It’s here! Finally and at last! The last instalment of my writing about our 2016 travel – so without further ado, how about taking a few minutes to follow my old faithful e-coffee cup around Iceland? First stop, after we’d been in the country a day or two: Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland, where we stretched our legs towards the end of our “Golden Circle” tour. |
Here’s a pic of the e-coffee cup in use – and much appreciated! – in freezing conditions on our first day of the classic Laugavegur trek (total: 55km from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork, in the south of Iceland). Simon and I were taking cover from the bitter wind in this snowed-in shelter at Hrafntinnusker, 1000m above sea level, 4.5 hours into day 1 of trekking. We had walked this far with the intention of camping at said spot, but given the 2-foot-deep snow, the freezing wind, the rather unfriendly “welcome” by staff and the STENCH in the loos/washroom, we decided to keep walking for a few hours... |
First photo below, left: day 2 of our walk, with mountains, the volcanic ground covered with black sand, and a glacial snow patch.
Second photo below, right: We spent our second night on the Laugavegur trail at the campsite at Botnar (Emstrur), where this classic trek runs through a desolate grazing area northwest of the icecap Myrdalsjokull. Here’s my trusty e-coffee cup, covered in black volcanic dust (which got everywhere!). Simon and I made it to Thorsmork the following day, and in the last few kilometres we were very happy to see lush green vegetation around us and hear birds singing... refreshing indeed after all those volcanic crags!
Below right: this one was taken at a beautiful spot just off the road near Þingeyri (north-western fjords again), where we stopped for a picnic. I really can’t remember what we did with those tomatoes but I’m pretty sure the stuff I’m happily stirring is coffee!
But would I have missed it? No way. And do I count myself lucky to have found a fella who would accompany me through 6 countries, walking and talking, laughing and singing, helping me figure out maps and carrying a fair bit of camping/cooking kit to help us keep the budget as low as possible? YES! Mr. Duringer, THANK you for every minute of your company from our reunion in Helsinki onwards... and thank you for introducing me to the concept of super-cute bamboo travel cups! The one in all my travel photos is still in everyday use in our abode in Cumbria :)