Aug 12

Aug 12

What! There is sunshine and the wind is calm.  A little drying of gear as I packed.  Took a while to find my sunglasses.  A quick 15 miles to town for brunch.  Resupplied with food as I  will not come across stores for days.     As I leave town a headwind appears. As I go I am crossed by two different rain storms each lasting a mile.  After going another 19 miles I come across a trail with possible camping potential.  I check it out and it has even a table (upgrade camp).  Great trail though lava fields.  Great spot so I camp early.

Love & kisses

Steve

Pics and Updates

Pictures and Internet will happen when they happen.

Skorradalsvate

Aug 11 2016

So the rain and wind through the night continued.  The wind came from  SE and the rain pound again that side.  No use to try to cook.  Packed everything in the tent then pulled the pole while in the tent.  The gear and me were keeping the tent bouncing away.  A bit more cloths today along with full rain gear.  Back on the pavement the wind slowed me a good bit and the rain was sting my face.  Passing another cyclist we both comment on the nice day.  He had the wind at his back.  After four miles I turned to the north and the road was being rebuilt.  The big gravel was treacherous but I had the wind at my back.  Only six miles of construction then plain dirt road.  At mile 15 for the day  I was at the next fjord-fur.  I could see where I wanted to be across the water.  Around I head and back into the wind.  Gust bring me to a stop even on the down hill a number of times.  When I finally get to the top of fjord-fur the wind is calm.  I get no tail wind.  At mile 40 I head north again over the hills.  I am dragging a bit as the dirt road does not give the traction as asphalt does.  Around mile 50 I am at the lake in the next drainage.  Seeing lots of summer homes and farms I head up the next hill.  Coming down toward the next valley I see more farms ahead stop for dinner and ponder the situation.  After dinner I look at some brush across the road it has a nice private location.  Sloping and bumpy but no one will bother me.  Now it is time to dry my gear out.  Tent floor lets me glide to the bottom end of my tent.  Time to stack my gear better.
Love and kisses
Steve

Reykjavik and on

Aug 10

Woke up at 9 and had oats and cranberries.  Rain had stopped so dried the rain fly as I sorted and packed better for riding.  Taking a couple of picture of camp I find my memory card full.  Will need to find out why when the computer is plug in.  On the road by 10 heading for Reykjavik.  15 miles and I am in the heart of Reykjavik at the tourist office seeking maps.  They have cycling maps. Everyone is wearing heavy jackets and me in shorts and sandals.  The ones in down jackets warming their hands make me cold.   I check out the tourist zone and see a

Cousin

The gear that could be hauled

cousin (pic).  Now I seeking some food for my trip.  Find some food and head out of town.  Bike path does not take me past any stores so I don't fill my second 2l bottle of water.  Head wind and uphill were wearing on me.  At 6 start looking for a campsite.  Trees are only around farms and roads that lead to farms.  I ride on.  A dirt road leading to ski I take and  camp over a ridge from the main road.

Cheese sandwich and tomato basil soup for dinner.  Neoprene socks warm my feet as the last mile some of my toe went numb.  

The wind blows and the rain falls as I go to sleep.  It is cold and wet out there.
Love and Kisses
Steve

The start

Augest 8 2016

No problems getting to the airport.  Just road the mountain bike into Boulder and across 22 miles).  Drop it off at a friends where my boxed and gear was.  Haul the 100 lbs of gear two blocks to the local bus which arrived just as I got there.  Local bus gets me the half mile to the bus terminal.  Clean sailing to the airport.  The new arrangement at the airport has me carry  the gear to the far end with no cart.   Not impressed.  Board says the plane is late.  The Iceland Air staff says the plane is on time.  We board a little late and then sit on the tarmac for forty minute.  The board is right.  Tried to sleep but had a kid hitting the screen behind the seat for hours.  I ask the flight attendant to help and she went to the other end of the plane an hid.  So arriving in Iceland near dawn with no sleep and no food I grab my stuff and head out.  Standing outside the terminal wondering what I should do next I see the Bike Pit. Wheeling my gear over to it I find all the tools to put my bike back together.  Thirty minutes later I have a working bike.  A little while later gear is arrange for riding.  The grab basket in the bike pit has fuel cartridges and tangerines.  Bike box folded will not travel   easily.  Go back to the terminal and ask Icelandic air about bike bags.  They say they have them.  We will be checking back on how this turns out. Hope it is not loaded by the guy in Denver who bounce tested all the luggage being loaded on the plane.  

Bed off the front of the bike

As I head into the near by town I go for a tangerine.  My hands stick to the handle bars.  New plan.  I need food so I need local money.  Trip through town I can't find a ATM machine or bank.  I go back around and ask directions.  Yes I am in dire need of food so I ask direction.  I am told to find the bank I need to turn right on the main drag and look for the big building.  I could see a couple of flaws in the directions, but I went with them  A half mile later I found the bank.  ATM did not like my card so I converted cash.  Across the street was another bank and my card worked there.  I was thinking it would not be good not having access to most of my travel funds.  Flush with cash I found food.  Took back roads heading towards Reykjavik.  These quickly ran out putting me on the main highway.  This was like riding on an interstate.  Near 20 miles I was on the edge of Reykjavik metropolitan area.  I was fading fast and new I did not have 25 to 30 miles in me.  Rooms are tight in town so I could not count on finding a place.  I also did not want race though town with out seeing anything.  So I headed south into the country side.  At the edge of town my bike fell over under me.  Just barely kept the bike out of a 10 foot pit.  My bike does  go down under me.  I was tired.  A mile out of town I could see forest.  I took side road though the lava beds to the forest.  Found a track that lead me to a great spot.  I lay down in some heather around 2 and was out. I woke near sunset and setup the tent.  It started raining in the night and I slept
Love and kisses
Steve

Another adventure

Hi All,
Yes it is time for another adventure. The stars and planets have aligned.

Horoscope: It is easy to venture forth this next month, with Venus in Virgo. Chart your itinerary. Travel, studies, research and exploration offer abundant reward.

So not off to sunny beaches, but time to head north with the bike. To the land of Saga and Elves I bring my Ogre (bike). There is the looming volcano above the land that adds a Tolkienish touch to the trip to the land of fire and ice. Speaking of fire,ice and saga then there is the game of thrones to consider in these travels. Holding back fierce Puffins and avoiding being carried off by elves. So follow along on the blog http://adrifttraveler.blogspot.com/. Will be writing from lovely hot pools, or maybe not as I enjoy the moment.

Love and Kisses
Steve