Iceland

Tuesday 8th August

Its good when it works. Up at 5am, out of flat at 5.45am and the 6am no 94 turned up on time. Got off in the right place - before wood St and was at Sophia Gardens by 7am for the 7.20 National Express to Heathrow. Through security by 10.45. The gate was announced at 12 and it was quite a walk to get to it. Had a window seat at the back and with miserable weather we joined the queue to get airborne. Weather cleared a bit over Scotland and was brilliant as we arrived in Iceland. Flat lava flows.

Iceland Airport was a maze, mixing arrivals with outgoing passengers, then a 45km coach ride to the ship. Fellow passengers cheered at the announcement that there was no McDonalds in Iceland. Urban myth about the last Big Mac not decomposing and being a museum piece was told.

On board issued with expedition jacket (I am a Gannet) and into cabin, eventually sorted out the TV. Did welcome party, dinner was good as it was a buffet and I didn't have to share a table. I guess I slept enough on the bus and plane not to feel too tired.

Wenesday 9th August Stykkisholmur

Up at 6am. Coffee in top deck, too strong. Breakfast at back of boat was surprisingly un-satisfying, as was lunch. Kept us going on the walk around town though. Had a burger, which didn't really fit the bun, and came with fries, but the milkshake was good and did the trick. 20.30 and I am tired. 

Day has been beautiful. Scenery wonderful but what can you do with it?

Thursday 10th Patreksfjordur

Overslept, not as good an early breakfast on Deck 9 and main breakfast continues to unsatisfy, but the sausages were cooked a little better and there was an interesting cheese egg. 

No announcement about the hike and they left without me. However, within an hour I had caught up with them and given the number of times I needed a leak it was just as well that I left them behind. I did get overtaken by some jogger, and we both saw the other fjord. I then decided to do the ridge in the hope that I could get down the ravine to the west of the village. Got there in plenty of time but the streambed emptied out over a waterfall that would have been over 100ft high if there had been any water in the bed. In fact the sphagnum was totally dry, so travel was not as arduous as it might have been, but the boulder fields were interesting. Looked at a couple of ravines and might have been able to get down the scree slope but decided to play it safe and retrace my steps. That said I missed the path and came down on the opposite bank of the stream to the ascent. 

Total was 15 miles according to Samsung and 12 according to Google. Two crab sandwiches and a milkshake - which was just as well as I went to diner which was waiter service and tenderloin of pork was tiny. As was the icecream.

The book gets even sillier. (Clive Cussler - Oregon Files)

Friday 11th Expediion Day

Once again I overslept. spotted a couple of whales, confirmed as Humpbacks from the bridge. The breakfast was more filling, as I added some ham and cheese rolls into it. Got jam from the croissants on my shirt so had to change. We were the first group off for a trip in the Zodiacs. Pretty windy, 20t+ gusts. Seeing Seals in the distance doesn't exactly fill me with the same thrill as everyone else.

Moved across the fjord at lunchtime and got ferried to an island. Lots of Arctic Terns getting agitated, also Guillemots and Puffins. Doubt that I have any good photos. The island had power, the guide didn't know about the transits for the electric cable. I also think he expected the traditional boat to float. Spoke the the island owner who admitted it would be too dangerous to launch her as the weather could not be trusted while she took up.

Back on board and got Beer and hot dog - those on the late shift to the island probably missed it. Crab sandwich for dinner, lots of people looking to miss the vegitarian evening. I'm trying for an early night.

Saturday 12th Djupavik

Getting up at 6am was OK. I still have a problem with coffee, but breakfast was good, 4 courses. An early start on the expedition, which went OK but was finished, with whales, by 11.30ish. Didn't feel hungry, so wandered around. Didn't get back in time to join the visit to the "art centre" and was 2 miles off the target distance, so walked it. Back on board and still not hungry. Waiter was friendly, so had a snack, which spread everywhere. Talk on rocks was basic.

More whales and a MoB drill and more whales. It's cold outside so sitting in my cocoon. New book (Michael Crichton - Next) Discovered keynote and films on the TV but want an early night.

Sunday 13 Akureyri
Quite a large town and with tour scheduled for 12.50 I decided it was a good day to catch up on the computer and watch a film. Dune sort of finished, no wonder there is a second chapter coming (at least this version sticks pretty close to the book). 

Weather continues to be wonderful which meant that with a fleece and jacket I was too hot. The walk was pretty uninteresting, apart from the timescale. Everything has developed since 1900. Decided £6 was too much for a fridge magnet, returned to the ship to hear a talk on the Norse Gods, which again seemed to date from around 1900, at least most of the illustrations were from that late victorian period. 

Would have been another early night apart from listening to "Sounds of the 70's" Internet connection seems pretty good. Did venture out to check my transfer details. 7am coach from the ship, with breakfast starting at 05.30.

Monday 14th Grimsey Island
Woke up to thick fog, had breakfast and returned to cabin to do diary. Looked up and fog has burnt off. Tendering ashore starts at 09.00 and my group is due to be called at 09.15. It's 9km around the island we are told.

So I wandered around the island attempting to take photos of Puffins and other seabirds. Convinved myself that I could see Greenland - only 250 mls away. Have now becom convinced that it was an Arctic Mirage. It was good enough to explain how the Vikings would have sailed there. The ship seemed to be holding position on engines. Got to next port in the evening. Just failed to hit target paces - no little green bar today.

Tuesday 15th Husavik

Early start for the hike which went up the mountain by a circuitous route. I left them on the way back and wandered up to the lake and then back to the ship so I got my little green bar today. Failed to find the route I thought was there, maybe didn't go far enough. Departure was 1500 so was back in time to have lunch and then got the nibbles later.

Managed to join Hesters (RYA Development Officer) Teams meeting. Should have been on wifi (I hope) there was no phone reception according to the phone.

Wednesday 16th Baccagerdi
Up early enough to find the ship enveloped in fog. Interesting experience of seeing the mountain tops above the fog as we came in. The Fjord crept up on me while I was having breakfast. Another early start for the hike - wondering how I will like it as it is up and over and then back again, vertical gain of 800m.

Well, it was OK - the leader set quite a pace but it was OK. However, the other side was steeper, and all it did was go down to a beech, so I decided to go back. Wandering the peaks was not an option as I was embedded in the group. Should

have stayed out but the hike gets off on the first tenders. At the bottom I hiked to the village, which was quite tedious, and not far enough according to Samsung. Just missed the bus back, so had half an hour watching the water and oystercatchers. Wandered around the harbour trying to get the distance in. Sent a photo of the harbour office to Chris. Got the distance on the boat. Happy hiker!

There was a problem with the tenders, a shackle or something failed, dropping a tender. Didn't see it but watched he recovery operation. We were an hour late leaving. About F5 (maybe) so a little movement

Thursday 17th Heimaey

Due alongside at noon. The entry to the port was quite spectacular, very narrow and steep cliffs. The hike was interesting, through the lava fields and up onto the ridge. There were a number of information boards showing how the lava had buried houses, and the way the entrance was narrowed was quite spectacular.

Thought about going out again and getting the three miles I was short but gave in to having tea, well a burger, crab roll and the usual chocolate milk shake. Checked in with BA for the flight home.

Departure was equally spectacular as we moved up the harbour and did a 360. Seemed to swivel on the azipods, without much use of the bow thrusters. The pilot boat was one of the ugliest I have seen, and had a child aboard! Captain took us around the island, but not down to Surtsey.

Friday 18th Reykjavik
So up at 05.15 for breakfast. Packed and off the boat at 7am. Usual waits for the flight and on arrival breezed through passport control and had a 20min + wait for the train to take me from T5 to T2 to catch the coach. Ian met me at Sophia Gardens and gave me a lift home. It was had been raining and was a wet and windy night. Real Iceland type weather..

The Official video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHwAffj0CqI

2023 France

 Friday July 21th
Remarkably smooth departure from the house, only to find that the 7am train had been cancelled, back across bridge to catch the next one, 15 min delay for me half an hour, if you are at Barry Island.   Plenty of time allowed for a McDonalds breakfast in Cardiff, which was just as well as the app is taking longer and longer and needs to be re-loaded practically every time.

Train to Bristol, Bus to Airport - usual problem with shoes at airport- they can't decide what to do with steel toecapped shoes. Plane was an hour late which in the end was an advantage.

It's a long walk from Orly arrival to the train but an even longer walk around Paris. Very pleasant though, as a found a Supermarket and indulged as I walked along the Seine and back to the station.

As suspected, just a seat on the overnight train. I survived. 
Saturday 22st

Train arrived in Cebere 10 minutes late. Seemed to be quite a wait and doubtful that there was a train to Portbou so I decided to walk. Google was not a lot of use, as here are a lot of tunnels. Unfortunately, you are not able to use the train tunnel, so it was over the mountain on a trail, the road wanders, this was pretty much straight up, and only slightly less steep down. Took about an hour, google was right on that but it was hard work as we still had high temperatures 30C. Found a fountain outside the station to replenish water but it didn't taste nice. 

   Got my Gold Card, had to pay cash, and ticket to Barcelona 12.35 and arrived at 15.10. Hotel thought I had only booked one night but coped. An air conditioned room, small but has everything, TV only in Spanish. Dumped bags and set off for Catalonia Rail Museum on an 8 Euro ticket which included return train and admission. Nice collection of engines but makes me want to investigate the history/timeline of Spanish railway development. A long day.

Sunday 23nd
Up and out early, 7am got ticket to Latour de Carol. Breakfast at McD and 8.30 train - quite civilised, and quite an impressive journey to the high plains. Arrived about 12 and had an hour and half to wait for the return. There is nothing at Latour de Carol! Totally unable to make out te Yellow Train timetable, it was due to arrive 10mins before we left but it was 10 mins late, so all I got was a glimpse of it, as it nearly got there. The big thing is that it is a metre gauge and uses a third rail. It's hard work sitting on a train. Got back to Barcelona at 5pm. A pretty full day for under 16 €. Retired to air conditioning and discovered I have the wrong dates on tickets for Yellow Train and 2 day tour. Still considering options, favourite at the moment is to pick the Night Train up in Carcassonne or somewhere. Went out and indulged in a generous McD, with beer!

Monday 24rd

Lay in till 8am. Considered going to the local supemarket for breakfast, but it didn't open till 9am so it was another leisurely breakfast at McD. Purchased a one day travel card (10€) and the hotel have said they will look after luggage but the aircon is so nice I am reluctant to get moving. Spent the time booking a Travelodge for October. Got out around 10.30 Metro down to the harbour, wandered up to try and get on the cablecar. Google couldn't find the funicular, so I had o climb the hill, only to find that the cablecar is not included in the travel package 20€ for a return trip. However, I found the Funicular for the way down, and celebrated with a drink and ice cream at Guess Where?. On to Segrada Familia, you have to don't you. I remember the roads being bigger and not as many parks, it's certainly impressive but such a honey pot. Tried to get back to the seaside but line 4 is closed and, when I found the replacement bus stop the bus ignored me. So wandered to Arc de Triomph, which didn't have an arch but was an old rail station partially converted into a coach depot. 

Collected bags and sheltered in the air conditioned rail station. Of course the app decided not to work as I was entering the waiting area. Turns out there is a high speed line to Perpignan, which does not run along the coast. Arrived on time, bigger room, still no English telly.

Tuesday 25th

Breakfast was not too good, no ham, anyway leisurely Out 11.10 and it was a tain, so arrived 12.00. Walked up to Villefrache la Confuence, which was a nice fortified town and a good wander, purchased the inevitable fridge magnets, in the hope that I would actually manage to get the Yellow train. Waited to get photos of it as it left, reaing a Jack Reacher thriller, as the footpath was closed. (finished in evening and picked another from the hotel). 14.10 was a bus which arrived 15.41. Procrastinated, finishing the Reacher book and Lidl was closed, so no supplies for tomorrow.

Wednesday 26th

Up and out in time for the bus to Villefraiche la Bain at 07.11. Typical rail replacement bus wandered all over the place, took an extra half an hour and put me in Villefraiche with an hour and a half to kill. Wandered downstream, despite the barking dog. They have a levante but it is not half the quality of the Madiera levantes, and as I got to the view of the bridge I wanted to photograph it ws closed. Took the photo anyway and returned to the station. Yellow Train was good. Lots of tourists. It is slow , takes 3hrs, but incredible georges, until you get on the high plain,s when it is a bit of a switchback and wanders all over the place. Late into Latour de Carol, but they held the regular gauge train to Toulouse (another 3hrs) More spectacular scenery, and a tunnel under a pass, you could see the cars climbing over it. Then onto the plain for the last hour.

One hour to kill in Toulouse, found an expensive McD and a Lidl which had me worried I wouldn't make the Perpignan train 17.16 I needn't have worried. However, I didn't risk going all the way and got off at Rivesaint, which gave me a 20 min wait for the Night Train (in theory I would have had 3mins in Perpignan, maybe even 8 as it was running 5 mins late) Surprised to find I had a couchette, which was quite nice.

Thursday 27th
Alarm woke me up and I rushed off the train, as it was already in the station, leaving my book on the train. Needing a toilet but lacking the 20c to get the station one to work. Found a quiet corner which was obviously used by all the tramps (plenty of human excrement). It was officially a 2hr wait. When the train arrived it wasn't a TGV. Sat in wrong seat but not a problem apart from a power outage between Auber and Nantes which made us about an hour late. As I had a further 2hr wait at Nantes this was not a problem. (I even earned a 3.25 Euro voucher. Local train was stopped at St Nazairre 

Friday 28th
Dull and misty for the round robin, but we got in before the rain. Had a hearing, about points allocation for collision damage, which meant dinner was conveniently timed, an hour of beer drinking.

Saturday 29th
They pushed on, 3 flights finished the round robin and we went into quarter finals and a "King of the Hill" Even pushed into some of the semi-finals. Another long day on the water and this time dinner was not as convenient, so walk back to the hotel to kill one and a half hours. 

Sunday 30th
Regatta over I discovered I was checked out that morning. With that fixed I visited Spar and purchased a bottle of gin, which I am hitting as I do this and attempt t sort out all the phptos. I have over 400 of the sailing and 250 tourist photos. Gin, photos, Sounds of the 70's, great end to the regatta!
Regatta Photos are at https://photos.app.goo.gl/p7oJZt6K17yM4mLs9

Monday 31st
Up as usual at 6.30. Breakfast by 8am and off to the station. Train to Nantes was pretty full. Once on the TGV I was able to start on photos. !0 mins late into Montparnasse, remembered correctly about the distance to the Metro line 4 but at least they now have travellators. Usual hassle with Eurostar, probably it's the small waiting area which makes it so like air travel, you have to show your ticket to get on the TGV. More work on photos 1600 arrival in london. Killed time in the British Library and then walked to Paddington. Amazing buildings to be observer on the way. McDonalds App continues to frustrate, but I am now on the train to Cardiff and it is civilised.

In Cardiff I had a a 20 min wait for the train and discovered a waiting room on platform 6/7. 22.10 train got me into Barry by 10.30, so I was home and in bed by 11!

All the holiday photos are at:-  https://photos.app.goo.gl/eZSaMZiRnwGn8nwy9