Lucky Pigs. Happy Feet.

6:54 a.m. The glance to the left - Anne is still there. Very close. We shared a bed so we could accommodate extra guests in the cabin.

 

What a cabin. Small, somehow spartan, incredibly cozy, cuddly warm, somehow unexpected, and exactly what we needed after this day.

Another topic & opening parenthesis: what do we actually need? We love these trips. They provide a different perspective on what we & our body need. The existential gains importance, the material becomes insignificant.

Outside, we are greeted by fantastic weather. "We cannot provide a weather forecast for the top, it can change every 15 minutes," travelers were told. Just like: "It is rare to even have a view up here." Wow!

Up in the cabin, we can even make coffee, recognized milk powder based on childhood memories of the smell, it's still available. Clever! Straight to the next packing list!

 

So with luck on our side, we happily trudge towards the glacier. Taking pictures, being exuberant, nothing can stop us.

You can be deceived ;-) There, we are told to turn around! Very disappointed... we do not like that 🤣

The glacier we want to cross has too many crevasses. We do not see a safe way to cross. With the estimated 16kg, we are not exactly nimble on our feet. So: safety first & back towards the river crossing - yeah 😅

For the first time (Jule), I feel that we are dealing with the forces of nature that should not be taken lightly.

 

Oh well, we take advantage of the return to have another coffee in the hut and watch the spectacle of passing clouds. Except for us and our host Victor from Reykjavik up there at that time. So peaceful. Such a scenery. Such a panorama. Fascinating. Soothing. Unique. Makes you want to stay.

 

After a refreshment, we continue on the route. The river with a view, more power, and doable earlier in the day. And so we go directly to another spot on the glacier towards the volcanoes Magni and Modi.

 

 

Wow, once again we are impressed by the view and take a rest. The weather still deceitfully good, always with the concern of what's to come. So now let's make some more progress. We climb further down, sometimes pleasantly flat, sometimes unpleasantly steep. The backpack is pressing from behind. The poles are a relief - especially when you finally understand how to use them (Jule).

We pass glaciers, lava stones, scree, and enter a sort of Shire - at least how I would imagine it. Fantastic green on the rocks, impressive formations, with snow-capped mountains or waterfalls in the background. Incredible diversity!

 

Occasionally, we let day hikers pass or we encounter other hikers - some just as loaded as we are, others in running gear without any luggage.

Then another level: the fauna expands its color spectrum, flowers, bushes, and a much milder climate make us stop again and get rid of our jackets. We can finally start to settle in. It's taking a while, but we made it. And we are rewarded in the valley and at the destination with a beautiful evening sun and a magnificent view. Cheers!

 

Lesson learned: Distances in Iceland are different. The luggage adds to the challenge.

With that, we go to bed, positively exhausted, excited, satisfied with the day, and also a bit panicked about what awaits us tomorrow!!