Iceland Part VIII: South Shore
My Journey: South Shore
4/29/2024, Monday
Seljavallalaug
I woke up and drove us to the parking lot for Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool. The parking area is a bit away. Babe was still asleep so I told him he could stay and I would do the walk alone. To get to the pool, you follow the bed of the stream. The water is green with algae and I had to remind myself not to be worried about snakes, lol. Since there was no one around, I stripped down to go skinny dipping. I left my clothes on a nearby rock as the changing area was a mess. People have not been good here about taking their items back with them. I tried to take some selfies but it was difficult. On my walk back to the car, I ran into Dez coming this way. So, I walked with him back to the pool. He chose not to get in, but did take some better pics for me.
On the way back to the campground, I took a picture of a recent land slide with a boulder. It is kind of scary to think about. A lot of the homes here are up against the cliffs for shelter and right in the way of stuff like this. There may be no predators in Iceland, but the island is trying to kill you.
Rock Fall
We went back to Skógar Campsite to park, use the facilities and take pictures.
Skógafoss was definitely a must do waterfall and, it being so early in the morning, we did not have to work around quite so many people in the picture.
Us at Skógafoss
Skógar Campsite facilities were a bit rough, but the view was good. Going East from here, there were not a lot of camp options that were open. The campsite was our stop out of necessities of the schedule, but it was well worth it.
The Skógar Museum is right around the corner and offers an outdoor Model Turf House Exhibit.
The Museum also serves as the parking lot for Kvernufoss. You have to go through a gate to get to the trail. Please make sure to close the gate behind you and stay on the trail as they are trying to limit erosion.
It is a little bit of a walk but no stairs. It has a cute little fall and there was absolutely no one there. If you are already here, it is worth the time.
Us
There was one more major waterfall on the itinerary today, but was going to be quite a drive to get there.
The road to Vik
Our next destination was the black sand beach Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach near Vik. The beach has a great view of the peninsula of Dyrhólaey. You can see the peninsula as you approach. Originally, the plan was to go to the beach in Vik, but due to a GPS input error, we ended up going to this one and it turned into a lucky mistake.
There a parking lot with restrooms at the beach. It not a far walk there a lot to see from the black beach to the lave formations and the rock spires of shore.
The rock structures here are accessible to climb on the water a bit cold to play in though.
Our time here was well spent, but when we left here we were way behind schedule and some of the sites between us and the national park had to get left behind.
Us
As we worked to make up time, we enjoyed some Icelandic chocolate and the view of lava fields and waterfalls outside our window.
We stopped at Foss á Síðu to take pictures. Then, back on the road.
Foss á Síðu
We also stopped at Fossálar Waterfall for a moment. Some other sites we saw as we made our way to the park were Battle Hill and the remnants of an old bridge.
The National Park makes up the heart of the Icelandic glacial and volcanic system. Up there, near the center of the glacier, is the volcano Grímsvötn which is just one of many sitting under this ice cap. Ever since yesterday afternoon, we have been at the foot of one of these deadly volcanic beasts. By the end of this day, they will be behind us, but for now they occupy the horizon.
Grímsvötn
Tips and Lessons Learned: You will need snacks and gas. This stretch has nothing and this time of year, what there is to see, is likely closed, but mostly in nothing.