As usual Im awake at 4am but Ian is still snoring loudly. We still have low cloud but its looking a bit brighter than yesterday. I fall back asleep.
By the time I next wake its 8am. We had planned an earlier start but never mind. Last night Ian was concerned we might not get the van out as people were parked nose to tail, now its not a problem as everybody has left!
Theres a huge queue of vehicles on the road toothe bi weekly vehicle ferry to Denmark is leaving this morning.
We drive to the end of town to do a short walk up to Tvisongur, an art installation half way up the steep hillside. A sign tells us its only 700m but its a pretty steep 700m!
Up at the top we find a concrete igloo with seven domes. Fortunately the lady at the gallery has explained that we need to stick our heads through the holes and whisper to each other. Were not very good at whispering but we give it a go. The whisper echos around the chamber. We then try various other different sounds from low to high pitched ooos
and aaahs. Im glad the lady explained before we went or I might have found this a little disappointing. Actually its rather fun.
We descend the hill and make our way back through the mountain pass to Egilsstadir. We need fill the diesel tank and do some shopping as we are heading north through some fairly remote places. Though something tells me there will be fuel and food if we need it.
Its only 10.05 so the big supermarket isnt open but we see another smaller one close by. We stock up on essentials and Ian fills the tank.
Now we are off to explore Studlagil Canyonif we can! I say this because the trek involves driving down an ‘F Road. These are Icelands mountain roads, usually only open to 4x4s and only in the summer months. They are packed earth or loose gravel and notoriously narrow and full of potholes! We are going to give it a try if the road is open.
We reach the turning and the road looks OK, though it soon turns from tarmac to loose gravel. Ian still seems up for the run. Fortunately we have a bright
There are two ways to see the canyon. The first is on the west side. Its the easiest run as the road is better maintained and its a mere 250m walk down a metal staircase to a viewing platform at the bottom. The only problem is that its not the best side to see it from! The east side involves a detour down a narrower and less well maintained track then a 10km hike there and back. Guess which one we choose?
We are at car park number one. Its possible to drive to car park two to shorten the hike to 5km but neither of us likes the look of the packed mud track so we decide to walk it.
The track to the canyon isnt that pleasant, especially when a 4x4, travelling too fast falls into a pothole splatters me with brown mud. Cheers mate!
At last we have arrived at the canyon and its absolutely stunning. Worthy of many oohs and aaahs. Tall hexagonal basalt columns line
the sides with a bright blue torrent of water running in between. This canyon was only recently discovered when a controversial dam was built. The result was that the water levels were lowered revealing the stone columns which no one previously knew existed.
Finally back at the van, we grab a bite to eat. Most people in cars did drive the precarious second track but not so many of the vans attempted it.
It would be possible to continue on the F road on the west side to reach our campsite but we elect to go back to the main ring road. Weve had enough thrills for one day!
Our camp tonight is in the tiny village of Modrudalur, the highest in Iceland at 495m. It has a very pretty church and a quirky campsite. Ian goes off to explore the camp kitchen. He describes it as quaint and thinks I should take a look! Its a turfed roof affair half submerged in soil. Theres a
distinct earthy smell and the wind is blowing through it at a rate of knots. No problem getting a table here! We decide to cook in the van.
