Tuesday, May 30th, 2107
Because of our audible book experience, there has been much build-up and also some unfounded dread about this little piece of the trip for the boys. Today began with the announcement from Matt, "Welcome to Snaefellsnes!!" We set out immediately after breakfast for the Vatnshellir Caving Tour.
Side bar about the weather- MUCH less wind today as noted by the photos of this waterfall:
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| Taken yesterday as we drove in- |
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Exact same waterfall taken today!
Amazing what the wind can do! |
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So here begins our own "Journey to the Center of the Earth"-
Snaefellsnes Glacier & Stapafell Mountain just to the right |
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Helmets & torches- Check!
(The helmets fit some better than others...) |
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Our guide "Gummy" (short for an Icelandic name we could not pronounce) explained that we would be visiting 3 different chambers cut into the earth by flowing magma.
Hollow lava tubes were created as the top of the hot magma cooled more quickly than the center which continued to flow, leaving the holes we get to explore. |
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| Down, down, down we go... |
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| "Frozen" drips |
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| Colors created by the iron content in the rock |
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The route that Professor Lindenbrock and his nephew Axel took...
(straight out of Jules Verne's novel!) |
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Gummy has us turn off our flashlights...
With the flashlights off, we were in complete blackness...the total absence of light! |
Back into the light we visited two small towns, Hellner and Arnastapi, along the coast with beautiful formations along the beach between them. The boys and I stopped to view a few of them, then drove to lunch while Matt walked the full 2.5K to meet us.
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| Arnastapi also has a natural harbor which makes it a great fishing port- |
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| Only part of the day's catch |
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Songhellir Cave-
once inside the acoustics are perfect for making beautiful melodies...or just loud echoing noise! |
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See the split in the mountain...this leads to Raudfeldsgia (Red Gorge)...
We want to go there! |
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Once inside the split, there is a small stream flowing through that leads up to the gorge- you must follow, i.e. climb, the steam to reach the view-
We are prepared with all our waterproof gear and an extra measure of adventure- |
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It is steep and narrow...
and raining! |
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Following the light...
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We trekked as far as we could go...
It is difficult to tell from this photo but the rope was out of reach & I decided that it was a bit too frayed looking to test...it was a long & rocky way back down!
Maybe next time Raudfeldsgia! |
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| All of our efforts weren't for naught... Nash became this woman's hero when he fetched her glasses from the mountian! |
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| Londrangar Volcanic Plug & Pufubjarg Cliffs |
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The church at Ingjaldsholl-
the oldest concrete church in Iceland |
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All of the beaches we have seen in Iceland have been black...
This beach at Skardsvik is called the "white" beach.
**At the beginning of this post I mentioned that the weather was better today...scratch that. This afternoon the gale force winds and rain moved back in! |
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| This lighthouse marks the most western point of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula- |
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The black & white birds are Brunnich's Guillemot-
This cliff in Iceland is the most southerly place you will see them. They do not make nests but lay their eggs on the bare ledge! |
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| Stone bridge... |
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We drive back to the guesthouse because we have had a FULL day but also because the weather is just yucky...
...but I guess not bad enough for these crazy golfers staying with us! |
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