It is finished!

My computer is getting old and slow, so I could not take the care I normally would to make a movie, because it (I-movie) crashes all the time and it is slow.  Processing all my RAW photo's was a nightmare too. But there is no money for a new pc and for sure not for a Mac (and no other computer is allowed in my house...).

For now everybody can watch it, but I always get the screwed up messages my movie has been blocked in several countries due to the use of music tracks.... That is also why I cant put the you tube here directly. Sigh.... there is just no way to escape that one... So maybe you run up to the message saying you can't view it. I just dont want to violate the rules, but a movie without music is so boring, and I cant make music myself. And this one fitted in so perfectly... Tell me, what option do I have? If you cannot see it but terribly want to, contact me. Maybe there is a solution. You can of course also pay a visit to watch it if living close to me. We will find a way. Or else I will one day publish a boring version, without music....or maybe rerecord the music in poorer quality so there wont be send along hidden track info prooving authority rights.

This time I used very original, Sigur Ros with a track called Sæglopur. No clue what it is about, but it is one of the rare songs of them that I can appreciate (I am not a big fan of their music). I basicly only like their music if it is somehow connected to Icelandic images, movies or in the country itself. However this song and Glósóli are the exceptions, and sure you should watch this one on you tube if you liked the song I used. Both songs have a very deep meaning if you watch their videos.... shocking ones that may even hold your breath or shed a tear. And that may just be the magic of Icelandic nature leaping through the music of Sigur Rós...

It is weird to know this song was exactly the same length of my movie. I honestly didnt adjust anything, but still it is amazing how well the music adapted to the momets and smoothly changed along with the situations and changing of pictures. At one point it didnt (to be precise with the part riding horses) but even there, it didnt really bother. It is just the perfectionist nature of me....  and watching their videoclip and lyrics made me smile a bit. This was exactly the right song!

Well enjoy!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UkTSO1gPJ4

Day 4 Magnificent West part 2

We drove on towards Vidgelmir, a cave underneath a big lavafield, stretching out for 1500 underneath it. This area is also out of this world, but the roads are getting normal again. So before that, the tires of the jeep got inflated again to right pressure, but that was done already below Langjokull glacier.
Before we went to this cave, we visited Husafell, to go to a bathroom if needed and have lunch there at a what I think is a campsite/recreational area. 

Once at the site of the cave (we should have gone to another one, but there were people placing the highway road blocks, while it is forbidden to pass them, they usualy tolerate 4x4 to pass through, Isaak did not feel nice to pass those men by at this moment. So we visited the other less accesible cave or simply went there from another direction, I don't know...), we had to walk a bit before we reached the entrance of the cave. We had to go down and follow a pile of snowy rocks, with only a rope to hold on to. At this point I decided to stay above the ground safely, I don't have a very good balance, and I didn't want the rest of my holiday being ruined by this legbreaking boulders. I hated it because I know how incredible beautifull lava caves are from the inside. All colors of the rainbow, and this one is also famous for its ice sculptures deeper down. But we were not supposed to get that far. This cave is at private property and is officially only accesible/allowed to enter with a licenced guide to do so. If we were to go down, I am sure it would not be for a long distance anyway. But like I said, I did not feel secure about it to go down.

The entrance from a distance.

The area was very beautifull too. I imagine how this probably looks like in Autumn. My love for Autumn really made another statement here, because despite I love springtime terribly, I usually tend to forget that the springtime I love arrives in Iceland a bit later. Nature is still in process of waking up, and the colors are by far not as magnificent as I silently hoped for. But still, Iceland nature never is dull or boring. I just hoped to see fresh green grass, maybe dandelions flowering, lambs and birds in progress of nesting. Yeah it is a bit too early.

Endless mossy lavafield, stretching out for at least 3 km. The cave underneath for 1520meter

One of the two main entrances, however you can only go down in one. The other you might have to jump (Or just get there via the other one).

There is a hole in the roof ;-)

The roof of the lavacave with its beautiful rocks

After visiting this site, we moved on to two famous and very beautifull waterfalls. One of them is coming down from this very lavafield we just explored. Somewhere there must be a river flowing underneath this lava.
The weather in the west looked a bit nasty, and once we approached the two falls, it started to drizzle a bit. My decicion was made to first visit the fall most far away. Far away.... well 100 meter maybe. But I simply adored this moment to be there all alone, watching this epic bouldering and vicious looking Barnafoss. Barnafoss previously was named Bjarnafoss. But according to legend, at one Christmas Eve long ago, a mother did not find her children at home, while she asked them to stay at home. She followed their footsteps in the snow, leading to the Bjarnafoss, which at that time still had a natural bridge going over to cross from one side to another. The footsteps stopped on the bridge, and the children were expected to have drawned in this raging Hvita (White) river that has to push itself through a narrow crooky fissure having the waters falling down a few meters. It is not really a fall as the name suspects, but it is impressive to see. The mother however was not impressed about her childrens death, and cursed the bridge that no one would ever cross it alive again. The bridge was demolished short after this happened, some legends say it was an earthquake. And the falls got the name Barnafoss, fall of the children. 

Barnafoss

Barnafoss

Barnafoss is hard to picture as whole, since it is going to a narrow fissure and makes several bends and turns. Also the water is raging in white and/or  brightblue and moves extremely fast. It would be a certain death if you fall in the waters for sure. Probably that was the ground for the legend as well, because it is not known if this did happen.

Down the river as soon as the waters have come to ease a bit and turning bright sky blue, Hraunfossar joins in. Hraunfossar means Lavafalls. And many small waterfalls cascade from underneath the lavafield Hallmundarhraun bordering the river Hvita. The lava comes from a dormant volcano underneath Langjokull, and likely the water also comes from this glacier.

Hraunfossar

A waterfall halfway between Barnafoss and Hraunfossar

My best picture of this trip.... Hraunfossar

I just dreamed of how beautifull this must look in autumn. If I return to Iceland in October, which sure still is something on my mind, but is very very doubtfull... I hope I will be able to visit here again. At least this place is accesable with normal rental cars. It is not in the highlands, at least not behind the road blocks...

After a short but time enough to picture visit to this site, we continued our way to Reykholt. It is normally not included in the program, but we had a lady in the group who did very well her homework about the history and sagas of Iceland, so Isaak stopped at Reykholt and put a smile on a face. At this place Snorri Sturlson lived and wrote his eddas. We did a very short walk over the area, Isaak drove around to pick us up, as efficient as ever. It is wonderfull how they try to make everything possible in a most flexible way. We looked at the pool that Snorri had constructed (Snorralaug). And it more often made me smile, because I used to call my (female) cat Snorrie all the time not aware it is an Icelandic name. So if I see a Snorri name I remind my little furball. :-)

Our next and last scheduled visit was to Deildartunguhver. The biggest geothermal hotspring of Iceland. A small mountain in the middle of nowhere that sprouts many many small bubbling and thrushing hot water wells. The sulphursmell was not very bad, but the colors the waters made to the rocky hill are amazing. Together with the bright green moss growing in abundance, the orange and red rocks color perfectly along with hot waterfalls, steamvents, hotsprings a paradise to picture. But the damps were a pest, however Isaak said there was not a lot of damp. Normally you won't see a lot at all. Maybe the air was just not humid enough or the weather too good. Damp more loves wet, moist and rainy weather. But then I remember, it started to rain a bit when we arrived there.... Myth busted...

A hot waterfall at Deildartunguhver

This site produces hotwater for the area around it. And it is funny to see that everywhere small rivers run with hot water, damping their way. I wonder if it would be safe for animals to be out in the fields, but if I know my cats, they are often very carefull with hot water. Without ever touching it.

After we left for our remaining one hour drive to Reykjavik by Hvalfjordur, it stopped raining again. A beautifull rainbow appeared behind us over the area we just visited. I never saw such a bright rainbow so close. We did not have a lot of time to picture it. Just a holdback on the road and open window to take a picture.

The area we drove through was the typical Icelandic landscape, of isolated farms, with waterfalls in their backyards, coming down from the high cliffy hills rising up in the sky. I would so much love it to live at such a place. Common a huge waterfall in the backyard. I would feel like a kid in a candy store. With endless fields to keep horses.

Epic views.....

Drive around Hvalfjordur

Mount Esja from the other side

When we drove around Hvalfjordur, we passed a now 'closed' whale factory. Still the boats were docked, Isaak said they probably had another purpose. I doubt it. Iceland still hunts them. I had a discussion about this with Isaak. I am not against whaling itself, if it involves a species that is common, like minkwhales. Why can we discriminate between cow or whale, it is equal worse. But we discusssed that Iceland usualy get equalled to what happens on Faroer Islands. It is not the same, that masacre is medieval and heartbreaking. I refuse to believe in Iceland it would happen that way.
But well, it remains a sensitive issue to some. I believe it is hypocrite to eat pigs, chicken and cows, and mourn about whales and dogs. I have nothing against eating any animal. I am against the way they are tortured and killed, and the killing of endangered species or species that are just killed for health lies. THAT makes the difference. But even if I saw whale meat in the supermarket and could not resist to take a closer look (because I believe you need to have your information before you can argue about something) I would never ever eat it. Learn about the theoretic facts is my limit.

At Hvalfjordur we stopped at another nice waterfall. I think it is called Fossarett. The sign says so. But since this is also a site of importance, maybe the ancient sheepcoral here is named Fossarett. But 'foss' is waterfall so it is maybe a waterfall cleaning station? Me and my fantasy ;-)

Fossarett

And that is basicly where the day ends. Well... 30 minutes driving to Reykjavik, around Mount Esja. Iceland is so beautful and I have only seen a small part of it....

This might as well be my last blog, because I have no more plans. Tomorrow is my last day in Iceland, going to do some shopping, that is basicly all.
And then I can count down again to a yet unknown date to return to Iceland. I hope it is really soon, but I am afraid, very afraid I will be stucked to my fucked up country for a while. I came here to find work, but I only got the information that it is hard, even most Icelandic people have 2 or 3 jobs to earn a living. Though the unemployment rate is very low here, I probably would only be lucky for summer jobs. But who knows what my received email adress will bring me. :-)

Day 4 Magnificent West part 1

Everybody knows that I sort of curse the big tour operators for screwing up my dream to spend more time in some places to feel the true essence of being in this mighty land. You are never able to feel it when you are among 60 others, especially if they are included Chinese and Americans who typically are around in abundance and noise when you dont want to. So I followed advice and went for the more private companies. You pay more but it is much more custom made.
I went for a company I follow on Facebook. Also because I wanted to visit the areas tourists wont visit with big busses and are not accesable in general this time of year. It is always quite scary to book a company full of trust. They may have lots of tripadvisor approvals, but who says they are real? Well in this case I trust the Icelandic honesty. So I booked this tour that after I miscalculted turned out to be a little bit too expensive. But hey we are the 5 of us including the guide, taking to places that take some effort, lots of km and flexibility. You cant expect them to do this for a bargain.

So in the morning I got picked up. A superjeep stopped at a time after the appointment time. But it was not for me. Though I felt like it was strange. It turned out to be the same company as the one I booked with works together with this one in case one of them has only 1 or 2 guests they will put them together. And this other guy probably was heading out for Landmannalaugar. The tour I at first wanted to do. He went off later with 3 Chinese so god was I happy for choosing this tour!

Not much later my guide arrived. A funny guy named Isaak, but he wasnt sure if he had to pick up me, though he went to Langjokull. Well it was me anyway after he checked and phoned around, so we left and laughed. Me stumbling to get in the superjeep which s quite a gymnastic task, sure with sore and stiff muscles after horseback riding was start of the fun. But he was so typically Icelandic joking about everything from the way they drive, to their weird food habits and beerban that was lifted not long ago, resulting in a national Beerday to celebrate it. It was a nice start and I was more than happy to have the front seat.
Few minutes later we left Reykjavik and the road got empty, the countryside more beautfull and the weather was great.
We went to Thingvellir first. It can never ever compare the way I saw it in autumn. So it was for me a bit confusing. But the view on the lake was amazing. No wind at all, the surface mirrored the mountains perfectly. A few dots of fog gently moved over. But the part which was most beautifull Isaak couldnt find a place to stop. So we drove on to the main spot I was last year.

Thingvellir

This time I thank the gods I could explore much more than just the top of it. Isaak drove the car down and would walk towards us from there and we could take time to find our own way. So we went through the crack and I took the walking path again over it while the others took the beaen track, since one of the others had a disability and might not be able to do the slippery, crooky, rockinfested trail I found my happiness at. Until the ultimate shock of a group of tourist decided the same. One of them a girl taking photos with a sigarette in her hand. Only that picture... And of course the smoke found its way to my nose even better in this crisp clear skies.

Thingvellir standing in the main fissure   

Thingvellir still has some snow laying around

Thingvellir, here the water is incredible blue and famous for diving at Silfra

So I speed up, but I guess this group did not decide to follow me any further. And then, just this glorious feeling.... I am alone! Sort of. Unattached from the mass tourism at one of the most visited sites of Iceland. Between the birchtrees and mossy rocks. With birds singing, the sun shining and the wide open view on the lake, mountains and all that I love.
Of course I could not take the words of 'taking our time' serious. But at least it felt ok I could stop and just feel and sense for every nce in a while. And not have to hurry back because the bus would leave in this and that minute.

Thingvellir looking out over Thingvellirvatn

After our visit and walk at Thingvellir, we visited one kaffibarrin, coffee house for last drink and toilet break, because we would go ignore the roadblocks to head for the western Highlands, which are normaly closed from september until june.

A breathtaking scenery followed, and soon after we passed the very last farms in this harsh landscape, the road turned really outlandish, covered with rocks and ditches and snow here and there. Now you really got the idea why no one lives here. Not even birds. It is all rocks and stones, and while we  had absolute brilliant weather, normaly it is a strong wind blowing and lots of rain and in this time of year snow. Weather can change unpredictably fast here, but we were really in luck that all day it was very nice weather.

The first km of Kaldidalur road from Thingvellir

Rocks everywhere. In summer sheep graze here and lupines flower in abundance

We had a stop at one of the mountain huts, a bright orange hut where people can go to if lost. It has GPS rescue service, phone connection, food, blankets, medical kit and all other necesary rescue stuff there. At this hut we of course did not break in for this things, but Isaak had to deflate the huge tires of the superjeep to drive easier over snowy roads. And we could stretch our legs and I made my way towards a snowman oops snowman???? Stoneman!!! alongside the road. Stonemen are found here everywhere and are like the Viking GPS, helping the people in ancient times finding their way. And some people still use them, since roads can disappear in the snow. But well... it is not at all smart to get here without GPS, however some overwhelmed bikers or hikers from other countries sometimes end up here with just a map in summertime.
  

Stoneman, ancient GPS or trolls frozen in rock?

Our next stop was at a higher altitude, and at this place there was fresh snow all over and here nothing at all grows or lives. The tires got deflated once more because more snow was on the way. And we had there a little break between the glaciers Langjokull and Eiriksjokull. The silence is here incredible. I was with a nice group who just like me enjoyed to take a minute of silence, and I can only agree to the word that real silence is terrible painfull. That weird feeling it gives is unexplainable. I never ever in my life heard this silence. Not the planes flying over, wind that blows, bees that buzz or electricity lines passing by (because I am able to hear those). Moments like this do something with your way of being, your place in the world. You can only have deep respect for the nature around you if you witness this kind of raw nature. And I naturaly imagine what it must be like if one of the many volcanos surrounding us (all of them dormant) decides to wake up.

Rocks taken from the road piled up at a place where nothing at all lives

Out of this world landscape....

Stones laying in a circle. Just a point of interest for me ;-)

More snows and rocks. Only  4 things here, rocks, snow, air and me. (Ah well my 4 fellow tour members too of course)

Just impressed by the incredible silence.....

After this short break here, we head for our next stop, Langjokull glacier. On the rim of it the last time the tires got deflated. We will drive all the way up to the glacier, to the joy of Isaak who already is very excited about the trip back from the glacier. But first he has a surprise for us.

We pass by a husky station, in the middle of nowhere, about 40 dogs hang out on the snow. I don't want to imagine their circumstances normaly because we had such a sunny calm and quiet day, which is not normal. And Isaak has expected it was snowing here. There was however a big grey cloud hanging on the west side of the glacier, but it did not affect us.
Once on top of the glacier, I took my chance to eat the fresh snow (with the saying as long as it is not yellow it is no problem). I wanted to do a snowangel, but this snow might not be as dry as Laplands snow, so I decided to let that idea wait for more arctic climates. Because here on this glacier it was not cold at all.

Langjokull, winterwonderland....

Finaly this peak clears from the clouds on Langjokull

Somewhere there is Eyjafjallajokull, the one that suspended airtraffic for weeks.

If I dont want to make snowangels, got to find something else to do.

Isaak demonstrated how you can build with this snow, and quickly made a table. He had pulled out a bottle of champagne and 4 glasses and we had champagne on the glacier. And delicious champagne it was as well :-) But we didn't finish the bottle. So we took it with us back down.

It was the biggest fun of Isaak, driving down really fast so the car starts to fly. But the bottle of champagne was still open. I tried to film it but the ride was so rough, my battery lid opened of my camera and I thought it broke down. By the time I found that out, we were almost down already. So I missed most part of this hilarious conversation about open bottles of champagne, dull humor and wishes that he would stop driving once the bottle was empty. It really was amazing, I so much loved this tour already! And still so much to see!

Road 550 is already off the beaten tracks, but we decided to take an offroad of road 550 and arrived at a nice not too big but still impressive waterfall. The guide doesn't know its name, and I still have not found out either. I can locate it on maps, but it has no name coming along. What a pitty, it is such a lovely fall, but probably often unseen by tourists, because it lays a bit hidden. Isaak told that this waterfall only is here in spring. It dries up end of may as it is not coming from a glacier, and if the snow has melted, no more water is coming down. Springtime is waterfall time in Iceland. Mainly because the water is fresh. In Autumn there are many too, but due to rain and are often muddy and not much flowing.

The yet unknown to me waterfall

We had to cross the river at the top of the waterfall to continue our way. And along a steep 'cliff' we drove on, until we reached normal road again. We went to Husafell for lunchbreak.

Part 2 is still in progress.... but the blog is getting so long if I put it all in one blog, I will make 2. 

Next blog will contain experiences in a lava cave (or well above it), waterfalls, Reykholt and a tour around Hvalfjordur. It can take 2-4 days before that blog is finished. Still need to process most pictures for that part. Which also means, I can add some pictures to this blog as well.

Day 3 All about horseeeys!!!

Early in the morning after a very sober breakfast of just fruits, pancakes and a little bit of scrambled eggs, I was picked up by Eldhestar transfer service. I didnt sleep well again... and I still felt so miserable in my stomach, I was almost afraid I would have to cancel my ride today. But I remember how well the fresh Icelandic air did me yesterday. Being outside has not let me feel miserable for a second. I took some nausea medication again and went off.

It was a small group being picked up by the owner of the farm. During our 30 minute ride to Hveragerði we were asked for experience in riding. I was again most experienced, but once arrived at the farm it turned out I was the only one riding a whole day tour.
The farm itself is very clean, very modern and full of friendly people. I had kindly asked if they had a job for me, but they didnt respond. Being here at this place I noticed it is people from all over Europe working here, lots of girls but mainly aged around 24. So probably it is the same thing as everywhere, that I am too old. Though I like the place a lot, and it may be necesary I felt it worked way too much on tight schedules, a bit too commercial. Very smoothly our small group was divided and connected to a guide and lead to the changeroom and stable. Within few minutes we were sitting on the horses, and I missed this little moment of connecting to the horse.

In the morning I would ride Stormur, a tiny lightbrow (flaxen) horse. I was alone for the tour I assigned to, but one German girl joined me and the guide in this morning ride. Soon enough we rode through the plains towards the delta of the river Olfusá, on which the Gullfoss is located. During our ride we had many many many gates to open, pass and close. It is an energetic job for the guides. No gate is the same, I guess I have seen hundred gates, fences, ropes, barbwire, electric fence etc.

In the shadows.... it was quite hot in this spring sun, reaching 10 degrees in places in full sun and out of wind.

The hairdo of Stormur

Stormur was quite a handfull. Not that he was bad behaving, but he loves to be in front, and he is not a natural tolter. So I had to work on it to keep him in tolt instead of trott. Tolt for the novice here, is one of the exclusive extra gaits of the Icelandic Horse, a best to describe fast walk which is very comfortable but a bit weird to see to foreigners. When he became tired, he also started to canter, but the canter of Icelandic Horses is amazing comfortable.
Iceland has an incredible lot of horse riding trails, but most of them are full of legbreaking rocks, ditches and as mentioned, gates. In any of these cases/obstacles, Stormur also prefers the security of trotting. As soon as I lost pressure on the reins he took his chance to change. But after a little while and some help and instructions, it got better and it was more tolt again. Still for me it is something very unnatural to do, to just make sure the head of the horse is pulled up to force it to tolt. In the case I would ever buy an Icelandic Horse I surely will search for a horse that does tolt without needing to pull force it to tolt. There must be other ways.... but some horses just prefer one gait over another. And you can't really change that.

It is just one of the things I should get used to in Icelandic Horse keeping. It is different than our way, the people here treat the horses often less like a human than we do, and rely much more on their cultural equine history and old ways, my theory about holistic horsemanship may be something that cannot be applied without having my own farm or business. It is something I have to keep in mind if I plan to go work with horses in Iceland. Though I have come across stables on the internet where they are more accepting the holistic way of horsekeeping. Icelanders are just a nation that had to hold on to ancient old traditions for a long time, and only started to change this in the past 20 years. Not oldfashioned, but being a solitair island made them much more authentic than other countries. Now the rest of the world is in connection, it rapidly changes. It is still rich in equestrian culture, but still in some parts they are necesarry tools to survive. But it has a lot of good things. Horse nations like Iceland have incredible knowledge of understanding horses. I talked about that with the people who worked here. Horses are easier going since they live in herds. Even the horses always staying at the farm in stables, are with two in a stable large enough for them both. They always have eachother without being glued to eachother. Our horses typically live a solitary life, how cruel can you be to an animal that is normally not going to survive if it is all alone? It is the pain I felt lately and made me decide quiting riding lessons. That we gave ourselves permissions to ride them is one thing, but to also take their dignity and freedom to be horse away is a dealbreaker.

After 2 hours we reach a hill close to the river Olfusá, where we have a little break for the horses and time to look out over the delta. In perfect clear conditions you can look towards the ocean, we saw the bridge, though we had very nice and even sunny weather, distant fogging prevented to look further.
Here we also took some pictures. Well the guide took them of me and the girl that was with us.

Endless open spaces of Olfusá river delta. Icelands biggest river.

Me on Stormur who didnt like to stand there alone at all (thats why his ears are backed, he didnt want to stand still either).

After the break we rode back on a little bit different route. Stormur got tired and more and more fell back into trott and canter. And also I became tired and with a sore ass to put it a bit rude. Also, my tailbone still is not feeling ok. Since I felt on my butt in Finland it once in a while starts to ache when I am sitting for too long. If this will continue for more years, I am afraid I have to have surgery on it, either to remove or to rebreak it. Not something I would look forward to....
But sickness had no hold on me for now :-)

Horses everywhere you look, there are more in this picture than you instantly see.

More horses, and this is not the same herd as previous picture

Back at the stables, I had to keep my saddle separated so we could just take it on another horse I would be riding this afternoon. Stormur was soaking wet, he had worked so hard. I could not take a good picture of him, and hoped I would be able at a later moment.
But Eldhestars tight schedule drove me away from the horses to take any pictures at all (my good camera was in the changeroom as well). It is not that it was not allowed, but it was not like Laxness that you had some time to just socialise with the horses. I had half an hour to lunch.

I had to go to the restaurant at the hotel building for lunch. I can't remember I actually let them know I was vegetarian. I surrendered to the always given Icelandic meat soup. If food is included, it contains in nearly all cases this soup. I would have liked to try it, but I got vegetarian cauliflower soup. Not ideal if you have a messy stomach.... but it tasted good, and along there was bread, fruits and vegetables. It was enough for me for the moment. But I rather had the meatsoup I think. Just for the sake of my internal me.

It was time to ride again. I never managed to remember the name of this horse I got. It name meaning 'Dusty' in Icelandic. Translators don't give me the name it was, something like Blaukur... and it was not Rykugum.
My first introduction round gave me the impression I had a fiestier horse this time, eager to work and tolt. This ride to the mountains, I was alone with the guide. But I felt comfortable with this horse, though I started to feel my muscles soring.
Because we were two I got too relaxed at one point and the horse took his chance to lead, the guide got a bit annoyed, but I would have suspected if you have a tour of a guide and experienced rider, you may want to choose two horses that can walk side by side. But those two started to compete, which I don't think was true really... it is what the guide mentioned, but he has his task to lead the group. So I can only respect that. And for the remaing time I stayed behind. A way of riding I just don't like, but ok... it did not ruin the ride. ;-) This horse was a natural tolter and now I could film and take pictures during tolt as well. Relax a bit more, ride one handed or whatever.

The yet unknown horse of the afternoon ride. They were tightening the girth here, just grabbed my chance picture him in between....

We rode to the mountains, to a place called Bloody Hill. I dont know its Icelandic name yet. But here after the settlement, farmers who had unsolvable issues with other farmers, had to fight their justice with their two best stallions. They would fight eachother over, most likely in the reach of a mare, until one of them had died. If the rare case happened both died, the farmers themselves had to fight until one has died. If both died again, naturally the issue would have been solved by this.
So many many blood was spilled on this mountain. We luckily didnt enter this place itself, but stopped 100 meter before. It is typical to see that this mountain also looks more red then the area around it.

On the left the foot of Bloody Hill. I had a full picture but it is disgraced by electricity poles. Common happening in Iceland, they polute views everywhere, but they simply cant go underground....

As we were now halfway our ride, we stopped here for a little break. And enjoyed the view over the plateau blessing ourselves for this beautifull weather. But that weather can change quickly we noticed on our way back.
While we rode up to Bloody Hill we passed a canyon, and now we more went to this direction. This tour has less more gates and fences to pass luckily! We now went to a more offroad trail. Before this we rode mostly alongside the road. It is good that outside of Reykjavik not much traffic is around. But Hveragerdi is rather big town, famous for its greenhouse industry. Here you find the most nordic situated banana plantation in the world. Believe it or not... it might as well be the only or biggest banana plantation in Europe (but don't sue me, I think Spain has some too). Still most bananas you buy in Iceland are from chiquita.

But we were not riding in Hveragerði, but in the wide open spaces. Or well now it is more on the rocky slopes below the mountains. Now the guide invited me for some fast tolting experiences. That was really nice :-) All I did so far was just the regular speed tolting, and now it was heads up and find the limits of the horse tolting speed! Amazing, really like flying through the Icelandic landscape, this picture I had seen some times now in Iceland, people riding their horses in the landscape and all you see is the legs moving and manes fly. This awesome view, and now it was my turn to really fly!
The guide told me my horse might be five gaited too. I noticed at one point a clear left right left right swing so I asked about it. But if it was pacing, it was not for long. To be honest, pace seems a bit scary to me, it needs so much balance, speed and skill to ride it. It was unlikely to be pace however but it was funny to talk about it.

Basalt rocks on our way back to the stable

The last bit of our ride we went into a sheep paddock, such a lovely field with lots of lava rocks, water flowing through, situated below a mountain and not flat itself. Here we has a few cattle/sheep trails to follow our way but that meant we could no longer tolt. It was ok because I felt rather devastated. We ended up on the other side of the road of the stable, and the idea we had to go back to the river where we could follow the river under the road didn't appeal to me. It would mean 45 more minutes riding. But rescue was there... we would cross the road. Only we had to dismount, and then I really felt wrecked. On the other side it was a hell to get back on, no matter how tiny the horses are. I did not mount a horse from the ground for nearly 15 years now...
One thing is for sure, if I am going to do the horse round up later this year, I will need to practice riding longer and mount from the ground. To not make a complete idiot out of me ;-)

Back at the stable the horse was quickly taken away to care for and I had to pick up my things, and fetch some included drink and Icelandic rhubarb cake. I don't fancy rhubarb, but this cake is delicious :-)

And then it was time to return back to Reykjavik.

First thing I did was going to the hottub. I arrived at the hotel shivering, not because I was cold. The hottub was the only place I could feel at ease. Being 41 degrees normaly you can't stand staying too long, but I got frozen when I left it, so I stayed in it for like an hour. I did some swimming to warm up but it did not work, I kept shivering and feeling cold. So again I plunged in the hottub, I just overthought the day, snoozing away in the cozy warm waters...

I loved the day a lot but I missed the horse interaction before and after riding. I am custom to taken well care of a horse before and after riding but I did not even get a chance to pay gratitude to a horse the way I normally would. And that feeling bothered me for some time. Both for Stormur and the other horse.
I had a silent hope for a chance to work here, and despite of it being a lovely and vibrant place I don't know if this strict scheduled and well oiled business is my kind of place. It could be however... after all I have been told quite some times by several people that I need something more scheduled in my life because that is what I lack. But the kind Icelandic girl who speaks Dutch, gave me an adress of a stable that currently looks for help during the summer and maybe for longer. And if this can't be coincidence, I have the idea this is the place where I think of going to do the horse round up in October. If only I had the possibility and money.... I will check with them when back in Holland.

By now I was shrimpled like a raisin of the warm waters. Some other guys came to the pool not showering and I started to feel like being Icelandic. It somehow annoyed me, they didnt do... I mean showering naked is one thing but at least do shower in stead of jumping in the water with all of your today sweat and dirt attached to your body. I did not like the idea... So I left the hottub. The shower felt icecold to me, but I love the hotels Soley shampoo so much, so I took the lukewarm (in my emotion now icecold water) for granted.
I went to my room, thinking I might have low bloodsugar levels causing the shivers and cold feeling. I did not eat a lot today. It made me feel better, but I fell asleep early. Probably also just too tired after 3 wrecked nights.  Or maybe indeed a flu trued to get hold of my imunesystem... I wish it luck!