Is Vik There?
9 June 1998
Reykjavik, N 64º08.484', W 21º55.033'.
We headed East along the South coast road. For miles this is overshadowed by high cliffs, with waterfalls fed by the Myrdalsjokul icecap above. We stopped at some of the more impressive - Seljalandsfoss and Skogarfoss.
We continued as far as Vik, Iceland's wettest and most southerly village. This was where Bonnington sheltered from Atlantic storms on his way back from Greenland a few years ago. The weather was kinder for us and we walked along the black lava beach as it steamed in the sunlight. On the cliffs at the western end, we saw fulmars and puffins, and beyond were the sea stacks of Reynisdrangur.
On our way back we made a detour to a beach near to these, with a view of the sea arch at Dyrholaeg. We also saw some basalt columns, and came to the rescue of two cars that were stuck in the lava sand. This was quite a good average as they were the only other vehicles we saw.
So, the holiday's over, tomorrow we're off to Greenland. No more cars, no more hotel rooms with hot water and electricity for the laptop. Tomorrow it's a tent, a stove and a solar panel, and sub-zero temperatures. I hope the technology can take it, and more importantly I hope we can. Our plane leaves some time after 10:00 am. This will take us to Constable Point, an isolated airstrip inside the Arctic Circle where we will pick up our freighted equipment, food and fuel. Then on Thursday we leave for the mountains.
