Day 5. Saksun

Today, I finally wanted to start hiking. I had chosen a hike from the town of Saksun, through Haldarsvik and Tjørnuvik, in the travel guide. In Saksun, there is a sandy lagoon in a large valley basin. Along with the occasional waterfall, a museum village, a small church, and a circular hiking trail. That was going to be it. Length approximately 17 kilometers, estimated hiking time 6-7 hours.

I started to complete and organize the blog from the previous day before breakfast. This was only interrupted by the intake of morning food. With a cup of coffee and an iPad, I went to the hotel lounge to finish my post on a comfortable leather couch.

After another coffee and two quickly passing hours, it was now ready to be uploaded. But it's time I thought just as the lady from the reception spoke to me:

'You must leave your room today, You get a new room on the Second Floor' 

Oh, right, there was something. When I booked in February, the ferry company employee had already mentioned this, without being able to give me an explanation. I had forgotten about it. 

When I asked 'What is the reason' I only got a 'We Need it' as a reply. Well, they must know what they're doing. So, quickly back to the room, packed everything up, and transported it to the room number I had been told before, one floor down. 

Back to the reception to drop off the key and with the new key back to the exchange room. I opened the door and was surprised, it was also a single room, same side of the building just a little bigger. What's the logic behind this? Still have no plausible explanation.

With this action, I had lost another hour, now quickly posted the blog, informed Jule and Reinhard that I probably won't have dinner with them tonight, as I will probably come back very late.

It was already well after noon when I pressed the start button on my Suzi. The long tour probably won't happen. On the way to Saksun, I met a family from northern Germany during a photo stop. They are traveling with a Toyota Land Cruiser converted into a camper. We had a nice conversation about the beauty of the Faroe Islands, the inadequacy of our navigation systems, off-road vehicles, and camping options on the islands. Boom, another half an hour gone.

In Havalvik, turn right through the village, at the end of which the road becomes a single road like in Scotland. This road, called Buttercup Route, runs parallel to a small watercourse named Dalá. 

Buttercup Routes are roads located in particularly scenic places in the Faroe Islands. They can be recognized by signposts with a yellow flower on a green background.

The road is very narrow. However, there are occasionally passing places, which are needed. Even on a motorcycle, you can't pass a car. Nothing here is artificially straightened, the gray asphalt band nestles against the topography of the terrain. It goes up and down, so it's important to drive attentively. In some places, a change of direction can only be recognized at the last moment.

This continues for the next ten kilometers until shortly before Saksun. At a small lake, you have to choose one of the two designated parking lots. To the left, it goes down to the lagoon, to the right, up to a plateau in the middle of the valley. 

I chose the plateau because the left side of the valley was already in the shade. It was too late to tackle the circular route. So, I walked around aimlessly, watched the sheep graze, and listened to the soothing splashing of the waterfall. 

'It is not recommended to walk the route in the hunting season from November to December' 

They probably shoot at anything that moves.

I could have a coffee in one of the small stone houses with grass roofs and enjoy the remaining sunlight on a bench in front of the house.

Back at the hotel, there was just enough time to eat something at the adjacent Chinese restaurant 'Seven'.

I had Kung Pao chicken and a local beer. I really like the taste of the beer brewed here, and with 5.8% alcohol, it's not weak. 

On the plan for tomorrow is the journey to Iceland. The ferry leaves at 6:00 PM. I will plan my day according to the weather. The forecast isn't too bad. Jule and Reinhard are still considering the possibility of a city tour in Tórshavn.