Day 6

Hello All,

It was another beautiful day here in the North Atlantic.  It's unbelievable how we've lucked out with our weather (along with everything else).  We had the best breakfast of the trip though it was just a better version of every breakfast and decided to escape the midges and go to the town in the north called Husavik.  It is the most popular place from which to go whale watching but as Rebecca and I have both done that we decided to give it a miss.  This was the first time we've been to a village that was worth strolling around.  This is a view of the dock.





This was across the street.



I tried to enter quietly in case the baby Jesus was sleeping!



The painting above the altar depicted Jesus in a lava field of course.






This is what Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" looks like in Icelandic.  It's a very small church and cute.



After walking for 10 minutes of course it was time for a cuppa and some pastries.







I don't know what the non chocolate covered pastry is but we had one the first day which was half dipped in chocolate and it was fab.  Plain ain't bad either.  I don't know what the chocolate covered one was either - sort of eggy bread.  We were satisfied!



Afterwards we had a bit of a walk and saw some lovely old houses.



We had a bit more walk around the small village, loaded up on picnic items and drove north toward a hike that I had read about.  Along the way we pulled off to check out the north sea just below the arctic.  This is as far north as we will get.  The peninsula behind Rebecca goes farther north and there is a bit on the north western side of Iceland which we won't get to which is northern still.  The only bit which is in the arctic circle is an island almost directly north of here.



I tried to look over the edge to find some puffins but I found these guys instead.



Yesterday we tried to go to a park north of Detifoss but the road was closed.  Since it was such a lovely day and it was early yet, we decided to get to the park from the north.  I don't think it's a major tourist attraction but basically it is a horseshoe canyon.  It's hard to explain.  Even when you're there it's hard to imagine what it is.  We looked at the map at the visitor's center and the hikes were labeled A1, A2, A3, etc. explaining how hard they were and how long they took.  After yesterday's crater experiences I was keen to take an hour and a half easy hike and thanks to the crater experiences and Rebecca's 4 mile run with the midges this morning she was of a like mind.  Of course, once on the trails, they aren't labeled by numbers but by names.



We did choose a bit we knew would be tough to get above the canyon.  This is actually a picture of the descent but you get it.  I've never done anything like it before but it made this ridiculous climb seem very safe and fun.



Once we were up we took a trail that went through fields which were nice enough but after 20 minutes we back tracked and walked along the ledge of the canyon.  Here are some pictures of what the thing looks like.

The first time we looked at the vista, Rebecca said, "OK, why is this here?"
Of course, after a bit of hiking you gotta have some skyr!



And of course, when you're in Iceland you gotta do like the locals and do a little stacking!



On the drive back we got this picture.



Back at Husavik we had some fantastic fish and chips and a curry fish soup and a couple of beers.  It was really idyllic after a good day of hiking.  We tried to fuel up before driving back to Myvatn but I was too stupid to figure out how to work the pump.  Our diesel car gets a zillion miles to the gallon so it's no problem but I'm trying to keep it full just in case.

We had a bit of a rest and then there was really only one thing to do.



All in all it was a lovely day.  Oh, one more thing.  You may not know this but I am a fairly big Bjork fan.  Oddly, driving around Iceland, Bjork's music doesn't fit so well.  It's a shame.  I brought 8 albums worth.  (I also brought a bunch of Sigur Ros but their stuff makes me want to steer the car into a lava field!"  Today, Rebecca offered the following - "You know, Bjork's music really doesn't depict the Icelandic landscape... is always has the sound of lasers!"

R