It pulled up outside the hotel at 9am, it was
massive dwarfing all the other vehicles in the car park. The tyres looked like they meant business, a
sure sign that today was going to be fun.
We were heading out in our 'super jeep' over the volcano range, along
Iceland's highway and down to the south of the island. The drive didn't start well, it was snowing
heavily and views over to the volcano chain along the mid Atlantic Ridge were
obscured. However during breaks in the storm, came views of sharp jagged peaks
and black volcanic rock, a tease of what was to come.
A few hours later we reached the point where we
would turn off the main highway and on to a dirt track, we were to follow this
road up along the side of the glacial outwash plain and alongside the edge of
Eyjafjallajokull. Yep this is the
volcano that kicked off in 2010 disrupting flights across Europe for at least a
week and stranding holiday makers around the globe.
The evidence of the eruption was
everywhere. The track uneven with
volcanic ash clearly seen in the surroundings.
We stopped to let air out of the tyres to make them more 'grippy' but
the super jeep had no problem fording the melt water streams that crossed the
roads and steep banks leading into and out of each one. As we rounded to the north end of the volcano
we crossed over a ridge into an area where a glacial lagoon used to be, until
the volcano erupting beneath the glacier with such force tore into the
mountain side, creating a brand new fracture in the mountain and releasing
hundreds of tonnes of melted ice and ash that raced down the valley, taking out
the lip of the lagoon and pouring a torrent of water into the valley below,
where we had just driven though. It was
an awesome sight.
We drove up the mountain side until we were very
close to this new fracture and could look down on the glacial snout below,
bluey ice exposed beneath snow. Here the
power of the planet was obvious and a privilege to see, it was why we had come
to Iceland in the first place and left us in awe of what was going on beneath
our feet.
Making our way back down the side of the volcano
and back out to the road other treats were in store. We raced along a black sand beach, the stormy
winds blowing off the Atlantic Ocean and onto shore, whipping up huge waves and
sending them crashing onto the beach.
Next we took in two of Iceland's best
waterfalls. It's possible to climb up
the steep metal stairs sunk into the hill on the side of Skogafoss and look
over the top of the waterfall and views out to the coast beyond. Approaching the waterfall you're met with a
wall of water flowing like a curtain over the edge and into a pool below,
sending up clouds of spray and soaking all those who get close enough. The second waterfall Seljalandsfoss although
much smaller, is fed by the glacier above and falls into a deep pool
below. Apparently it's possible to walk
behind this fall, but not today as the path was iced over and slippery and the
freezing water was not something we wanted to land in. Another time maybe.
 |
| Skogafoss waterfall |
As we drove back to Reykjavik we thawed out in
the jeep, this day had been awesome and provides a clear reason why you should go to
Iceland, the power of the planet beneath out feet.
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