Summer Vacation Begins: Kayaking & Horses

2021-07-16Uncategorized Standard

[Photos taken 16 – 18 July 2021, posted online 20 October 2021. Covid-19 restrictions were lowered last night, masks are no longer compulsory, except in the health system (I think).]

At long last, us adults went on summer vacation. The older kiddos would have to wait a bit for theirs to begin for realz though.

Much like last year, the summer vacation was almost entirely unplanned as it began. We knew that Anna would be working full time all through July, so we certainly wouldn’t be traveling as a family until then, and we also had a lot of wood to oil/stain at both our houses – which requires dry weather.

As it happened, this was the we-barely-did-anything-really vacation, but I guess that’s also a kind of vacation. (40-ish images total)

Friday 16 July 2021

Driving up to house #2 in the late afternoon, a good way to start a vacation.
Earlier that day, Emma had packed her house #2 bags. She is not a light traveler!
I made it out for a bit of repeated falling (aka “jogging”).
Enjoying the masklessness in the library elevator downtown.
Found a book Bjarki hadn’t read yet. He´s finished most of what he finds remotely interesting in the manga section downtown.
A passenger ship by the harbor!! What is this, a sign of life or something?!
Another sign of life: An avalanche of private planes resting their wings by Reykjavik airport.
No first vacation day is complete without a trip to Ikea!

Saturday 17 July 2021

Finnur busy fixing up a drain-issue.
Joined by an expert.
The weather was super nice!
Girls washing cars.
Ladies of leisure.
Two kiddos about to go kayaking.
Maybe one day we’ll get our own kayaks, until then we have to rely on the kindness of friends.
Off they went.
I went back to the house, and if you squint you can see the parade of horses running along the road by the lake.
The big girls also went on a kayaking trip. They caught a heavy headwind heading back, but they made it.
Screenshot from a snap from Anna, en route.
By evening it was overcast, as I discovered on my walk to the garbage site.

Sunday 18 July 2021

Our guests left early, and we made our way to a nearby horse-farm.
Inside the very nice barn they use for their riding school, and horse-tourists.
Emma on her horse. There was one other Icelandic family with us on this trip.
Yours truly.
We set out on a 2-hour ride. First we rode over a small stream by the house, then it was flat paths until we got to the river that runs into the fjord of Borgarfjörður.
Selfie on horse back, what could possibly go wrong?
By the river/fjord beginning.
Lovely views!
An hour in, we stopped to let the horses rest a bit.
Very juice grass all around!
We set off again, passing some really pretty spots.
Here be shallows. I wish I had a video of horse-poop hitting the water and dispersing, it was quite a sight to behold!
We kept going and going…
… and I got a little nervous, but yes, it was shallows all the way to that little stretch of land straight up ahead!
Horses being released and thanked for their service.
We split up, Finnur went back to house #2 to keep working on a few tasks, but I took the kiddos for re-fueling at the cafe in Borgarnes, and then we drove back home. The next day was work for the older kids, and horse-camp for Emma.
Always so nice to visit this spot!