Today's tour would take us on a completely different tack. Although we have the basic info of where we'll be going and what we'll see, we're never really sure about either ... till we get there. Maybe this makes sense? Serge of Top Iceland Tours would be our guide for the day, just me and Jimmy, Nannie and Bubba. South Island is our destination.
On to the Ring Road (Hwy #1) that circumnavigates the island, and seeing some familiar things from yesterday as we roll along to the southeast. But, every day is different, weather-wise, and half the time, it's every hour.
Brooding landscape!
Group photo at the location above.
Dyrhólaey (aka Door Hole Island) is a nature preserve. And a 390' promonotory not far from the Town of Vik. With a lighthouse. And a wonderful view overlooking the ocean. And wind ... big winds!
And Puffins!
Hundreds of Puffins flying about.
Lucky us! Up close, too! We could hardly tear ourselves away from these little guys, watching them and clicking the shutter over and over. This is one of the things we didn't know we'd see today, but were so happy that we did.
There's even an arch or two! Dyrhólaey got its name from the massive arch (above) that the sea has eroded from the headland. (the name means "door hole.") When the sea is calm, big boats can sail through it. The headland is thought to have been made in an underwater volcanic eruption late in the glacial period, not unlike the eruption of Surtsey in 1963.
Red-legged Kittiwake waiting to be fed. A couple of inches from our feet.
Today was supposed to be a no-rain day, but that doesn't apply to every inch of the island! While we were walking around, a brief, light shower fell, creating a rainbow. Wow, so far this is a great tour!
Looking toward the next headland -- this one has a ship stuck between two trolls! According to legend, the Reynisdrangar needles were formed when two trolls were trying to drag a three-masted ship to land. When daylight broke, they turned to stone. The Needles can be seen from the village of Vík and are 216' above sea level at their highest.
Graceful Swans are always a welcome sight.
We descended to Reynisfjara beach, the most famous black sand beach on the south coast of the island. But to me, the vertical basalt columns (not just vertical, either) were the highlight. Jimmy stands before a gaping cave-like niche.
People were scrambling to take pictures at the columns, many by climbing up and up. I'm the dudette in the red jacket sitting front and center. Ask me if it was hard to get perched where I am (yes, it was), and I'm not far off the sand. The columns look like skyscrapers in a large city, each one trying to outdo the other.
'nother photo op!
The wind was so biting.
Look at this marvelous basalt. Jimmy is camouflaged.
Peering out from inside the cave/niche.
And how about that blue sky?
Sisters having fun!
Terrific black sand/pebble beach. Big waves, too.
We could've walked forever.
Looking back toward Dyrhólaey and the big arch.
Two trolls and a three-masted ship.
As we were walking toward the van, we spotted this woman, perhaps a bride or potential bride, posing for the photographer. We were sure she was freezing to death in her dress, but she's young and probably didn't mind the cold. Makes for a terrific picture.
We made our way to the Town of Vik, just for a look, stopping at the unpretentious, but strikingly beautiful Vikurkirkja Church. Consecrated in 1934. Then it was on to lunch.
I'll separate this into two posts, as this is already long. What a grand morning we had. Iceland has so many faces to show us. This was one of her best.
