Up to the Glacier

During the night we traveled to Stykkishisholmur - a town of 10,00. From the bay you can see a spaceship-like building which we were told was the Lutheran church. For the most part, the buildings are rather plain with vertical iron siding.  Quite a bit of color is used to balance the long dark winter.

 Today was an adventurous one.  We started off with a Zodiac ride.  Zodiacs are a motorized rubber boat (think Navy frogman) which holds  10-12 people.  Harps asked if we wanted to just take a little trip on one and we agreed. The day was perfect with absolutely calm seas. We dressed warmly and went down to the dock. To board, you grip the captain’s wrist/forearm and carefully step down three steps.  You sit on the edge of the boat and hold on.  We motored out to a small island and bird -watched for a bit.  Saw many seagulls and a few little puffins.  The whole experience was less than an hour but gives us a taste of the Zodiac which we will use later in our trip. 

Around 11 am, we dressed in our warmest clothes, picked up our sack lunch, and headed for the bus.  The bus took us an hour inland where we switched to two smaller buses and continued upward on very narrow roads. Half way up the mountain we got on snow cats (a truck with tracks and an open seating for 20 in the back).  We climbed up the snow-covered mountain for 45 minutes to the volcano crater which held the Snaefellsjokull Glacier. Altitude 4600 feet. By the time we got up there, the snow was blowing (zero visibility), and it was colder than cold. The snow was mushy underfoot and difficult to stand on.  In addition to usual underthings, I had an undershirt, fleece top, fleece pants, rainproof pants, down coat, gloves and hat.  I was warm enough not everyone was.  We didn’t stay up there very long.  Coming down went faster.  We stopped on the way down for a walk down to the shore. 

Tonight’s dinner was one for the books.  Chuck and I arrived at the dining room at 7 pm. Dinner was very slow.  We arrived back in our room at 9:30 pm.  That is how slow it was and we didn’t even have drinks.  The crew and kitchen still has lots to iron out.  The waiting was more bearable because we were with fun people. Signing off at 10:45 pm and it is still daylight.