Steam, Sulphur and Snow

After the wonderful day yesterday it would be easy to dismiss our travels today but in their own way they were just as spectacular.

We left Hofn with its spectacular location and drove around the side of fiords and up the East coast. The coast is beautiful in a rugged way with the road just fitting between the mountains and the sea.On the way we saw the Icelandic ponies, reindeer and lots of birds. We then traversed the mountain range crossing from the East coast to the North across the rugged mountains. It was steep, the road was poor gravel and there were sheer drops often on both sides of the road. As we continued across the high interior there was snow right up to the road but not on the road. Roadside ponds were frozen and there was constant drizzle or rain.

The change from this came in the form of steam and sulphur with bubbling ponds so hot that with one slip you would be cooked in seconds. The air was sulphurous and there was a roar of escaping steam . Goblins abounded!

Finally we were across and found refuge for the night a a beautiful hotel on the banks of the lake at Myvatn. Our only concern is that we are told a fierce water monster lives in its deep waters but we went down to the shore and are at peace with the local goblins so we will be safe for the night.

A brief roadside stop

Gail went ahead to take this photo..hope she turns up in a later shot

Steam, sulphur and Rob

Here she is. Gail at a bubbling brook

                                    

At Lake Myvatn. We saw birds but not Nessie

Rob with the Goblins. If you don't believe you won't see them

Gail at our hotel. Last night a view of four glaciers. Tonight not a view of the lake but of the carpark

A few of the locals. Can you see them?