Given the dire weather warnings of yesterday afternoon I was surprised that we ventured out this morning. It was a marginal call in terms of the wind speed threat to traffic, especially high sided vans, but off we went to another waterfall, surprise surprise. It turned out to be amazing though, the wind was so strong the waterfall was being blown backwards, and it was too dangerous to climb up to the viewing platform. But the upside was that there were very few other people around.
After that we went back to the hotel and didn't stir out again until late in the afternoon. The afternoon jaunt was to a turbulent black sand beach. The weather was still changeable to the extent that we had rain, hail and snow within a 5 minute period, all accompanied with near gale force wind. Apparently people regularly get caught out at this beach, getting dunked by rogue waves and a tourist was fatally swept away fairly recently, so stern warnings were issued about keeping an eye on the water at all times.
As we are still on the "tourist circuit " here there were lots of happy snappers about, gaily wandering in front of your carefully set up shot, which is situation normal for serious photogs. At one end of the beach are fantastic basalt lava stacks and several pinnacles just off shore. At the other the rock bridge of Dyrhólaey (pronounced Derra-ho-lay). The surf was huge, dumping and fierce. It is hard to imagine people surviving it. The stacks proved a popular place for every man and his dog to take a selfie. One couple were so busy taking photos of each other they didn’t notice their kid wandering down to the waters edge. We all got rather anxious and I think someone may have said something - next thing a huge wave came crashing in; Mum, who had been posing, ran to avoid a dunking and Dad grabbed the kid but got wet in the process. The force of the wave made it travel up the beach twice as high as expected and poor Erin got a complete soaking head to toe including the camera. A major mopping up was required and the prognosis for the camera gear is hopeful but uncertain, currently being dried very slowly.
While the weather is still meant to be rubbish tomorrow, the forecast for it to warm up to around +5-7. This will mean it is too dangerous to visit the ice caves on the glacier. So we are in the bizarre position of hoping it stays below zero !
After that we went back to the hotel and didn't stir out again until late in the afternoon. The afternoon jaunt was to a turbulent black sand beach. The weather was still changeable to the extent that we had rain, hail and snow within a 5 minute period, all accompanied with near gale force wind. Apparently people regularly get caught out at this beach, getting dunked by rogue waves and a tourist was fatally swept away fairly recently, so stern warnings were issued about keeping an eye on the water at all times.
As we are still on the "tourist circuit " here there were lots of happy snappers about, gaily wandering in front of your carefully set up shot, which is situation normal for serious photogs. At one end of the beach are fantastic basalt lava stacks and several pinnacles just off shore. At the other the rock bridge of Dyrhólaey (pronounced Derra-ho-lay). The surf was huge, dumping and fierce. It is hard to imagine people surviving it. The stacks proved a popular place for every man and his dog to take a selfie. One couple were so busy taking photos of each other they didn’t notice their kid wandering down to the waters edge. We all got rather anxious and I think someone may have said something - next thing a huge wave came crashing in; Mum, who had been posing, ran to avoid a dunking and Dad grabbed the kid but got wet in the process. The force of the wave made it travel up the beach twice as high as expected and poor Erin got a complete soaking head to toe including the camera. A major mopping up was required and the prognosis for the camera gear is hopeful but uncertain, currently being dried very slowly.
While the weather is still meant to be rubbish tomorrow, the forecast for it to warm up to around +5-7. This will mean it is too dangerous to visit the ice caves on the glacier. So we are in the bizarre position of hoping it stays below zero !
 Skógafoss  |  Stacks and pinnacles  Basalt Lava Stacks  Dyrhólaey |
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