Iceland East

At Vik went to a black sand beach with the purple sky as a background. Moved over some black swampy area, some lava fields covered with moss. Stopped at Laufskálavarða, put my stone in a cairn, rested a bit.

The sky was covered with low clouds. Next, I passed Kirkjubæjarklaustur and another village with a waterfall running trough. I crossed from southern to eastern region of Iceland. This region is marked by Vatnajokul, glaciers, black send, …

Skeiðará Bridge Monument reminded me of what power can be produced from volcano and glacier. I hiked to Svínafellsjökull glacier, as it is impressive it looked dirty a bit. Jökulsárlón lake was another chance to see a glacier, beautiful colors of sky, lake and ice.

I tried to find boat ride on lake but was booked for a few hours, so I went to Diamond beach, were sea return ashore pieces of ice. Ice on black sand was a nice view. I even saw one seal swimming. I put my feet in the water and yes it was cold.

After road followed the coast of fjords, it was a more dynamic ride with great views. Stopped for sandwich and beer, 8 EUR, before the tunnel. At Djúpivogur I had to decide to take a long road or shortcut. I filled the gas tank and went for Oxi shortcut, it was challenging, gravel, 17% slope, curves… At the end I come to the platform, the landscape was green, even some trees, lake.

At Egilsstaðir I decided to make a longer stop, went shopping (bananas, water, crackers, low alcohol beer, 13 EUR). I went to a beer tasting at Askur kraft brewery, 24 EUR. Finished with gourmet dinner at Nielsen (in the oldest house in area), reindeer tartar, lamb main dish and chocolate mousse with ice cream for dessert, 65 EUR.

I was tired and stopped at the Rjúkandi waterfall for a night, the night was quite cold.