The next video is out, and on this day, we begin our trek towards Mývatn. I loved the whole vibe of this part of the trip because the moon was out all day. The landscape changes from farmland to red rocky expanses, and with the moon hanging over the horizon, it really felt like we were on Mars at times.
You may notice the distinct lack of facilities on this stretch. I struggled on this morning with the bathroom issue again, so just maybe go slow on the coffee before you hit the road in this part of Iceland. Also, there were no gas stations for the first couple of hours of the drive, so always fill up when you see a station.
While it looks like a sunny, warm day, the roads app actually had us listed as icy. Black ice was around for the early part of the trip. It is important to check the road conditions if you’re driving in Iceland. We checked in the morning, and then again around noon in case any storms popped up.
Our only stop of the first leg is to see Rjúkandafoss, or Rjúkandi, the twelfth tallest waterfall in Iceland. This waterfall, as you can see in the video, is directly off Route 1. It is easy to see from the base, but if you want to hike further up and closer to it, there is a trail, too. A simple info sign and a small parking area are the only facilities at this waterfall.
We didn’t visit this waterfall for very long. When you have to go to the bathroom, hanging out next to rushing waterfalls becomes difficult, to say the least.
Next up, we stop at an amazing little bakery in what felt like the middle of nowhere, we go to Hell, get into some hot (boiling) water, and later, we will visit the home of the Yule Lads. See you then!