The day started out cloudy and grey but it didn't rain and there was no wind. That makes a big difference here in Iceland, well, anywhere really.
We headed east on the main highway that circles Iceland, stopping to buy groceries for our picnic lunch later on. Then we headed to our first waterfall of the day and it was a doozy.
Seljalandsfoss is an impressive 65 meters tall and the cool thing about this goss (waterfall) is that you can walk behind it! Apparently when the sun shines, rainbows appear. We weren't lucky enough to see that but it was pretty spectacular all the same.
Our next stop on the journey east was Slogafoss Falls. A significant number of steps lead one to a viewpoint at the top of the falls. I decided to stay at the bottom and take my time photographing the beauty there. That and the fact that my leg muscles were sore from yesterday’s hike…haha!
Across the river formed from the flow of the falls, I spied some Icelandic horses peacefully grazing as if they were posing for photographers. The backdrop was a beautiful green mountain and traditional farm buildings. The group included a little baby colt which was nursing, after which he contentedly laid down.
I walked closer to the main attraction, tucking my 'good camera' under my waterproof jacket. Quite close to the falls, there was a little overhang where I stood somewhat protected from the onslaught of water in the air. There were gulls nesting along the cliffs and beautiful flora and fauna clinging to life on the rocks. We had our picnic lunch at some nearby tables.
In the afternoon we drove to a wonderful
viewpoint overlooking the ocean. The rocks were huge, pointy and quite
unique-looking! Below, a mother duck of some sort was walking along the shore
with her ducklings. She headed towards the water to escape a human chasing her
family for a photo. Stupid human! When the fierce ocean hit the ducklings I
thought they were goners but they are ducks of course....no worries!
We piled in the van and headed a little further on towards the black sand beach below. You could feel and hear the fury of the ocean. As I was intently looking through my lens, a big wave came past the 'dry' line and got me good! Silly photographer!
The cliffs above were made of a brown shale-like
type of rock. Above that, the ground was a magnificent green and I was amazed
to see a sheep grazing on an extremely steep slope.
The beach was part sand, part rocks. And oh, what rocks they were! Although they were mostly black, I managed to fill my pockets with various colored stones. I hope to be able to wire-wrap them when I get home and turn them into jewelry of one kind or another. Some people made inukshuks with the stones. Most of the rocks were smooth and invited ‘play’.
When we went to leave that spot, we discovered we had parked on a soft gravelled area. How soft? It was like getting stuck in mud or snow. Fortunately there was a farmer quite nearby with a tractor. Unfortunately we were the third tour van stuck today, while 5 were stuck yesterday. Really! He pulled us out, but for a fee. Our guide wouldn’t say how much but it wasn’t chicken feed.
Our guide told us today was going to be a 'fossy' kind of day. There are over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland and we've seen some gooders! Our last stop of the day was yet another fall called Systrafoss. It was tucked away amongst some trees and turned this way and that. Nearby was a picturesque sod house which I photographed from all angles.
We headed east on the main highway that circles Iceland, stopping to buy groceries for our picnic lunch later on. Then we headed to our first waterfall of the day and it was a doozy.
Seljalandsfoss is an impressive 65 meters tall and the cool thing about this goss (waterfall) is that you can walk behind it! Apparently when the sun shines, rainbows appear. We weren't lucky enough to see that but it was pretty spectacular all the same.
Our next stop on the journey east was Slogafoss Falls. A significant number of steps lead one to a viewpoint at the top of the falls. I decided to stay at the bottom and take my time photographing the beauty there. That and the fact that my leg muscles were sore from yesterday’s hike…haha!
Across the river formed from the flow of the falls, I spied some Icelandic horses peacefully grazing as if they were posing for photographers. The backdrop was a beautiful green mountain and traditional farm buildings. The group included a little baby colt which was nursing, after which he contentedly laid down.
I walked closer to the main attraction, tucking my 'good camera' under my waterproof jacket. Quite close to the falls, there was a little overhang where I stood somewhat protected from the onslaught of water in the air. There were gulls nesting along the cliffs and beautiful flora and fauna clinging to life on the rocks. We had our picnic lunch at some nearby tables.
We piled in the van and headed a little further on towards the black sand beach below. You could feel and hear the fury of the ocean. As I was intently looking through my lens, a big wave came past the 'dry' line and got me good! Silly photographer!
The beach was part sand, part rocks. And oh, what rocks they were! Although they were mostly black, I managed to fill my pockets with various colored stones. I hope to be able to wire-wrap them when I get home and turn them into jewelry of one kind or another. Some people made inukshuks with the stones. Most of the rocks were smooth and invited ‘play’.
When we went to leave that spot, we discovered we had parked on a soft gravelled area. How soft? It was like getting stuck in mud or snow. Fortunately there was a farmer quite nearby with a tractor. Unfortunately we were the third tour van stuck today, while 5 were stuck yesterday. Really! He pulled us out, but for a fee. Our guide wouldn’t say how much but it wasn’t chicken feed.
Our guide told us today was going to be a 'fossy' kind of day. There are over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland and we've seen some gooders! Our last stop of the day was yet another fall called Systrafoss. It was tucked away amongst some trees and turned this way and that. Nearby was a picturesque sod house which I photographed from all angles.
We
are staying 2 nights at the Islandia Hotel in Nupar in the south of Iceland.
There is nothing but the hotel for miles, er, kilometers, all around. Dinner is
being served!
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