Iceland, 4: Coastal Scenes And a Beautiful Gorge

Our fourth day in Iceland continued along the southern coast and then turned inland for a beautiful gorge.

Coastal scenes by Dyrholaey and Reynisfjara

Definitely hang on to your hat territory

Black pebble beach; most of the "beaches" we saw in Iceland
were black, like some in New Zealand...the recent volcanic origin

Famous basalt columns at Reynisfjara; we'd see
plenty more around the island

The Fjadrargljufur gorge; about a kilometer long
and several hundred meters deep; dug out into
the heath by river action from a lagoon and
retreating glacier

The terrain

Gorgeous gorge; we stayed that night at a private campground
in Kirkjubaejarklauster, somehow passing a whole day and night
without car/camper trouble

Iceland, 4: Waterfalls And Glaciers

Despite a late start, signing a new contract, 200km behind the previous day, we set forth again on the Ring Road, Iceland route #1, in our third Lava cars and campers rental. Despite this latest setback, we had another excellent day, seeing waterfalls, glacial scenes, coastal scenes, and one of the most striking gorges we have yet encountered. Southern Iceland is scenically extraordinary.

Route 1, the Ring Road, goes all around the island, sometimes
on the coast, more often not; interestingly, in eleven days, we
were rarely if ever out of a cell service area; the road is mostly
two-lane, paved, and includes some engineering marvels; nothing
much goes into the interior...it's mostly ice, tundra, and volcanic
waste

Often a volcano in view

Across an estuary, looking toward the sea to the south

Waterfalls everywhere; this one Seljalandsfoss

A neighbor down the escarpment

The volcano that halted air traffic in 2010, Eyja Fajalla Jokull

Peaceful on June 20th

Beautiful stiles and other wood here and there

Entrance (sod roof) to a traditional cave dwelling; the settlers,
as in Ireland and other places, wasted no time in deforesting the
land, leaving only stone to build with; or caves

Same day, different waterfall: Skogafoss

On the trail leading up to the Solheimajokull glacier: icebergs
in its lagoon; Icelanders have some interesting ideas about lagoons

Tongue of the glacier

Longer view

Iceland, 3: Another Camper!

So after Fridheima we departed the Golden Circle and headed for Iceland's route #1, the Ring Road, having decided to do it in anti-clockwise fashion. Somewhere along the way we stopped to wait out a hail storm. When we turned on the heater (diesel powered, as was the Nissan), smoke began to fill the cabin. A millisecond's reflection suggested this was untenable, so back we turned, 200km to Keflavik and Lava cars and campers. By the time we got there, only the night shift was present, but they grasped the situation and eventually found us yet another Nissan NV200 mini van camper. We checked it out pretty thoroughly, then spent the night at their lot, checking it out even more thoroughly. The pix are self-explanatory. Exasperating!

Iceland, 3: Fridheimar, A Most Unusual Culinary Experience

As might be expected, there is very little vegetable (or fruit) gardening in Iceland. Actually, none, except for the number of greenhouses scattered around the island. One of these is Fridheimar, on the Golden Circle, which grows something like 20% of the tomatoes consumed by Icelanders and their visitors. Fridheimar has a tomato-themed restaurant in one of its greenhouses, so, of course, we had to visit. And eat. A not-to-be-missed experience; seriously.

Huge 3 and 4 meter vines growing from these little boxes

Bread station: incredible stuff

Among the restaurant areas

Of course they grow basil too: tomato's best friend

Table with a view, please

The Bloody Mary was tempting, but I had to drive

Bread; the anchovie/olive was superb

How to serve basil at the table

My soup; can't remember whether it was the 1st or 2nd bowl;
Vicki said it wasn't as good as La Madeline, but I counter that
place and atmosphere has to count; and it was pretty good

Want to pollinate? Gotta' have bees...throughout the buildings

Great place, in so many ways

Souvenir