Reflections in an Icelandic Fjord

So, Iceland; what do we think? This is a country that is not far away, speaks english, has magnificent scenery, good food, fantastic (and empty) roads with little traffic, nice weather and loads of space to explore. So why isn't everyone with a bike going there?

The problem of getting your own bike there is something to do with it, but Biking Viking can solve that challenge. And I think we might have been lucky with the weather. But other than that, it is an absolute gem.

Thanks to the boys for coming along and making it a really special trip.

Where next? Well for Dr Deefor it is the Silk Road. Look out for the blog coming soon.

PS - Gnarly Jack cracked a rib. Proper biker now son!

Day 7: Return to Go

Last day and the route back to Reykjavik included our first "purple" road. In a country where even the major road round the island has unsurfaced sections, a road marked as a minor country road sounded exciting.

A bit too exciting as it turned out. The gravel got deeper and looser. So Jack decided to dismount at speed. Landscape 1, BMW 650 0.

No permanent damage to Gnarly Jack but the bike was sans lights, sans clutch, sans everything. Still got back to base though. Down the main roads avoiding the toll tunnel as it was impossible to restart the bike if we had to stop to pay the fee!

BV were flegmatic about the damage and it meant an early start to an evening out on Reykjavik's non-stop pub crawl. The famous Runtur.

La recherché du temps perdu

The taste of a Madeleine or a sign on a cafe wall brings it all back.....

Day 6: West Fjords. Where Land Rovers fear to tread

Big day today. 420km in a loop through the West Fjords (that's the big hand shaped bit sticking out to the left of Iceland).

Winding in and out along the coast until we crossed over the high pass. At the top was this evidence of the last people who tried the route.

A few minutes later the Reykjavik Mountain Bike Club cycled past in the opposite direction and we motored gingerly down the 14% hill they had biked up. These Icelanders are crazy!

A great lunch in an isolated roadside diner and then on to Snaefellsness peninsular. The site of The entrance to the centre of the earth in Jules Verne's masterpiece.

Jack's kit-tastic 2: BMW g650gs aka 'Slepnir'

BMW's latest 650cc single offering to the light adventure / touring market is the g650gs.

Pros: flexible engines with a very broad power band, very light and agile, a comfortable seat, ABS as standard and grippy stock road tyres on gravel.

Cons: low handlebars for standing up work, gear shift and rear break levers can't be effectively used standing up or wearing boots, minimal wind protection, weak battery and poorly shaped front cut outs.

Overall: perfect for the tour around Iceland but not gnarly enough for real hard biker types.

Day 5: North Coast. "Thar she blows!"

A quick 50km to Husavik for some whale watching. 3 hours chasing humpbacks around the bay yielded this one photo. All the others show the backs of the heads of our fellow passengers.

Fresh fish kebab on the harbour for lunch then 250km across three spectacular alpine-esque mountain passes to Thingyrar horse ranch set in the middle of the plains for the night. (FYI Thingyrar is a place not the deadly foe of He Man).

Unfortunately BV had forgotten to tell us that there was no food at Thingyrar. So it was back 20km to the nearest town for dinner. Well when I say town, it is more of a petrol station with some houses and a policeman.
Team leader has previous with said rozzer, having earlier been flashed for speeding!

WOTD 2: Dettifoss

"Dental Floss" is Europe's largest waterfall by volume of water (193 cubic meters per second). Melt from the main icecap floods north down a gorge cut through basalt columns.

Offoss rating: Outstanding.

Editor's note: There is another waterfall downstream of Dettifoss. Simple conservation of mass and the possibility of additional side steams must mean the above record is, at best, dubious.