Tag Archives: Iceland Roadtrip

Jun8

A quick stop at Hvalfjordur

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Friday, 17-May-2024


I’ve mentioned previously, but I love it so much that I have to reiterate: The fun part of my roadtrip in Iceland was being able to stop at all the neat little things that I was while adventuring.

Hvalfjordur is a good example – It’s nothing much, sort of like the Saga of Kjartans in that it was just a placard on the side of the road. This time, with a strangely long dock stretching into the fjord nearby… but otherwise, just a simple lonely little sign.

I saw it in passing, pulled off the road at the next turn-out, and backtracked. Stepped out, took a moment to appreciate the cold and the wind, and just enjoyed the unrushed freedom that I had before checking out the sign, snapping a few pictures, and then getting back onto my trusty steed and charging off once again.

You can read the placard in the photos, but the long story short is that Hvalfjordur was an allied naval base during WWII – Iceland was actually neutral in the war, but was invaded by the British and United States for use as a base to support shipping in the North Atlantic, as well as a stop-over for aircraft flying from the US to the European theater. Hvalfjordur was one of the naval bases, a spot where everything from small tankers to the giant battleships could moor and refuel.

It’s neat to hear these tidbits of history, and I’m so thankful for the freedom to just stop and enjoy the world around me. Whether that’s a placard, a random fish spine that I found on the beach… or a dock and rainshower off shore.

Jun4

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!

Jun3

A mountain hot spring – Krosslaug hot springs!

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Tuesday, 14-May-2024


I mentioned briefly in my post about the Fossarrett waterfall that I’d planned on going to a hot spring spa, but it was closed for cleaning that day, right?

Well, I wasn’t going to let that keep me from some good old Icelandic hot springs. That’d be giving up! And Ben doesn’t give up! At least in this specific situation!


Thankfully, I had a giant in my corner – Google. Maps showed me a hot spring nearby, not too far off my planned route, that looked perfectly serviceable…. I loaded up the maps, put some music on, put the van in gear, and charged ahead.


It… uhh… Okay. Something about Iceland that I didn’t know. Not all roads are paved. I mean, sure. I know about that; sometimes, roads aren’t paved.

What I’m not used to it highways not being paved. I didn’t even consider that I should think about checking to see if the highway was paved! I mean, it’s on google maps as a major road!



The road to the hot spring wasn’t paved, is what I’m getting at here.

But you know what? It wasn’t that bad. And I wasn’t in a rush anyways, so driving slowly wasn’t a concern or worry or anything… I kept going. Why not, right?



I’ll tell you – it was worth it. 110% worth it.

When I arrived, there weren’t any cars nearby. I mean, heck. It looked more like an abandoned trailhead in the middle of the deep Oregon wilderness than a marked hot spring. It had an informational placard, though, so… parked, grabbed a towel and my book, and headed in.

I found a beautifully made hot tub in the middle of the wilderness.

We’re talking a cement patio around it. Nice rocks edging the pool, enough room for three or four people… this hot spring was a literal luxury jacuzzi. And I had it all to myself!

Worth it.