A Hitchhiker's Guide to Iceland

Planning and improvisation go hand in hand, just like theory and practice. Thursday morning went exactly as planned; I boarded in the harbor of Seyðisfjörður. Seyðisfjörður is a small harbor town with 650 inhabitants in the west of the island. The morning on deck of the Norrøna was misty, and a fresh wind blew around my nose, so I decided to wear my transitional jacket.
On land, there was glorious sunshine, and I decided to pack the jacket away again. Three officials handled the entry process, taking a quick look at identification cards. The expiration date of my ID in two weeks went unnoticed. Meanwhile, the belly of the ferry spewed out its cargo, and a massive wave of cars, motorhomes, and outdoor campers flooded the small place; it was 8:30 am. About 20 travelers were left behind, waiting for the bus connection to Egilsstaðir in about an hour. I had time for a 'city walk.' There was a small fishermen's church to see, the typically Icelandic rainbow passage, a couple of houses adorned with street art, as well as a beautiful view of the fjord and mountains.
The planned onward journey from Egilsstaðir, the eastern center with 2,600 inhabitants, was at 12:30 pm. The day's goal was Akureyri, the capital of the north with 22,000 inhabitants. In the parking lot of the campsite where the buses also stopped, I found a sunny spot and enjoyed a coffee while tending to my travel notes. Various cars, pickups, and vans were maneuvering in the straightforward parking lot. I waited for my bus, a minibus, as it turned out, that only runs once a day to Akureyri. According to the internet, a bridge closure was causing significant delays on the line. At the neighboring table, two German couples were discussing sustainable financial products and the quality of vegan sausage.
Inquireing, around 1:30 pm, the local bistro operator explained to me that the bus had already passed through, but he wasn't 100% sure. A moment of panic, what now? What to do? Should I stay here overnight and try again the next day? I had arranged to meet friends in Akureyri for onward travel. Akureyri was about 400 km away, roughly four hours by car. I mentally went through my options.
I packed my things and decided to hitchhike. I oriented myself on the map and walked to the edge of town at Ring Road 1, which circled the entire island and connected the major towns. The road was teeming with cars and campers, locals and tourists. About half an hour passed, and I questioned my decision.
Eventually, a gray SUV pulled up behind me. Three young people from Barcelona invited me to ride along to Myvatn. I checked my phone. Myvatn would take me within 100 km of my goal, and I got in. On the journey through the lunar landscape of northeastern Iceland, I shared stories about my travels and learned how my travel companions ended up in Iceland. All three, two from Argentina and a young woman from Andorra, were working in a hotel in Iceland for the summer. We chatted away as world music, reggaeton, Balkan music, and more played on the radio.
In Myvatn, it was time to say goodbye. I thanked my companions politely and gifted them two beers from my travel supplies. As recommended, I positioned myself again at a gas station and stuck my thumb out. Like last time, the stream of passing vehicles led to a feeling of rejection and doubt. It was 5:30 pm. Then a red truck left the gas station, and the elderly driver waved at me.
Success! I climbed with my luggage into the driver's cabin. What followed was a long conversation about Icelandic forestry and the challenges of sheep farming (tree seedlings were being transported), Iceland's climate and seasons, and finally the old man's life story. Many, many impressions in my first hours on the island. Around 6:15 pm, we reached the town entry of Akureyri. Before I got out, I thanked this kind gentleman as well and offered him a can of German canned beer as a farewell gift. He was pleased, which is hardly surprising given the beer prices in the country.
What followed was a 20-minute walk into Akureyri, a reunion with friends with whom I planned to travel the island, a shared dinner, and a good feeling.
The hitchhiking experience can be summarized as follows: I met nice people, gained additional trust in the kindness of strangers, and felt compelled to act the same towards travelers the next time.