Iceland

Herdisarvik

Monday August 2nd I was heading to the south coast of Iceland to visit some nearby sites. The first two, Reykjadalur Valley and Raufarholshellir Lava Tubes did not catch my attention. However, the crossing of Hveragerdi was the occasion to see horticultural greenhouses heated by electricity. As a reminder from Wikipedia "In 2018, electricity production reached 19,830GWhs, of which 13,814, or 69.7% by hydroelectric power stations and 6010GWhs, or 30.3% by geothermal power stations; wind power produced 4GWhs. Seltún-Krýsuvík Geothermal Hot Springs was a wonder of sulphide colors and smells. Alas, the trail to Pinir, Hot Spring, is very steep and slippery, although equipped with walking stick I gave up this challenge. Grænavatn crater comes from the collapse of the ejection cone and the water is of underground origin I found a bivouac in Herdisarvik.

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Seltún-Krýsuvík

Apavatn

Tuesday August 3 before the rain fell at the beginning of the afternoon I first visited Kerid crater a geological exception since recently the geologists have definitively solved the enigma of this volcano which is the consequence of the collapse of the cone after an eruption about 6,500 years ago. The water in the lake comes from the aquifer. Then I went to see the Urridafoss waterfall whose specificity is to have the largest flow in Iceland, 360 m³ per second. Anglers with an ad hoc permit can attempt to catch salmon and trout. I bivouacked in the direction of Laugarvatn.

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Kerid-crater

Sanda-river

Wednesday August 4 the rain was there all morning. The first visit concerned the geysers, Geysir which does not appear since the year 2000 following an earthquake, only Strokkur sends a jet every 10 minutes at 15 or 30 meters in height. Of course there were crowds waiting for the event. 10 km further on, the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, a sign gives the photo of a rainbow in good weather! I continued on route 35 to find a bivouac on the edge of the Sanda-river. The sky cleared up around 5:00 pm, a few rays of sunlight warming the atmosphere.

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Gullfoss

Route 26

Thursday August 5 was a mixed day, sunny morning and afternoon light rain. I had planned a hot bath in Fludir's Hot-pots, Secret-lagoon, oddly it doesn't open only at … 8:00 pm; I went my way. Then I visited two waterfalls, the first Fjalparfoss, which is a double side-coast waterfall; then the second Haifoss also a double waterfall but separate and, of great height. Bingo I was lucky enough to see a rainbow. At the start of the afternoon I found a bivouac of some sort, but with a little flower, reminding me of a Sydney Bechet hit.

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Haifoss

Stora-river

Friday August 6 was a trip in the highlands of Iceland, around +550 meters altitude, alas it was a gloomy weather with of course rain. By a gravel road I came to an angling village in the Litlisjor lake region. After crossing two fjords, one of which was signposted, I retraced my steps to bivouac at the water's edge.

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Anglers' village

Crossing a fjord

Jökuldalakvisl

Saturday July 7 again a gloomy day, leaden sky without rain. A trip in the Fjallabak National Park with a stop at Landmannalaugar then a passage at Kirkjufell to leave the park in order to find a bivouac. The landscapes are austere but grandiose by the black color of the excreta from volcanoes for millions of years. Numerous rivers of glacial origin crisscross the region with fords to be crossed feeding artificial lakes for power stations attested by gigantic pylons carrying electric cables.

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Hvolsvöllur

Sunday August 8 I left the bivouac of Jökuldalakvisl to stroll along the gravel road F225 in sublime landscapes with a low angle light of the rising sun between 6 and 8 o'clock in the morning. Shortly before the junction with the F26 I was stopped by two marshals of a rally of six 4x4, Icelandic gauge. I got to know the organizer of this rally. Two German bikers were also stopped. Then I visited the waterfall, Thyjofafoss, having the visit of a troop of riders accompanying horses. I traveled route 26 to Hella then the R1 to Hvolsvöllu without finding a bivouac; I had to be happy with the parking lot of the Lava Center.

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F225 gravel road