The next video is out, and you can watch it here. I love the scenery in this one. Despite the rain and poor visibility, you still see the volcanic rocks, green moss, wave swept coasts, and some really beautiful basalt rock formations.
The first rocks we encountered were at Lóndrangar. You can see the towering rock formations from the car, but there is also a road that takes you closer. Due to the rain and wind, we opted to skip this one because I knew I wanted to walk around at a couple of other locations that were coming up. These rocks rise up out of the ground like monoliths, and you can see them from a long way off.
The next stop was Hellnar. This cozy town used to be a thriving fishing village, and the earliest record from this town is from the mid 1500’s. Today, though, it is mostly a tourism area due to the dramatic coastline. Volcanic rock coupled with crashing waves creates a rugged black coast that compliments the aqua waters perfectly.
On the day we were here, the wind pelted us with heavy rain, and we struggled to hold on to our phones for photos. However, we did see an intrepid man out paddle boarding. In the video, you get a view of him. I honestly couldn’t watch very long. He wasn’t wearing a life jacket, and he was alone. I hope he was ok. If you’re that guy, let us know how it went!
There is a trail that leads all along the coast. I had intended to walk a portion of it, but again, the weather. Instead, we drove to our next stop, Arnarstapi. The dramatic coasts continue here, but one of my favorite views included Bárður, the half-ogre/troll half-human guardian spirit of the area. The Saga of Bárður Snæfellsnes tells that his father was a half titan, half giant, while his mother was a beautiful human named Mjöll. In fact, the Icelandic people still use the word mjöll to describe beautiful, white snow drifting in calm weather. Speaking of weather, the rain and wind were getting worse for us, so we did not linger very long. I really wish we’d had a better day for our visit, but you get what Iceland gives you.
The final stop in this video is Búðir to see the Black Church, or Búðakirkja. Set against mountains and grass swept hills, this church is perfect for photography. Búðir also has basalt coastlines, hiking trails, and a cave to explore. It is an easy location to stop at as you drive around the peninsula.
In the final video for this day, we will visit our last waterfall of the trip, see seals, and enjoy a lovely evening at a family owned guesthouse. We have one full day left, plus a short video on our way to the airport. Then, we will begin our trip from this October. Wait until you see some of the drives on that trip. You don’t want to miss them. Happy adventuring!