Daily Archives: June 4, 2024

The nature trail at Grettislaug

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The nature trail at Grettislaug

Thursday, 16-May-2024


Wednesday evening, I had planned on camping out at Miðjanes campground… but then I noticed that a nearby campground happened to have hot springs and a nature trail. Advantages of a chill roadtrip – I can change plans on the fly!

I pulled up, set up camp, and… wasn’t able to use the hot springs, because they were actually a public pool. Which shouldn’t have been an issue, but… Okay. Awkward thing to admit. I didn’t have a bathing suit. I know, I know, how could I have forgotten to pack it… but you know what? I was planning on either huge spa resorts where I could buy a swimsuit, or small back country hot springs were I could just wear my boxers. I hadn’t been to a big resort to buy a pair yet, and Grettislaug was connected to a school, so I wasn’t going to rock the boxers.

Instead, I had a relaxing evening, and then explored the nearby nature trails on Thursday morning.



They were super cool!

I’d made a good choice, no doubt – The trails around Grettislaug weren’t too extensive, but they wound around a few natural hot springs that were especially picturesque, and came back to camp again via a bird-blind that afforded some excellent views and birdwatching opportunities.

It was relaxed, enjoyable, and… you know what? A continuation of this roadtrip being exactly the chill experience that I had been looking for.

And seriously. Look at that photo I got of the pallet by the water. Just… Sometimes, my artistic-ness… it scares me. Just so beautiful!

Laxdela and the saga of Kjartans

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Wednesday, 15-May-2024


Just a quick post with a neat placard and some pretty waterfalls.

As I was driving up toward the Westfjords, and my new campground, I found myself going through a mountain pass. I love mountain passes. Something about them seems… primal? Alive? More… legendary.

Well, as fate would have it, this mountain pass was legendary. And this placard by the side of the road explained it.

I stopped, read the sign, flew Droney around, and appreciated the cold mountain air. I reveled in the smell of snow, and stayed a bit longer than I needed to. That’s the whole point of the roadtrip, right? I mean, I’ve seen placards and historic markers on the side of roads in the United States, but I can’t think of a time I’ve had the freedom to stop and learn about them… Next time I travel across the country, that’s the goal.

For now, I met that goal in Iceland. And learned about the sad tale of Kjartans, and how you can’t always have everything you want.



Wikipedia link to the saga: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxd%C3%A6la_saga