Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

Here are the links to post #1     post #2     post #3   and post #4   of the 2-week trip, for those who want to read it in order.    We left off early on Day 6, as I headed into the Far North. Day 6 (Sept. 16): Sea Birds, Sea Stacks, and my Farthest North When I left Asbyrgi about half past 8, after my 45-minute explore of the canyon, I left the beaten track and headed for as far north as I could get. Most of the point was, in fact, just to drive the far north coast and see what it looked like. I did have a couple of goals in mind, however. First, I wanted to visit Rauthinupur, not far short of the northernmost point, and with a couple of cool seastacks notorious for the seabirds. I wasn't sure there would be birds, as late in the season as I was, but it seemed worth walking a couple of miles on a scenic coast to find out.  I came across that spit of land to climb the bluffs towards the lighthouse and the birds.     Probably at...

We're approaching the midpoint of the trip! Today we'll roam about the northlands. Here are the links to post #1     post #2   and post #3 of the 2-week trip, for those who want to read it in order.    I left off early on Day 5. Day 5 (Sept. 15), continued: Leaving Lake Myvatn behind me, I followed the Ring Road west a short distance to Hverir, a small developed area with substantial geothermal activity. One hint about this was the large geothermal power plant I drove past on the way, with a strikingly blue lake (the blue of pale turquoise) next to the road. The color of the lake was just one of the effects of having the power plant there, I think. Only later, after visiting Hverir, did I discover how extensive the power plant is. Rt. 1 (the Ring Road) climbs above Blue Lake, and  some of the power plant buildings.   The sulfuric exhalations of the Hverir were the price to pay for the striking colors of the hillsides. Parking fees were somewhat h...

Continuing to work my way through the photos from the trip. It looks like I'll be sharing them for several more weeks! Here's the link to post #1   and post #2 of the 2-week trip.      Day 4 (Sept. 14): Trollaskagi Peninsula, Gothafoss, Lake Myvatn  I wish I'd kept track of my daily driving mileage. It was a lot lower than you'd think for the amount of time it took, thanks in part to my propensity for the road less traveled.  As usual, there was at least some sun in the morning, after our wild night of wind and rain, and I headed north for the Trollaskagi Peninsula and the little town of Hófsas. My guidebooks raved about the ocean-side community swimming pool there, and I was feeling due for a swim as a change from hiking and driving. Morning light on the Austari-Herathsvotn estuary. Alas, when I got to Hófsas, the pool was temporarily closed and drained. Since the guidebook indicates it is open all winter, I must have just gotten unlucky. All was not ...