Woke to a white world – still snowing and blowing ?
By the time we crawled out of bed and got ready to go for breakfast the wind and snow had stopped and the sun was shining.
On the road just after 9:00.
What a day this was a long one. We drove and drove and drove through snow and wind and more snow, and more hail.
We filled the tank again and again another 80+ dollars to fill. And we think gas is expensive in Canada. The LandRover uses diesel and it’s about 211.9 kroner‘s per liter, that works out to about $2.11 US a litre, a big difference from the 1.29.9$ we pay at home.
We trundled off toward the waterfall that we could walk behind. When we got there the winds were at least 42K and it was only +2 and a little overcast. By the time we got our jackets on and got organized and started walking toward the waterfalls this big winter squall had blown in and it was snowing like crazy and the wind had picked up. Needless to say we walked around the waterfall anyway. Neither one of us fell down we went up the steps climbed over the rocks wondered around behind watched a couple standing out on some rocks get doused when the wind changed and the waterfall decided to drop on them. We laughed and so did they, but they were soaking wet. We made our way totally around the waterfall without any incident. The wind picked up even more so then we decided not to walk to the other waterfalls because it was too cold and you couldn’t see because it started snowing again. And it wasn’t just know it was frozen hard snow.
We got back into the car and then took off our jackets once we were inside and slightly warmer area. We check the maps and the GPS and took off toward another waterfall.
This one wasn’t as big but it looked a bit neater. And again by the time we got all organized and got dressed and got walking out worded it started to snow again this time big fluffy flakes and the wind was still howling it least 42Km. Along the way somewhere I miss placed my toque because it wasn’t on my head when I reached for it. Don’t know how I lost it, I had my hood up. Oh well. Took some pictures, got kind of close and swore at my camera because it wouldn’t focus then realized I had some how flipped the switch from automatic to manual focus – duh!
Once I got that straightened out, I took a bunch pictures, tried some slow shutters and then decided it was cold let’s go back to the car. As we were pulling out of the parking slot I saw my toque laying on the ground in front of the car, how the heck it got there I’ll never know, the wind probably put it there.
Off toward Dyrholaey – a 120 meter high Cliff jetting out into the sea. There was a lighthouse up there. Good thing they had chain fence that we could hang onto while we tried to walk out to the lighthouse. The wind had to be at least 60 clicks up here because you could hardly stand up straight. If you were just standing there it could blow you over. One of us was blown over but it wasn’t me. From this vantage point you could see the Sea stocks that were down the beach a bit and the long beach in the other direction. It would’ve been neat to be up there if it wasn’t for the darn wind and a little snow that we got there too.
On toward Reynisfjara, a black volcanic sand beach with unique rock formations and overall moody atmosphere. Yeah right a lot of tourists and a lot of wind. We bundled up again and off toward the black sand beach and off toward the basalt columns that looks similar to the columns that are in northern Ireland and western Scotland.
While I was taking a photograph with my back to the ocean, that’s a no no, a small rogue wave came in and went over my boots and a few Asians got pretty well soaked too. My boots are waterproof so they survived but my socks were not, and they didn’t. My pants were a little wet as well. Oh well no I have black sand in my boots.
Back to the car, took off our jackets and everything else and got ready to go to find the hotel. We are both a little tired. All the fresh air, and the wind, and the snow, and the frozen rain will do that to you.
We drove for a while, only 69 to the hotel, but it seems longer because you’re only going 90km. There are speed cameras along the highway, so I’m being good and not speeding. It’s kind of hard to speed, when your head is on a swivel and you’re looking at everything.
We found a hotel we also found a supermarket nearby thank goodness. We went and checked and found a room then decided to go back to the supermarket to see what they had to eat instead of spending $70 US each for supper. We found a couple a nice salads and of course a bottle of Coke. Back to the hotel and into the bar because it’s happy hour and I got a big glass of beer for only 600 kronera – about six dollars US.
Since I haven’t eaten much all day that bear went straight to my head so I guess we’re not venturing out again, maybe just into the parking lot to look at the stars if there are any. It’s cloudy again. So I guess were in for the night.
