North of Iceland
3. – 26.8.15
Awesome Landscape
What we have seen in the North
In Siglufjördur we’ve visited on a farm ground an oldtimer museum. Just amazing. Around 100 restored – with a great eye for details – vehicles in a big hall and many more on the grounds around. Unfortunately the owner became heavily ill and is therefore not able to finish his dream.
Tremendous landscapes were always like a gift during our hiking days; be it the one in Asbyrgi, the biggest Canyon of Iceland or the one in Askja, climbing up to lake Viki. Though completely different each of the sceneries are unique and rewarding.
Close to Askja a new lava field has occurred. The lava is still warm as the eruption has only taken place last year. The temperature only a few centimetres underneath the surface can be still up to 1000 degree Celsius. Not that we need to know all the details, but it was great fun to pour some water in the fissures and observe the steam coming up immediately. By the way, it works as well with body fluid!
Challenge
The off-road tracks F821 and F88 have been a real challenge for our trucks. The big lava stones and rocks are so close to the road that we had issues driving through the narrow curves. Lava can be very sharp-edged and are therefore a danger for our tires. Of course we handled also this task with the usual bravery, but – to be honest – with a bit of sweat….
Slightly nasty it gets, if you meet other driver with less experience and if they are scared stiff in the middle of the track as soon as they see you. Most of them are having huge troubles to drive back for a couple of metres and the result is often that they end up standing diagonally in the road. Others are jumping out of the car yelling at us. Unfortunately often we cannot help as we are not allowed to leave the tracks because of our weight. Luckily this kind of reaction we faced only a couple of times and those people we always tourists, never locals!
Things which are only funny later
After a nice filming session – climbing through the rocks – all of a sudden Gabi’s key of the cabin was lost. Having no badge anymore is cumbersome and having to rely on the one and only key left is not really amusing. Adrenalin uplifting times – tell you! A few days later a little miracle: Gabi’s key turned up again. It was in a different jacket pocket – and our world was peaceful again 😉
That the window close on its own and very fast Peter’s thumb experienced in a very painful way. Though I could prove now that my blood is blue – it wasn’t worth the inconvenience. In the meantime I’ve learned how to close the windows without injuries.
To film a truck driving through a ford requires the women behind the camera to walk through the ford first. Important accessory: good shoes, in this case – my wellingtons. Arriving at the other side of the river I watch – slightly puzzled – Gabi pouring litres of water out of my wellington. Obviously the boot has a hole and wasn’t water safe anymore. The clip was taken with wet feet.
The island is small
In Landmannalaugar, one of the touristic highlights in the Highlands we met Iris and Ueli, friends of us from Switzerland. We knew that they wanted to travel in Iceland, but we didn’t know their route. And to beat that Beatrice and Robert – a couple we met already in Kerlingarfjöll – was there as well. We enjoy time together having a little picnic outside – until the chilliness forced us in the warmth of our trucks.
Via facebook we get to know Jon. He lives in Reykjavik. We cannot visit him, but do exchange e-mails from time to time. When we came back from our hiking tour in Askja, we saw a huge SUV parked very close to Globi. It’s Jon, who was visiting the new lava area and saw by accident our truck. And he just waited until we came back. Really fantastic.
We get used to each other
Both Globi and us are having our smaller or bigger inadequateness – though we rather the smaller ones. Slowly we got used to each other and learned how to deal with each other’s weaknesses. The only thing that annoys us is the v-belt of the additional alternator. One of the locking nut hadn’t been fixed, which allowed the belt to loosen. Normally not a big deal, but unfortunately the tool trolley in the back of the cabin was cramped, so we couldn’t get our tools. We decided to search for a truck garage. After screwing like hell – Gabi inside the cabin and me outside at the bull bar – we could tip over the drivers cab and tighten the v-belt. That was it. Easy.
