Birthday Celebration / Heel Test Hike / Odd Jobs
[Photos taken 17 – 23 August 2024, posted online 18 November 2024. The world has frozen over.]
We celebrated Finnur’s dad’s birthday as is customary. How time flies! I tried hiking around our extended backyard to test my sore heel, and deemed it not fit for purpose.
The rest of the week passed doing odd jobs, and ended with yet another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula.
Saturday 17 August 2024
Faxi Campsite / Flúðir Folf / Finnur’s 50th
[Photos taken 25 – 31 July 2024, posted online 14 October 2024. It’s chilly but beautiful out there.]
One day, Emma noted that she’d never slept in a tent, and we decided that was something we should probably fix. A few days later, we lucked out in getting invited to join some friends at a campsite by the waterfall Faxi.
We arrived just as the most recent rain-storm was passing, stayed for a couple of nights, and managed to pack up the tent just before the next rain-storm arrived. We tried Frisbee golfing (folfing) for the first time, and it was a resounding success for all.
We returned home in the rain, caught out breaths for a few moments before attending a multi-Christening/Confirmation, and then it was Finnur’s 50th birthday!
Thursday 25 July 2024
Ten Lovely Ladies @ Gíslaskáli & Kerlingarfjöll
[Photos taken 12-13 July 2024, posted online 08 October 2024. Is everyone just fine with official US government websites being ancient beasts?]
A year ago, 10 lovely ladies went to Thórsmörk for a weekend, and had a fantastic time. The trip was such a success that we decided to venture out together again a year later, this time to Kerlingarfjöll (in ‘The Icelandic Highlands‘). To keep costs down, we booked 10 slots at a cabin a little ways out from the main Kerlingarfjöll base.
When the departure day arrived, the weather forecast for the area was pretty bleak with high winds and rain. We decided to go anyway, and instead of hiking on the first day, just spent some quality time playing card games and chatting. It was nice after the very bumpy ride on the road leading to the area.
On the Saturday we drove into the “Highland Base” area of Kerlingarfjöll, and set out on a hike. Mid-way we ran into people coming the other way, who told us that the pass we were heading for had zero visibility, was snowy and muddy, and not a good use of our time and energy.
We thus turned around, just as a massive rain-bank hit us, and ended up just lounging in the new “natural baths” at the new-ish fancy hotel, before heading back to our cabin. As the weather remained rather miserable, no other guests joined us in the cabin, which is set up for horse riders.
Friday 12 July 2024
Last Confirmation, e-Biking Outings & Meet-ups
[Photos taken 15 – 30 April 2023, posted online 27 December 2023. The calm between the storms, as Christmas is done, and New Year’s Eve looms. No work until the new year.]
The last confirmation party came and went, with a bit of photography on my part. Then I caved in at a sale, upgraded my e-bike to something properly powerful, and signed for with an e-biking group. The biking schedule was pretty packed, and there were three outings in a short span of time.
Various spring tasks continued, I visited a school with Bjarki, we had dinner with friends, and one of the cousins got a year older!
Saturday 15 April 2023
Misty Hiking, Delayed Confirmation Party, & Northern Lights
[Photos taken 12 – 30 November 2022, posted online 21 July 2023. Gosh, darnit, my eyesight is changing really fast these days, I get the feeling that in the olden times I should be dead by now!]
Tearing me out of my “just started a new job” stupor was a day hike to Stardalshnúkur & Þríhnúkar on a rainy-misty day, but the clouds cleared at good moments, and good memories were made.
We attended a covid-delayed confirmation party, I tried to find a new gym/work balance, Finnur took photos of northern lights, yule-tide outside lights were put up as the darkness grew, yule-tide shopping began, and life kind of went on as usual.
Saturday 12 November 2022
Do. All. The. Things. Part. 2.
[Photos taken 10 – 14 October 2023, posted online 17 June 2023. This day marks 29 years of togetherness with Finnur!]
The month between having jobs had me itching to Do. All. The. Things. that typically are easy to not-do due to one thing or the other.
This week included lunch with mom, summoning electricians, getting a piano-tuner, and attempts at interior decorating, in between the usual shuttling of children, and hanging out at cafes to recharge mental batteries… and plan.
Monday 10 October 2022
USA 2022 – Biking the Route of the Hiawatha
[Photos taken 05 August 2022, posted online 07 April 2023. Storm incoming, thankfully above freezing.]
We kept adventuring, and next up was to bike the Route of the Hiawatha which is a “scenic 24 km (15 miles) long mountain bike or hike trail with 10 large and dark train tunnels (nine that you ride your bike through) and 7 sky-high trestles.”
I had made reservations many weeks in advance, and ordered rental bikes to be delivered at the starting point. We set out fairly early, and the 45 minute drive went smoothly.
The weather was gorgeous, and the ride went pretty well, although the bikes were not great. All in all a memorable day, and lots of wow! views.
Friday 05 August 2022
Vacation: Birthdays & US Travel Begins
[Photos taken 23 – 31 July 2022, posted online 11 March 2023. Daylight is staying noticeably longer, the sun is higher in the sky, but we’re also frozen solid = window-weather.]
Week two of vacation was swimming, jogging, preparing and then departing for our trip to the US, celebrating birthdays, and deciding to quit my job. So, relatively calm? (60-ish images total)
Saturday 23 July 2022
E-biking Þakgil & Emiliana Torrini Concert
[Photos taken 19 June 2022, posted online 12 February 2023. It’s Emma’s birthday!]
After hiking 13 km up and above Glymur waterfall the day before, my brother and I set out bright and early to drive 2.5 hours to Vík í Mýrdal. We parked the car by Hotel Katla, dismounted the e-bikes, and rode inland to two beautiful gullies, Remundargil and Þakgil (“gil” is Icelandic for “gully”).
The weather played along for the most part, just the very last bit had some wind and rain. We neglected to check out the elevation profile though… We thought we were biking upwards to the gullies, and then downwards on the way back. In actuality, we sort of climbed over a “mountain” to get there, and of course, had to climb over it on the way back.
My brother’s bike battery died when about 10% remained of the trip, meaning the bike got super heavy to bike, so he got to test the guide’s tether for the last little bit as we rode against the wind and the rain. My battery ran out as we turned back into the parking lot. Range anxiety on e-bikes is a real thing!
We arrived back in town just in time for me to make it to my long-since-bought-tickets for Emiliana Torrini and the Colorist Orchestra at Harpa Concert Hall. They were so much fun!! (70-ish images total)
Sunday 19 June 2022
Summer Vacation Begins: Kayaking & Horses
[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
