Heading for the highlands

My bus leg means (1) there is now the option to travel with the wind and (2) I have caught up with Günter. Günter has spotted that the route across the highlands (the centre of Iceland) has just opened. Most routes in this area have fords and are not accessible yet, but this route has bridges:-). Still its a gravel route, running in between two of iceland icecaps - so its not nothing. Its not really recommended to travel in the highlands alone and we are both keen to give it a try - and to do it with company.

So after I stock up with several days food we are on our way. The sun is shining, the wind at our back, and we can see the mountains properly once more. Dusted in fresh snow. Its wonderful to whizz and not grind.
By lunchtime we are starting to climb, its also getting colder and greyer. We soon pass a fancy hydroelectric plant. We spend the rest of the day cycling past moorland lakes and end up camping beside the top feeder reservoir. Above it is essentially wide empty bleak moorland and it’s surprisingly flat. The gravel is excellent and we make good progress, now with views of two of icelands ice caps in the far distance. We pitch on a tiny beach by the reservoir. Its near zero and very chilly in the strong breeze. Günter looks after me and makes many trips to collect large stones to hold the pegs firm in the light sand.Read more