Day 4 Sunday, June 23
Today was definitely not a ‘day
of rest’!
We began the day with a
lovely buffet breakfast at our hotel, which is called Frost and Fire, and is located
in the town of Hveragerdi, 45 minutes from Reykjavik. The town is known for it’s
geothermal activity which they use to power homes in the area as well as
greenhouses. The hotel pool, jacuzzis and sauna all make use of these
geothermal springs. For breakfast I had a slice of ‘rugbaud’ bread cooked in
the hot springs. You can even cook your own egg in a hot spring right outside
the front door!
Our morning agenda was a ‘hot
springs hike’. Our guide drove us up and around to the top of the Hellisheidi mountain range in the beautiful Reykjadalur valley
where we were met by another guide. Rather
than climb up to the springs and down again, we were able to just go down,
which we thought would be an easy activity. Not!
The path was well marked and
the terrain was a workout for some of us. It was a bit rough and uneven with
lots of ups and downs. I soon peeled my outer 2 layers off before too long. The
views were stunning and I sometimes found it hard to keep up with the group because
of my tendency to take so many photos. But I just couldn’t help myself!
As we neared our
destination, one of our group took a spill crossing a small stream. She was OK
but needed medical attention and we were glad there was a nurse in our group. I
was a little more careful navigating the tricky parts from then on.
We found the bathing area
and got in, hardly believing the water could be so hot after our experience in
2 degree Celsius water yesterday! But it was quite lovely and we enjoyed a
short soak and rest for our feet.
Altogether the hike was 4
kilometers, which doesn’t really sound like very much. But the terrain was
rocky, muddy, and hilly. We saw many geothermal springs with steam rising up
into thin air. We also surprised a few sheep along the way.
In the afternoon our group
divided up and some of us went on a white water rafting tour. This was a first
for me and I was a little unsure of the idea. We were picked up at our hotel by
a transfer van and delivered to a spot 45 minutes east of Hveragerdi. Although
we had many layers, suiting up was easier than yesterday’s adventure. We got in a
bus and drove to another location down river. Our guide gave us the required
safety information and we practiced in easy water before we got too far.
The worst of the rapids
were at the start of the trip and I sat at the back near the expert guide. That
was the best pace for me he said and who was I to argue? The river was only
rated a class 2 but that was enough for me. We definitely didn’t stay dry but
we all stayed safely in the boat.
The scenery was great and
the weather was beautiful. Warm sunny days in Iceland don’t come all that
often, even in the summer!
When we got back to where
we started, there was a delicious lamb barbeque waiting for us. It really hit
the spot after all that physical activity today. On the way back to our hotel I
had a snooze and so did many others!
It’s time for another soak
in the hot water!
