My time within the Icelandic Westfjords was coming to a detailed. A part of me was unhappy to be heading again to civilization however truthfully I used to be excited to get again to the Ring Highway, which is known for…properly, being paved. I imply there’s solely so many potholes you’ll be able to hit earlier than you’re feeling like your rental automobile is simply going to disintegrate, in spite of everything.
I bid a fond farewell to the Resort Djupavik and began the lengthy trek again towards my vacation spot for that night: Iceland’s second-largest metropolis, Akureyri. Word: once I say “second-largest metropolis” I’m being factually correct however I don’t need you to assume Los Angeles versus New York or something like that, Akureyri has a inhabitants of about 20,000 individuals. However nonetheless, it was civilization so it’d be a pleasant distinction from the spartan Westfjords.
My thought course of when planning the journey
Iceland is a land of coasts. A lot of the waterfalls and large vacationer points of interest are alongside the coast, whereas the center of the island nation is stuffed with mountains and plateaus (and an unbelievable nationwide park). I knew of the large ticket objects alongside the southern coast and I knew in regards to the Snaefellsness peninsula and the Westfjords on the west coast, however I didn’t actually know of an excessive amount of (outdoors of some waterfalls) on the northern nor japanese coasts. I knew of a spot known as the Vestrahorn on the southeast tip of the island and I used to be within the far northwest of the island. There actually wasn’t a great way round it: I used to be going to must drive all the way in which round.
I noticed rapidly that this was turning right into a driving trip as a lot because it was a panorama pictures trip. It was okay although, all of the driving was going to be on the entrance finish. As soon as I made it to the southern coast it will be simply nice, I informed myself.
Again to day 5 although. It was going to be a driving day.
The drive
The primary a part of the drive was getting again to the Ring Highway, which meant unpaved roads potholes. At the very least it was in daylight this time although. Oh and the surroundings was simply unbelievable as properly, I despatched the drone as much as get an incredible look and the undulating hills because the street wound up and down the fjords.
After a number of hours bouncing across the potholed street I ultimately had essentially the most heavenly of left turns onto Freeway 1: I had lastly returned to the Ring Highway! I cranked my music, put the home windows down, and put the pedal to the steel (okay not likely the velocity restrict in Iceland is 90km/h, round 54mph, however metaphorically). The northern coast of Iceland was completely gorgeous and equally distant in comparison with the Westfjords, there’s simply not a lot there. Sometimes I’d cross a number of homes assembled shut to one another in what may cross as a village, however I nonetheless felt removed from civilization.
To assist break up the drive I’d cease when I discovered one thing fascinating for a few snaps. Iceland has some great non secular structure (regardless of being some of the atheistic nations in Europe) so a number of the next photos are of church buildings I discovered on the drive to Akureyri.
Hvítserkur
Shortly after I rejoined the Ring Highway I recalled a rock formation from my analysis. Like most issues in Icelandic I couldn’t fairly recall the title of the formation so I simply googled “rock formation northern Iceland” and I instantly acquired outcomes again for Hvítserkur. I plugged the tackle in to Waze and it seemed to solely be a forty five minute or so detour so I drove out to a crowded parking zone on the finish of a farm street. I walked previous the No Drones Permitted signal, sighed, and put my drone again within the automobile however saved my digicam out.
Hvítserkur is a volcanic plug which nonetheless stands at this time (albeit strengthened by concrete on the base) although the remainder of the encompassing rock has eroded away. It attracts fairly a crowd as it’s fairly giant and, when the tides are proper, you’ll be able to stroll proper as much as it!
The parking zone space of Hvítserkur provides you the above view however I assumed it was price strolling right down to the black sand seashore to see the formation up shut. I’m certain there have been simpler trails right down to the underside however I’m a moron and took the steepest path down, practically slipping and falling about 22 instances.
My efforts have been price it although, I ended up with an incredible composition of the rock and used my 70-200mm lens to get some good compression of the background into the picture to position the formation in a little bit of context.
(sure, I photoshopped some individuals out of that picture)
Happy with my image, I climbed again up the hill, once more practically slipping, and made my approach again to the automobile and again to the Ring Highway. The panorama appeared to alter each 15-20 minutes, only a great drive. Alongside the way in which I got here throughout a small city known as Blönduós with a petroleum station, which was refueling level not just for my car however for myself as properly (Purple Bull saved me happening the lengthy drives). The petrol station was close to a fantastic trendy church, known as Blönduóskirkja, that I simply needed to {photograph}.
I used to be getting near Akureyri when all of it sort of hit me without delay: I used to be actually uninterested in driving. And simply actually drained on the whole. I pushed by means of, although, with the assistance of yet one more cool church I noticed alongside the Ring Highway.
One of the dramatic sights of the driving day was simply west of Akureyri. I used to be driving up a mountain and there was a canyon subsequent to me, carved out by a river over 1000’s of years. I finished for some photos, in fact.
I despatched the drone as much as seize the distinction between the straight street and the twists and turns of the canyon because the rock battles the inevitability of the water’s erosion.
The solar was setting as I drove into Akureyri. It had been cloudy for many of the day (and most of my journey, outdoors of some moments of sudden daylight) however the solar broke by means of the clouds simply earlier than setting behind a mountain. I didn’t have a lot time so I become the primary parking zone I noticed and despatched the drone up. Properly it turned out I had pulled right into a main college parking zone with kids taking part in on the playground, the varsity directors casually sauntered over, questioning what I used to be taking photos of with the drone.
The image was price it although!
Close to Akureyri
I lastly made my approach into Akureyri, checked into my resort (my room mercifully had its personal restroom and bathe) and went to a burger place for a beer and burger. I made it again to my resort and am extremely shocked I used to be capable of prepare for mattress earlier than I fell asleep, I used to be so drained however knew I wanted some good relaxation. The subsequent day could be one other driving day allllllllllllll the way in which across the coast to southern Iceland!
