Oh little town of... Seyðisfjörður
Good evening all!
**I made it!! - Reykjavik**
Well, I made it! I am back in Seðisfjörður. That equals 2500 kms of cycling!!!
(As well as almost 500 kms of buses, 2000 kms of trains, and 400kms of hitchhiking over three months.)
And I have a story for every single meter....
What an exploration this time in Iceland has been! I have learned so much about the country, about the world, about myself, and about surviving in the (just sub) arctic. There is so much to tell about this country, I suspect that I will be posting about it for quite some time. I shall for all intents and purposes be brief here, especially because I crave a good nights sleep (oh and how I crave night at this point - it's been six weeks since I last experienced natural blackness...).
In fact, I shall perhaps leave just a few sentences to serve as an aperatif for what is to come in the near future...
**A short history of Iceland - Near Skogarfoss - Copyright 2011**
The wild camping in the East Fjords is the most stunning isolation I have ever experienced - it is like truly living out a childhood dream.
The Icelandic horses are so noble, and wise, with their warm winter coats still clinging on for dear life in quirky patches.
The silence experienced at the top of Hvannadalshnúkur is truly pure, and almost dreamlike.
Watching a dust devil break apart just a few meters from you when your cycling truly puts your life into perspective...
Soaking in natural hot pools, alone, as the sky catches fire around 1AM is simply unbelievable...
Having driven my body to the point of failure in Ásbyrgi, I learned so wonderfully the value of relaxation.
When in Iceland - EAT EAT EAT...
**There are worse places to have a flat tire... - Vik - Copyright 2011**
It is said that for every meter of elevation that you gain here, it is the same as gaining two meters of elevation anywhere else in the world. For every kilometer you cycle, you have cycled two kilometers anywhere else in the world (and god forbid you have a head wind... lets just say that I was very lucky to be PUSHED BY THE WIND!! from Seyðisfjörður to Reykjavík...). The conditions in this country really do push you to your own limits. But man is it ever worth it. I could write everybody a letter for ever hundred meters I rode... every 10 meters I climbed... every person I have met.
**A wild sage... - Skaftafell N. Park - Copyright 2011**
I have also come to understand that there is only one rule in Iceland... but you'll have to ask me that in person... it'll be more effective that way.
I will simply never forget my time here. This place has reshaped the way that I think about my life - down to the very last detail. What a magnificent country. If you ever have the chance to come here...
TAKE IT
**My first escape attempt - Highway 93 - Copyright 2011**
Well, apparently there was a rather large glacial burst in the south of the country a few days ago, which blew out a rather important bridge (in fact the only bridge...), and now I have to totally reverse my plans for getting to Reykjavík, and go through the north. All is well though - I saw the south in such magnificent detail already! And while indeed this unexpected flood may signal the pending eruption of Hekla (sp?) a rather large volcano, I'm hoping to be out of this country and eating schnitzel by the pound in Germany before that occurs... (Can anybody tell that I'm still really hungry?)
But hey - there are worse places to be stranded for a few weeks.
By the way, I have seen an awesome shirt. It said:
I laughed, and even briefly pondered purchasing this fine piece of merchandise...
Well, it is off to Germany next, where I shall meet Miranda, and we shall go gallivanting around the globe for five weeks, and then... who knows... Italy by motorbike? Tempting indeed...
**Climbing Hvannadalshnyukur - Skaftafell N. Park - Copyright 2011**
Statistics!!
Photos: >6000
Kms: >2500 by bike
Flat tires: 3
Kgs of granola consumed in Iceland: 10
Tasty Icelandic hot dogs: 5 (far too few)
Liters of pure Icelandic water straight out of the stream: Countless
Length of beard: <1 cm... :(
Days: 97
**Wisdom - Iceland - Copyright 2011**
Tonnes of love to all,
Góða Nott
-Ryley
"You are Loved. All is Well"
**I made it!! - Reykjavik**Well, I made it! I am back in Seðisfjörður. That equals 2500 kms of cycling!!!
(As well as almost 500 kms of buses, 2000 kms of trains, and 400kms of hitchhiking over three months.)
And I have a story for every single meter....
What an exploration this time in Iceland has been! I have learned so much about the country, about the world, about myself, and about surviving in the (just sub) arctic. There is so much to tell about this country, I suspect that I will be posting about it for quite some time. I shall for all intents and purposes be brief here, especially because I crave a good nights sleep (oh and how I crave night at this point - it's been six weeks since I last experienced natural blackness...).
In fact, I shall perhaps leave just a few sentences to serve as an aperatif for what is to come in the near future...
**A short history of Iceland - Near Skogarfoss - Copyright 2011**The wild camping in the East Fjords is the most stunning isolation I have ever experienced - it is like truly living out a childhood dream.
The Icelandic horses are so noble, and wise, with their warm winter coats still clinging on for dear life in quirky patches.
The silence experienced at the top of Hvannadalshnúkur is truly pure, and almost dreamlike.
Watching a dust devil break apart just a few meters from you when your cycling truly puts your life into perspective...
Soaking in natural hot pools, alone, as the sky catches fire around 1AM is simply unbelievable...
Having driven my body to the point of failure in Ásbyrgi, I learned so wonderfully the value of relaxation.
When in Iceland - EAT EAT EAT...
**There are worse places to have a flat tire... - Vik - Copyright 2011**It is said that for every meter of elevation that you gain here, it is the same as gaining two meters of elevation anywhere else in the world. For every kilometer you cycle, you have cycled two kilometers anywhere else in the world (and god forbid you have a head wind... lets just say that I was very lucky to be PUSHED BY THE WIND!! from Seyðisfjörður to Reykjavík...). The conditions in this country really do push you to your own limits. But man is it ever worth it. I could write everybody a letter for ever hundred meters I rode... every 10 meters I climbed... every person I have met.
**A wild sage... - Skaftafell N. Park - Copyright 2011**I have also come to understand that there is only one rule in Iceland... but you'll have to ask me that in person... it'll be more effective that way.
I will simply never forget my time here. This place has reshaped the way that I think about my life - down to the very last detail. What a magnificent country. If you ever have the chance to come here...
TAKE IT
**My first escape attempt - Highway 93 - Copyright 2011**Well, apparently there was a rather large glacial burst in the south of the country a few days ago, which blew out a rather important bridge (in fact the only bridge...), and now I have to totally reverse my plans for getting to Reykjavík, and go through the north. All is well though - I saw the south in such magnificent detail already! And while indeed this unexpected flood may signal the pending eruption of Hekla (sp?) a rather large volcano, I'm hoping to be out of this country and eating schnitzel by the pound in Germany before that occurs... (Can anybody tell that I'm still really hungry?)
But hey - there are worse places to be stranded for a few weeks.
By the way, I have seen an awesome shirt. It said:
Thank God
Grimsvötn is so much easier to pronounce than Eyjafjalljökull
Grimsvötn is so much easier to pronounce than Eyjafjalljökull
I laughed, and even briefly pondered purchasing this fine piece of merchandise...
Well, it is off to Germany next, where I shall meet Miranda, and we shall go gallivanting around the globe for five weeks, and then... who knows... Italy by motorbike? Tempting indeed...
**Climbing Hvannadalshnyukur - Skaftafell N. Park - Copyright 2011**Statistics!!
Photos: >6000
Kms: >2500 by bike
Flat tires: 3
Kgs of granola consumed in Iceland: 10
Tasty Icelandic hot dogs: 5 (far too few)
Liters of pure Icelandic water straight out of the stream: Countless
Length of beard: <1 cm... :(
Days: 97
**Wisdom - Iceland - Copyright 2011**Tonnes of love to all,
Góða Nott
-Ryley
"You are Loved. All is Well"
posted by John at 5:17 PM
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