Monument to Stephan G. Stephansson at Vatnsskar pass near Varmahli in northern Iceland. The work of Rkarur Jnsson. Stephan G. Stephansson (i.e. Stefn Gumundur Gumundsson, was an Icelandic poet who lived much of his life in Alberta, Canada. IMG_6049p1
From Bogarnes we struck off for the north of Iceland along Route 1, Icelands ring road. Our guide, Holm, advised this would be a day of mostly driving, heading to Eyjafjrur for a whale watching cruise.
A little after 11 a.m. we we in the vicinity of Varmahli. The coach stopped at the Stephan J. Stephansson Monument for a photo opportunity. Stephan J. Stephansson was an Icelandic poet, though he lived much of his life in Alberta, Canada. The outcropping overlooks the valley of Skagafjrur and with a view east to Vatnsskar Pass. Rugged but beautiful country.
Continuing on into Varmahli, we stopped for a lunch break. Like numerous waypoints on Icelands highways, the Olis in Varmahli is a gas station along with a convenience store and food counter. (Olis and the similar N1 travel plazas are akin to Sheetz, Turkey Hill and Wawa operations in the USA, except the Icelandic cousins have larger dining areas.)
Susan and I each had an Icelandic hot dog for lunch. Icelanders love their hot dogs. Icelandic hot dogs are made principally from lamb and are sold everywhere in the country. Ours were by melted cheese and crispy fried
onion toppings. They are good! Technically, the Icelandic word for a hot dog is pylsur, but everyone calls them hot dogs.
From Varmahli, we made for Hauganes on the Eyjafjordur (Eyja Fjord). Whale Watching Hauganes would take the group on their boat for a cruise along the fjord to look for whales. But first, we had to don survival suits over our clothing and jackets. Thus attired we set out. Alas! No whales were to be seen in the 2 1/2 hour cruise down the fjord and back. However, it was enjoyable to be out on a fjord. Coffee and tea were served to keep the whale watchers warm. We passed a cruise ship, Royal Caribbeans Jewel of the Seas, sailing from Akureyri and two other whale watching vessels. There were also plenty of seabirds about, mostly kittiwakes. Returning to port, we passed a former fish processing plant at Hjalteyri. The closed herring factory is being converted to center. A flock of eider ducks greeted our return. The captain was apologetic, but, as everyone knew, sometimes these nature trips dont work out.
Herds of sheep are allowed to roam during the summer and are rounded up in the fall for shearing. DSC_0099p1
