July 2019 [by Bill]
I left Reykjavik on an early morning south coast tour called “Fire and Ice”, a mix of glacier trekking and volcano/lava flow exploration(about $180). There were 6 others on this tour with me, so the tour guide/bus driver was able to be more engaging with each of us, always a good thing.
We visited the Lava Volcano Center, including an excellent interactive exhibit.
We hiked out to, and onto the Solheimajokull glacier. For about 2-hours walking up, around and through some of the crevices . We were geared up with a harness and clamp ons for our hiking boots, as without the clamp ons, you wouldn’t be safe to enter the glacier area.
I watched the waves crash over the basalt rock formations at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, although the rain came in from nowhere, as within a few minutes, rain and strong wind gusts making staying on the beach not practical.
I was able to spend time checking out the Seljalandsfoss, which is a very large waterfall, and has the added feature being able to walk behind this waterfall in a cave, so you can see through the falling waterfall, outstanding!
I also got to see the ridiculously beautiful Skogafoss waterfall, which has a 500 set of stairs to the top. I normally walk these type of attractions, but I’ve really been clocking in some huge daily mileage, and I felt my legs needed a break. After 2 amazing waterfalls, I was a bit soggy, but well worth it (just love them waterfalls).
The weather today was crazy, in Reykjavik, 58 degrees, sunny, a few clouds and a breeze. As we drove south, it was overcast, with temperatures in the low to mid 50’s. At the beach, strong wind gusts with heavy rainfall. 15-minutes later, bright sun. I’m told this is Iceland- weather changes can happen very quickly, kinda like micro bursts.
Iceland factoid:
Reykjavik is the most Northern Capital in the world.
Small Wide World 