Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark

Yet again the wind is due to be strong, this time from 10am - so its an early start again, plus I modify my plans as I am already tired from pushing hard yesterday. The first 15km is not so bad, but after that its a demoralizing grind. I have a geothermal park to cross today - but this means that I will not be allowed to wild camp- which forces me to go all the way through before I stop - and that is a bit further than I really want to go.

As the wind is due to peak and then decline again towards the end of the afternoon, I decide to take plenty of breaks. Which I need anyway as I am pretty tired.
First there is a bigger modern harbour town. Luckily this also means that I will no longer be meeting large lorries.

Then I visit a tiny shore village which I rather like. There is a seal on the lava rocks and a little church and sunshine.

Then its a serious haul to get into the geopark. At least once I am there, there are good excuses for stopping. First comes a borehole 2.5km deep which is hoping to test if geothermal power is possible. Then there is a turquoise lake (that did not photograph well) and a set of hot springs and fumaroles with some pretty gunky looking pools. I am amused to read that in the 1700s someone tried to drill to find sulphur but the borehole erupted . Then in the 1900s another person also drilled. And that one erupted too. I hope the modern borehole fares better.

From there there is a leg along the lake (up down up down up down) with black lava to the left and red to the right.

I am now desperate to stop and have identified a small footpath just over the edge of the park boundary. Its a bit of a long shot as its through a rough lava field. But as I am now getting close to Reykjavik - and I am mega tired - it seems best to try. I manage to find a small area which is flat and moss covered and away from the road. The moss is very deep, very dry and very fragile. I do my best not to damage it- but its hard not to leave footprint indents. Still, maybe camping on lava when in Iceland is an appropriate ending to my trip?Read more