Training Log Archive: skdewitt

Travel day, Reyk to JFK and home

2 hour delay getting out of Reyk but all else fine

C • trip 4

Travel day back to Reykjavik plus hike up mtn near Akranes

Drove 1.5 hours to near Akranes. Hiked up Mount Akrafjall. Short but steep hike with nice views. Partly sunny and high 50s with intermittent winds.

Drove another 45 minutes back to Reyk, dropped off rental car and walked back to air bnb

Walked out past farm to the lighthouse and beach, about 3 miles. Drove to nearby set of waterfalls just by the road, another mile.

Drove to quaint fishing village called Stykkisholmur. Walked to another lighthouse on an island next to the village. On the way back, stopped at the shark museum which is on a family farm. They process Greenland Sharks who are accidentally caught in fishing nets. This species is toxic so they ferment the shark meat for a couple of months, which removes the toxic compounds and then dry it. We were able to taste the resulting meat--not something I would repeat.

Drove to the Snaefellsjokull National Park on the western end of the peninsula. Park has a volcano and glacier along with interesting beaches, rock formation and lots of waterfalls. Walked out to a few sites and to one waterfall. Overcast and windy but no rain. Dinner of fresh fish and chips at nearby fishing village.

Travel to Snaefellsjokull Peninsula with stop along the way for hike

Hike up to Glymur falls, near the town of Akranes, about 1.5 hours from the guest house. Pretty eventful hike given that it was only 5 miles round trip. Wasn't really forecasted for rain but it was raining intermittently the whole time. Started off with flat terrain but lots of annoying flying insects pestering us. (No mosquitoes in Iceland but some other insects can get bothersome.) Climbed through an interesting, dark cave at about 1.5 miles. Then crossed a river where at first we had to wade with our water sandals then crossed along a large log while holding onto a cable. Then very steep climb with rope up to the waterfall. When we first reached it, we couldn't see it even though it was only about 50 meters away but in dense clouds. Stopped and had lunch and by the time we finished, we could see the falls, happily. Very pretty and worth the efforts. Climbed past the falls to ford the river again and then down the other side, steeply.

Drove another 2 hours to air bnb on the peninsular. Nice cottage with kitchen and bath on a pretty horse farm. Amazing views of Kirkjufell mtn, which is right next to the farm, and surroundig mtns, lake and sea. Lighthouse at the end of the mini-peninsula that the farm is on.

Walked to car rental, about 1.5 miles. Drove out of town, stopping for supplies, and then did Golden Circle tour--Thingveller national Park (historical site where Icelanders gathered for centuries for legal proceedings), Gullfoss Falls (impressive; not too much smaller than Niagra), set of geysers at Geysir (Strokkur blows every 8-10 minutes). Did some additional walking at each site, periodic sprinkles. Stayed at guest house in Laugarvatn. Had dinner at Linden with great lamb.

Travel day, took bus from Thorsmork back to Reykjavik with 3+ hours stopover in small town with Lava Center. This is an interactive museum on Iceland's volcanoes and earthquakes. Very well done and interesting.

Overnight at same air bnb in Reyk. with dinner of pizza and decent beer