life in Iceland and we embraced this aspect of being an Icelander as often as we could! A required shower (its the law) and then into the pool for a soak and an opportunity to meet people-local and not. this site was staffed by a guy who made soup - DELICIOUS sitting beside the ocean.
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| a view of Drangey Island and the hot pool on the coast |
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| one of 2 springs |
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| view from the springs to the mountains |
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| YUM soup! |
