Goðafoss to Húsavík (49.8km): Today's ride would have been over 100km, much of it into a headwind, so we all opted to get a van ride to Goðafoss, an impressive waterfall a few km off our route (supposedly it's named that because when Iceland converted to Christianity, people threw pagan idols into the waterfall. This story turns out to be a 19th-century fabrication, but never mind. We believed it while we were there, and this photo album is a record of our trip). After walking around the waterfall, six of us biked to Húsavík, which was downwind all the way after a brief (and slightly scary) crosswind interlude. We arrived in time for a late lunch, at which i ate a lamb burger and we touched the Arctic Ocean. In the afternoon, Bill had arranged for us to swim in the thermal baths at Geosea, which were the best baths of the trip in terms of proximity to the ocean and neat visual effect.
view from our hotel room in Akureyri |
wooden lawn chair or possibly sleigh, seen from hotel room window |
the van was a little dusty this morning |
view of airport as we leave Akuyreyri by van |
looking back at Akureyri from across the fjord |
about to enter another tunnel |
river crossing |
dirt road up a hill |
spot the tree line |
waterfall |
passing Ljósavatn |
arriving at Fossholl |
first view of the falls |
Sarah and Dana at the falls |
mud and plants at the falls |
trail by the edge of the water |
valley and mountains |
water above the falls |
view across the falls |
the river and valley |
across the river to the falls |
hillside and river |
fuzzy plants by the side of the river |
Gina tests the water |
splashing water at the top of the falls |
rocks and water in front of the falls |
it's fairly windy |
Bill at the falls |
full view of the falls |
that's some water |
go, falls, go |
the river is also very exciteable |
rocks at the river edge |
mossy rocks (probably post-volcanic) |
more falls |
pedestrian bridge over the falls |
car bridge |
Scott on the pedestrian bridge |
stairs down to the falls, for your convenience when carrying the artifacts of the gods |
the lower falls |
the lower falls are below the upper falls |
as demonstrated by this map |
dwarf shrubs, lichen, and moss, as described |
rocks and cliffs |
rocks worn away by the water |
black sand at the water edge |
the view downriver |
some pretty cool rock formations |
Scott lining up a photo |
the falls from the black sand beach |
nice roof, though |
water going over the falls downriver |
view downriver past the pedestrian bridge |
one more shot of the falls? don't mind if i do |
the gift shop was entered. Icelandic snack food was purchased |
David plus one of our van drivers |
Joe and Gina get underway, minding the cross-breeze |
Bill, not underway and happy to avoid the cross-breeze |
Scott and Joe have survived the cross-breeze and are about to head downwind |
sheep! |
many sheep! |
continuing sheep! |
this waterfall is much smaller |
plants and fields |
tall grasses and small pond |
the most hay bales |
cows! |
tidy trees on the mountainside |
volcanic-looking rocks in the grass |
field and mountain edge |
the group, riding |
a small pond |
20 kilometers from Húsavík |
19 kilometers now, but feel free to keep believing the cool stone sign |
a larger pond |
more miscellaneous volcanic rock |
riders underway past scrubby trees |
a cliff comes into view as we approach the north coast |
rider, approaching |
riders, going away |
that's the Arctic Ocean back there, also some ponds |
the view southwest |
looking across the base of the fjord |
more arctic ocean fjord view |
first view of Húsavík |
a number of distinct colors |
approaching Húsavík (also, there's a yellow tower near the left - hold that thought) |
the mountains inland |
grass, water, fog |
downtown Húsavík, complete with bike path |
view outside our hotel in Húsavík |
the previous photo was taken from this elevator |
hotel lobby, also seen from elevator |
Húsavík harbor |
nice roof, though |
while waiting for lunch, we ran down to touch the Arctic Ocean |
photographic evidence of fry theft |
back street view of restaurant Gamli Baukur, where we had lunch |
Foss Hotel, where we stayed, in front of a large hill |
reference unit church |
The year 202-microsoft-logo, as seen on this hillside |
a rock family in a front yard in Húsavík |
sidewalk up a hill in Húsavík |
sunlight reflected in the water |
arriving at Geosea thermal baths |
horses on a hilltop |
view back to Húsavík |
we saw this oceanside yellow tower next to Geosea while biking into town |
entrance to Geosea |
mud and turf walls outside Geosea |
Dana and Gina look at the Arctic Ocean |
you look at the Arctic Ocean |
the deeper water is a different color |
the group looks at the ocean, above the baths |
a rock-lined stream next to the baths |
sun on the ocean through clouds |
the baths are right at the edge of the ocean, so you get this infinity-pool effect |
stripes of water and sky color, seen under the baths |
hillside near the baths |
Gina is on a mission |
she wants to pet an Icelandic horse |
will it work? |
nope |
the horse peaces out, Gina gives up... for now |
the coastline |
flowers in Húsavík |
decorative sign for the Húsavík Whale Museum (closed, sadly) |
red beer in a decorative glass, at dinner |
dinner at Salka, an intimidatingly large pizza with bacon and dates |
clouds and trees over Húsavík at night |
view from our hotel room |