Sunday 31st May
Sailed in the morning and Rob (nextdoor) didn't want to chat, so it was rather a long afternoon as I waited. The busses don't work on a Sunday night, there is a late 304 but it is too late, luckily there are plenty of trains, so it was £3.00 to get into Cardiff. First McD was closed, so on to Queen St and used the voucher to get a Big Mac - and the guy took £1 off due to the hassle. Bus stop had moved and was relatively comfortable. seat at back of bus was OK
Monday June 1st
Arrived Heathrow at 04.30 finished grapes, realised I had forgotten the bread pudding, but I had remembered the wraps and put them in the bag ready for tea. Flight was pleasant, had a window seat, we were in 15 mins early. It didn't help - passport control almost cost me the train, I had to jump lines and made it by about five minutes, Had I not jumped lines it would have been over an hour, not the 45mins it took.
Train was actually OK - I had to move once as I did not have a seat reservation and the train was surprisingly busy. Changed train in Aarhus - next train was supposedly cancelled but just as I had decided to visit McD they announced that it was leaving from a different platform. Got me to Aarborg Airport Hotel as planned. Reception was friendly and I am having a relaxing evening having booked a breakfast and had an ice cream.
Tuesday 2nd June
All seemed to go well. Up at 06.00 Breakfast at 06.30 and it was a good breakfast, no toast or sausages but there were beans and bacon (crispy american style) so the usual 4 courses and Hot Chocolate to finish. Back to room, a bit of You Tube TV and out about 08.15 to the train which was waiting in the station. It was the one I was supposed to catch. 08.43 to Lindholm, didn't even need to change platforms and the next train was on time. I should have given Googlre maps more credit and got off at the previous station. Carried on to Hitishal and had to walk all the way back around the dock to get to the terminal and ship. I might have waited for the bus but there was no indication and it might have cost - I suppose I could have asked, but the place was pretty deserted. So much for roaming and using the phone!
Anyway, arrived at the ship hot and sweaty, so had a second shower and changed before going out and exploring the ship. Nice upstairs bar with views, but having left port I am back in the cabin considering a siesta. Which was OK. Short period upstairs, saw the Norwegan Coast, but visibility was pretty limited. Most of time spent watching the Geographic Channel.
Wednesday 3rd June
Breakfast was strangely unsatisfying. It could have been having to wait half an hour for it to open, it would seem that when I checked opening times yesterday the screens had not been updated, opened 7am not 6am. It may hve been the crowds, it may have been the small cups, it may have been the fact that only black coffee was available or perhaps the lack of toast. At least there were baked beans, and I did manage many courses, so I should be set for the day but . . . strangely unsatisfying.
Visibility remains low - have seen a couple of gannets fly past but will stay in cabin for most of the day. Until we were approaching the Faroes, when I went upstairs. Nice scenery, but we were not allowed off the boat, despite unloading and loading taking well over an hour. outside again for departure, scenery wonderful but I am reminded that distances are huge - with me thinking hiking or kayaking would be fun - it's too far! Must explore by bus or maybe a commercial tour, this coming week will tell. Due to arrive 09.30 ship time 08.30 local they said.
Thursday 4th June
Arrived as predicted and heard that Saturday tour has been cancelled. Had time while waiting for the bus to do emails, port had wifi. Bus took us over the hill. Google had said it could be hiked in 7hrs, I'm glad I didn't. Planned a walk through Eglisstadir to the airport using Komoot only to discover that their maps included a ford which would have been unpassable, so had to backtrack. However, I got to airport, only to be confused by timezones and had an extra hour of waiting instead of walking. Commuter aircraft Bombadier - just after watching crash scene investigations on them! Arrived safely in Reykjavik and walked to the appartment, which is very nice. Light drizzle.
Friday 5th June
Relaxed awakening and arranged another tour for tomorrow. Out and located pick up for Sunday then on to Perlan Natural History Museum (over £40). Spent all day inside. Volcano ride was pretty effective at persuading you you were moving but implied vast caverns and open spaces below ground. Ice cave was pretty artificial but safe. Planetarium had nice explanation of Arora on other planets and then said they were UV and therefore invisible - typical! All of Icelands attractions in a totally antiseptic environment. Back around 4pm with visit to Netto and stuffed crust pizza purchase.
Saturday 6th June
A day on a coach! Having booked a Wonders of the South Coast Iceland Tour with Reykjavik Excursions it was of to the bus station at 0800 for a 8am departure. The bus turned out to be waiting on the other side of the bus station, discovered as I threw away old receipts. It is a 2hr drive to South Coast. Emphasising how big and desolate most of Iceland is. The Wonders were honey pots with plenty of car parking and crowds of spectators. Too early in the year for puffins but there were fulmars around. It had me looking at the photos of my 2003 round Iceland with Hurtigruden. Particularly with views of the Vestmannaeyjarr Islands. Back and dropped off close to the appartmentt with time for a pizza supper.
Sunday 7th June (Tour Day 1)
Another day, another tour, this time in a mini-bus. Up at 06.15 packed and out by 07.45 and picke up at Hotel Orkin, just as I am phoning to find out where they are having seen one van go past at 08.10. Craig is the driver and tends to read his clipboard while driving. I am about the only person on the trip to wear a seat belt.
First half of day is Golden Circle which is new. Discover that the photos of the rift are a con as they are little canyons in a great big rift valley. Second half of day is a repeat of yesterdays tour but I use it to get videos of the waterfalls for when I get back. Get to hotel about 7pm so evening trying to sort photos rather than going to dinner.
Monday 8th June (Day 2)
A good breakfast and we were off into the rain at 08.30. There was an optional glacier hike, which I had not booked. However, Komoot showed a nice hike which was supposedly 2.5hrs and looked OK. First half was good, sheltered from the wind and only light rain. After the glacier view I decided to take the direct route down as it was clearly a marked path and was shown on the map. This was a little more exposed to the wind and had some large drops on the side of the path. I am getting more and more allergic to large drops since walking the Lavadas. Got back just after 12 and thought I had to wait until 1pm. The others failed to return from their hike untill 1.30 and were soaked, they must have had worse weather than I did.
From there it was a short trip to a place where others had lunch, I had an ice cream, and purchased what I thought was chocolate milk. Turned out to be UHT milk, which went well with the coffe when I got to the hotel. Diamond Beach and Lagoon on the way to Hofn
Tuesday 9th June (Day 3)
Had a short walk after breakfast and discovered that every little island in the bay has been named.
First stop today was Hvalnes Lighthouse. Nice sea views. I thought Marconi might have been there, as there was a pretty simple antenna set up between two wooden poles. AI informed me that it is part of the Super DARN system for monitoring The Aurora. We also stopped to watch some reindeer, pretty un-successfully. Stopped at Bragdavellir Cottages for others comfort break, Google told me it was 15 mins to the Snaedalsfoss, so I walked. There was a ford, with some stepping stones and it was slightly more adventurous than I had expected, but I got across without a problem. While others had lunch I wandered around, meeting a friendly sheepdog. Next stop Nykurhylsfoss and then over the pass to the Egisstadir valley and the Netto where I first had breakfast. Doubled back to the Wilderness Centre, which is home for the night. Quick Museum tour and I missed out on the communal dinner - it looked quite cosy.
Wednesday 10th June (Day 4)
Hexagonal basalt colums in a gorge were the first point of call, after an interesting breakfast chatting to an american from Virginia. Followed by another hot spring area, the lava field and lake, lunch. I actually tried a hot dog (and was not impressed). On to Godafoss, by which time we were running short on time for the ladies to make their hot spa, so we only had 20mins - a bit of a rush.
At the spa I decided to go for a wander up the other side of the valley. Marker posts got a bit scarce on the top and there were snow patches to be crossed so was a bit more adventurous than intended. Got Craig worried -had a number of phone calls. He waited and saved me the 2mile hike into town. Hotel is up on the hill and I couldn't be bothered to go out so have eaten my last KitKat (or emergency rations) and struggled with the coffee machine. Nice to have UHT milk purchased at lunchtime.
Thursday 11th June (Day 5)
Breakfast was good. While others went whale watching I went for a walk around the airport to fill in the middle bit. Lots of birds and little ducklins which I need to identify. Got back just as the others were returning and surprised me in that they had seen some whales. Lunch at a supermarket and then on with the tour. This area much flatter and rolling, once we were over the pass. Short stop forr a waterfall and then on to the hotel. This being the last evening I got called down to join the group. Carl insisted I had to eat something with them. The beef was nice.
Friday 12th June (Day 6)
Cabin hotel tonight, breakfast this morning lacked pain eau chocolate or croissants so made do with a couple of chocolate biscuits. Back in the room I got on computer and time flew and I missed having coffee. On to Grabok crater. Very strong wind and at least one hat lost. On to Barnafoss which was impressive. Lunch at Deidartunguhy hot springs and spa followed by the horse farm, which had its own hot spring. That was the tour done, those on the seven day tour were dropped off at Borgarnes and we returned to Reykjavik. Dropped off at the Cabin Hotel, basic but nice. Booked airport transport, so an early rise tomorrow.
Saturday 13th June
Modern travel is amazing (the internet is not) this is the second time of writing this.
Picked up at 06.30 for transfer to Bus tation and Flybus to Keflavik (at a cost of over £30) The gate was announced at 0900 and passport control was better than Copenhagen and I was airside with 10mins to spare. Short delay at Gatwick as the airbridge was not working but I still had time to visit McD (15 min there 20min eat, 15 min back) Flixbus (16.15) was a long ride (under £15) getting into Cardiff at 21.20. Next bus to Barry was after 2200 so it ended as it began with a train ride. Went to Queen Street and it was crowded with young people going in and from Cardiff Central crowded with an older clientel going home. Amazingly, I could have caught the 96 bus up the hill but I was home by 22.30 and hit the gin.
Videos will eventually get edited and posted
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