A Super 4x4 adventure
Oh my word. One month of utter luxury concluded in Reykjavik last Wednesday morning and here I am on Sunday afternoon, only just finding a chance to catch up with tying up one or two loose ends at last.
Our final day on board was a strange one really, being at sea most of the day before arriving in Reykjavik around 5pm. Sure, it gave us time to pack and achieve one last win at Trivia, but it also meant that all the tours were in the early evening, prompting the question “What about dinner?” (We had lunch in Chartreuse, the French restaurant to compensate!)
Late afternoon then, a small tug was sailing alongside us as we neared our destination.
Once in port, we enjoyed watching the process of putting the gangplank in place. No simple wheeling it into place here, but a lorry with a crane whose driver jumped out and began to operate using a remote control. Of course, he had to fix the green harness around the gangplank himself, but from then on, he just stood and pressed a few buttons.
Of course, there were distractions on the quayside as well, including this amazing store/warehouse across from our berth where all manner of fishing bits and pieces were wrapped up, ready for sale or delivery.
We were booked on a “Super 4x4 adventure” and nine of us jumped into this fun little monster driven by Erwin.
We set off along ordinary roads, hearing those huge tyres clatter along the tarmac. “Quite normal” said Erwin, “no need to worry”.
He pointed out the hillside “over there” in explanation of where we were going for our first stop.
Pulling into a car park on the edge of a wilderness area, we continued beyond the gateway and past the sign which advised “only 4WD vehicles beyond here”. Suddenly we were bouncing around a little and making quite swift progress uphill, past walkers, runners and cyclists.
At almost the top of the hill, Erwin pulled into a parking space and advised that we needed to walk the last bit, to the viewpoint. As I stepped out, I spotted a clump of purple lupins, but looking more closely I realised that the whole hillside was covered in them. Most had gone over, but a couple of weeks ago, this must have looked amazing.
Imagine a the colour everywhere! Having said that, it is an invasive species, so possibly not 100% a good thing?
We gathered at the viewpoint, understanding the motivation of those fitter folks for whom this was their goal, for on this glorious Tuesday evening there could have been nowhere better to be.
Fine views in every direction under a clear blue sky.
Just in case I forgot the name of the place, I took a photo!
We stood for a while, taking in the views but also appreciating the peace and quiet.
Whilst down there below us was our ship, Seven Seas Splendor and alongside it the slightly larger Oceania Marina.
Yes, this is most certainly a grand place to sit and count our blessings, which include the 4WD vehicle that brought us here!
After a fun drive downhill and a few km along the ordinary roads again, we came to our next viewpoint. At this point, I opened google maps on my phone and began to track where we were.
The sun was already going down and the shadows lengthening. That magical light we’d had earlier was disappearing fast.
But at the viewpoint over looking Lake Þingvallavatn it didn’t matter one bit, because the views were so spectacular. Erwin did his best to enable us to picture the scene as it had been millenia ago, when the volcanoes were active, but in my case he had an uphill struggle because I was simply enchanted by everything all around me.
The remaining evidence of all of that, of course, is the activity which is constantly going on beneath our feet. This was immediately apparent to us by sight of the pipeline carrying hot water into Reykjavik stretching off into the distance from the power plant just down the hill.
After a short comfort stop at a filling station down in the valley, we continued into a more active volcanic area where steam billowed from small fissures here and there. Erwin explained that walkers received frequent warnings about the need to take care because of the danger of scalds from the extremely hot water.
We now turned off the road and drove along the track named “the thousand waters” - slight exaggeration but a good description of the next half hour or so when we wove in and out of a small river, enjoying the splashing as we went.
Erwin admitted that for most drivers, this is their favourite track!
I think each of us tried to capture the experience with only limited success!
Our destination, or rather, the reason for driving this road was to see another of the power plants. These geodesic domes reminded me of the camping domes in the Jordanian desert, though here they were housing the valves and connections for the hot water system.
A little further along was the power plant itself and everywhere, there was steam.
Eyeing his watch, Erwin said we had time for a bonus stop on the way home. We learned of a former ski hotel which had changed emphases in recent years and become a place to get closer to the volcanic activity safely. It was right by the main road leading back to the port, too.
A few steps from the car park was a bubbling pool of water and an immediate sulphurous aroma.
The ground here was filled with steam too and Erwin pointed out two steamy fissures that had opened up just recently, when the volcano erupted near Reykjavik a couple of months ago.
We welcomed the safe, level pathway that had been constructed through the volcanic area, especially as we rounded the bubbling mud, which looked particularly menacing. All very impressive though, even to the NZ’ers in our group who watched the blubbing mud pool and likened it to Rotorua.
By the time we’d returned to the vehicle, darkness had really fallen and it was a short run back to the port. Arriving at gone 10pm, we felt sure that we would be amongst the last to get back but those visiting the Blue Lagoon were a good half hour behind us.
There was just time for a nightcap with friends and to put a few last minute things into our suitcase before putting them outside our door for collection.
Weary travellers were ready for bed!
