7.22.2014

ring in the north: route 1


Today was our last full day in Iceland, and we had a good distance to cover...from one end of the island to the other. We packed up and waited for the small airport in Egilsstaðir to open to rent a car and begin the drive. A few shots along the way:


We didn't have time for many stops, but we couldn't pass a swim in the Mývatn nature baths. The steamy blue water was so relaxing, we soaked and floated for a few hours. 


All cleaned up! Besides soaking in the pools, it was also amazing to have a shower. By this point in the trip, we weren't all that fresh (I'll leave it at that, despite my pride in the odor of my eternally-wet socks), but the baths, a shower, and a clean shirt renewed our energy.


We pulled over for a quick view of the Gullfoss falls, and kept moving.


Our only other stops were for fuel and gas station snacks (my guilty travel pleasure- chips and a cola). 


After many hours on the road and only passing a handful of other vehicles, we pulled into downtown Reykjavik at 20h. Just enough time to eat a huge vegan feast at Gló followed by the best blueberry pie. Today was for tourist-ing: soaking, sight-seeing, and chowing - big treats after our travels on foot. At the end of our quick road-trip, we got beds at Hlemmur Square hostel where we stayed our first nights in the city. Fed and refreshed, we wished we were headed back out to the trails, staking our tent in the rain, but we were returning to the airport in the morning and back home with beautiful memories of a wild and inspiring country.


Egilsstaðir - Mývatn - Gullfoss - Reykjavik