Summer House in Úthlíð

This summer house in Úthlíð that was ours for a week.  It belongs to the employee association of Halli’s workplace.

Emma was quick to dump all the stuff she’d brought in the middle of the hallway!

This is what’s referred to as a “2007 summer house”. It was built before the economic crash, and is suitably fancy. This house is extra special in that it’s completely wheelchair accessible.

Finnur enjoying the view while Halli BBQs.

Doesn’t get a lot more classic than this!

Our view. The house sits on a hill (“Hlíð” means Hill.) and the trees haven’t quite managed to grow tall enough to block the view yet.

The bathroom was large enough to throw a party in!

Next to the main house there was a second mini-house, with a bathroom and bedroom. Next the smaller house was a hot tub.

Kind of liked the crazy effect my camera produced here. Here are the biggest kids hanging out in the girls bedroom in the second house.

Emma getting a taste of nature. The morning after this whole field of flowers was covered with well behaved bees!

As this was supposed to be a “restful” vacation, we didn’t do many extravagant things. The first day we walked down the hill to the community swimming pool.

Our first inkling that there was a horse rental on site.

Here horse-y.

The surprisingly large swimming pool. There were two hot tubs even!

Next to the swimming pool is a community hall. The guy in the shorts on the right is then Iceland’s prime minister, there to watch the Icelandic women’s soccer team play on a big screen.

On the way back, even more horses had appeared!

Emma feeds a horse.

Emma on a mini-hill on the hill.

The community center complex down below.

Playing the egg-game.

So. Much. Milk. Already. Consumed!

I went on a finish-10000-steps walk after dinner. Found this house foundation, probably dating from the economic crash of 2008.

Even more horses!

Proof it was me.

Where to dispose of garbage. Since this is out in the country, there is no house-by-house garbage collection, they just empty these guys regularly.

The view at 9:45 pm. We were super lucky with the weather!

We drove a few minutes to visit the farm of Efsti-Dalur (Top-Most Valley). They make their own ice-cream, and the place was packed with visitors. Yes, bus tours stop here apparently!

Waiting for our number to be called.

Finally, ice cream! In many different flavors!

Emma chowing down.

The glass windows did their job well, there was very little cow-smell inside the shop. 🙂

Stroking a calf.

The three siblings, during a peaceful moment.

We drove back to the summer house, left Emma and Bjarki there with the others, and drove to Laugarvatn for a bit of Pokemon/Ingress (GPS games).

Laugarvatn has some old trees! (Well, relatively speaking)

Walking back to the main street. It was a gorgeous day!

Laugarvatn’s main road.

Dessert time back at the house.

Anna and I went out on a Pokemon walk, apparently at 11 pm (according to the photo-name). There was some event going on where there was a walking discount, and a lot of good Pokemons here and there.

So. Many .Bees!

We’d reserved an hour-long horse riding tour for beginners. The horse rental was located a short walking distance down the hill.

Our horses being made ready.  The weather kept being glorious!

Emma got to sit on one of the horses while the others were being readied. She’s still not big enough to go out on tours.

She was pretty happy until she realized she wouldn’t be going with the rest of us.

Bjarki on his horse.

Finnur decided to babysit, so Adda and I were the adults that rode along.

Four kids on horses.

Adda on her horse.

Bjarki horsing around as we rode slowly into the back-country for a bit.

Arnar got to free-ride a little further after we returned, as his horse had been so lazy that one of the guides had ended up taking its reins to pull it along, depriving Arnar of the opportunity to steer himself.

Bjarki saying goodbye. It was a nice slow ride up further inland, past a bunch of summer houses of varying fanciness, but also with good views of the back-country.

After the big horse riding tour the day before, this was designated a calm day. I took the kids swimming…

All swim tours must end with ice cream, apparently.

Everybody got ice cream!

A little while later Anna spotted a rare Pokemon at a pokestop a little ways away, so we ran over there, only to get hopelessly lost, and arriving too late. But we said hi to the horses on the way back.

When we returned, some guests had arrived, Adda’s sister and family.

There are not a lot of days in Iceland where you can sunbathe without hiding behind a wall to shelter from the cold wind. This was one of those rare days.

Dinner!!

Three redheads in a row, five in total at the table!

The view at 11 pm.

Anna’d wanted to go on a more “experienced” horse riding tour after the rather calm ride two days before. Finnur and I both decided to tag along, even though our horse riding experience is minimal, at best!

The three paying riders. This was probably one of the warmest days of the entire summer, and I would have taken off my fleece jacket, except I had nowhere to put it.

My view as we stopped by a gate.

Waiting in line to cross a river. We then sped through that birch forest on the other side at ludicrous speed on a very narrow path, and I was happy to still have my jumper on, as it protected against tree branches flying at us!

At the turn-around point for this ride. A gorgeous waterfall, called Brúarfoss (Bridge-waterfall).

The three of us.

Anna and Finnur chat, while the horses rest.

Time to take more photos.

So. Much. Sun!

We made it back in one piece, although it would take a week for my fingers recover from hanging on to the saddle for dear life while trying to also hang on to the reins. I had quite a few rubbing sores!

Small break to catch our breath.

Next up: the Geysir area, some 15 minutes away by car. For some reason our group split up early on, and Bjarki and I ended up being paired together.

Bjarki and I with the original Geysir in the background. Sadly it doesn’t erupt any more.

Crazy colors everywhere!

Heading back down the hill.

One last selfie by Strokkur.

Of course, there was also ice-cream!

In the evening, a game was played!

The introvert in me needed a break from the crowd, so I drove on over to the Geysir area again, to enjoy a little me-time.

My spot. See the two metallic wrestlers?

Good stuff!

Once back, I volunteered to take this threesome mini-golfing.

Emma golfing.

Three in one.

Looking for a lost ball.

So. Close!

Anna joined us for a bit in the community hall.

Anna and I went on yet another pokemon walk, and met a cat!

Said cat, with the pokemon gym (aka blue church) on the right.

Halli cleaning the hot tub, and the boys, as this was our last evening.

A game was played!

The car packed with our stuff, and about to leave.

We didn’t drive all the way home though, but instead stopped by at Finnur’s parents’ summer house for a bit.

Bjarki and Emma horsing around.

The siblings, right before we took off.

The five of us.

Important conversation going on.

Three generations!