One day, I’ll stop going on and on about our visit to Iceland. One day, I’ll finish writing about the trip and will post the account of our final day in that magnificent country. Today is not that day.
On a positive note, I do at least recognise the signs of my obsession with the place. Last night, standing in line for a take-away pizza – and without missing a beat – I managed to turn a casual conversation with a complete stranger to the subject of Iceland.
He started talking to me about the sportswear brand I was wearing. Grasping the opportunity, it was the work of a moment for me to quickly move us from workout shirts, to compression gear, to its thermal variety, to the weather forecast for the weekend, to the imminent winter, back to thermal clothing and its benefits at northern latitudes at this time of year. In a matter of seconds the words, “I’ve just returned from an amazing trip to Iceland”, were once again tumbling out of my mouth. It has become quite a skill.
I continued to talk about the place incessantly until, with a somewhat haunted look on his face, my new acquaintance hurriedly left the building, not stopping to pick up the pizza boxes falling from his arms. “You really have to see Iceland”, I called after him.
As part of a programme to reduce my Icelandic obsession, and in an attempt to limit the possibility of inflicting further misery on future, unsuspecting queue companions, this post includes a larger selection of the photos we took (with an iPhone and a basic digital camera)while we were in the country. Perhaps this will help me get the place out of my system. Unlikely, but worth a try.
This photo was taken on the Ring Road, heading east toward Vík. It is representative of the virtually empty roads that we enjoyed throughout the trip.
Church above Vík
The beach at Vík.
Heading toward Skaftafell. Vatnajökull ice cap in the distance. Note the empty road (again!)
At Skaftafell, looking back toward the vast Skeiðarársandur delta
Iceberg on beach at Jökulsárlón
Iceberg close-up at Jökulsárlón
Iceberg floating out to sea under Ring Road bridge (Jökulsárlón)
Amazing blue icebergs in the lagoon at Jökulsárlón. Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in the background
Fjallsjökull glacier (taken from a moving car)
… and a close up of the Fjallsjökull glacier (from the same moving car)
The Strokkur geyser at Geysir, in a moment of repose
Strokkur geyser erupts. The artistic angle was completely unintentional.
Gullfoss waterfall – before the ice pellets whipped up by the wind necessitated a hasty retreat.
Sunrise and moonset (at 10:30) in the Berserkjahraun
… and with a half-turn, the view in the other direction
Adding a little perspective in the Berserkjahraun. Carve a path through this? Anyone?
The beach at Dritvík with the Snæfellsjökull ice cap in the background
Frozen waterfall near Hellnar. This is not a painting.
Snæfellsnes mountains viewed from near Ytri-Tunga.
… and a final view of Snæfellsnes from near Ytri-Tunga.
Nick Orchard
6th December 2014
Journeys And 
Stunning photos! I have to admit I laughed out loud when reading your encounter with the takeaway pizza…keep on trekking Nick – I am inspired with every story.
LikeLike