The scene from inside our plane on the tarmac of JFK airport as we waited and waited for the storm to clear.
Route C looking at the Nátthagi lava field - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Determining which path to take was always the first decision of the day - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Lava art in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Lava art in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
It's not every day that one can get a picture like this at the edge of the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
The edge of the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Lava art in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Lava sandwich in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Lava art in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Looking towards the Fagradalsfjall volcano from the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
The end of the trail in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Sue in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland (NOTE: Sue is standing on area of ground that was not covered by lava)
Fresh (and still very warm) lava in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Bob in the Nátthagi lava field - Route C - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland (NOTE: Bob is standing on area of ground that was not covered by lava)
Route C along the Nátthagi lava field - Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Gullfoss, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Gullfoss, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Gullfoss, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Gullfoss, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland
Hópsnesviti
Hópsnesviti
Hópsnesviti
Strandarkirkja in Selvogur (Seal Cove in Icelandic)
Strandarkirkja - church interior - Selvogur, Iceland
Strandarkirkja - statue of the angel Landsýn who once saved a fishermen ship from stranding - Selvogur, Iceland
Strandarkirkja in Selvogur with the statue of the angel Landsýn facing the ocean.
Kerid Crater, Klausturholar
Kerid Crater, Klausturholar
Kerid Crater, Klausturholar
Kerid Crater, Klausturholar
Kerid Crater, Klausturholar - from the bottom looking up
Kerid Crater, Klausturholar - from the top looking down
Many bridges in Iceland are one lane. This is done because a one-lane bridge is quicker and less expensive to build than a two-lane bridge. Why is that a thing, you ask? It's because these bridges have a history of washing away when highland glaciers melt during volcanic eruptions.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss
Gljufrabui (or Canyon Dweller) is a hidden waterfall a short walk north of Seljalandsfoss.
You have to walk through a narrow canyon to reach this spot.
Skógafoss - a place that wasn't very hospitable to cameras.
Along the Fimmvorduhals Trail.
Fosstorfufoss
Steinbogafoss
Along the Fimmvorduhals Trail with all our 'friends'. As you can see, we had the place to ourselves.
Fremri-Fellsfoss
Along the Fimmvörðuháls trail. It was here that we considered ourselves '1 percenters' because we left the crowds far behind us in the parking lot.
Looking west from the upper Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Black lava arch at the ocean's edge in front of the Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Sue silhouetted on the upper Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Sue on the upper Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Waves crashing on the endless black coastline when looking west on the upper Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Sue is dwarfed by the black lava columns of the Reynisdrangar come out of the sea as viewed from the top of the Dyrhólaey peninsula.
The Dyrhólaey lighthouse (Dyrhólaeyjarviti)
Looking west from the lower Dyrhólaey peninsula towards the lava arch.
Bob taking a picture of Sue taking a picture of the lava arch.
A close up view of the lava arch from the lower Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Looking west from the lower Dyrhólaey peninsula towards the lava arch and the upper Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Distant view of Mt. Reynisfjall and Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks in the background with a basalt arch on the foreground as viewed from the lower part of the Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Arnardrangur (Eagle rock) basalt sea stack on the Kirkjufjara black sand beach with Mt. Reynisfjal and Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks in the background.
Looking west from the lower Dyrhólaey peninsula towards the lava arch and the upper Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Sue looking south into the North Atlantic Ocean from the lower Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Sue looking south into the North Atlantic Ocean from the lower Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Thor, our motorhome away from home, under the rainbow as seen from the lower Dyrhólaey peninsula.
Looking east towards the Dyrhólaey peninsula from Hjörleifshöfði Mountain
Looking east towards the Dyrhólaey peninsula from Hjörleifshöfði Mountain
Looking out from Gýgjagjá (Yoda Cave)
Looking into Gýgjagjá (Yoda Cave)
A sign points to the black sand beach in Vík í Mýrdal
Black sand beach in Vík í Mýrdal
Sunset over Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Sunset over Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Stjórnarfoss in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Stjórnarfoss in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Stjórnarfoss in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Hamrafoss in Foss a Sidu
It was a long walk from Route 1 where we parked to get to the Svínafellsjökull Glacier which can be seen off in the distance in the upper right corner of this image.
You can see the blue ice of the Svínafellsjökull Glacier in the upper right of this image.
Svínafellsjökull Glacier
Sue at the end of the Svínafellsjökull Glacier
We hiked alongside the Svínafellsjökull Glacier just because most others didn't. It allowed us higher vantage point to view the enormity of what was before us.
As you can see by the streaks of water in this image, it rained most of the time we were at the Svínafellsjökull Glacier. Luckily for us, we planned for it and went hiking anyway.
The combination of a heavy fog and drizzle put a damper on any sounds at the Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon. What we could hear, however, was the drips of water coming off of the melting icebergs.
Note the people in the yellow life jackets in the boat seen in the left side of this image taken at the Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon. That gives you a sense of how big these blocks of ice really are.
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach
Heinabergsjökull glacier tongue next to Fláajökull as viewed from our campsite in Höfn.
Sunrise over Höfn.
Lighthouse on Hellir, an island just off the southeast coast near Höfn.
Looking east from Höfn with Vestrahorn in the background.
Staring off into the sea from Höfn.
Reindeer antlers catching the sun at the Viking Cafè at Vestrahorn.
Vestrahorn
Vestrahorn
Looking over the the Hvalnes Nature Reserve towards Eystrahorn
Looking over the the Hvalnes Nature Reserve towards Eystrahorn
Looking over the the Hvalnes Nature Reserve towards Eystrahorn
Seyðisfjörður church in the Eastfjords of Iceland
Gugufoss
Boats at Seyðisfjörður
Boats at Seyðisfjörður
Walking the path to Hengifoss
Hengifoss
Hengifoss
Hengifoss
Looking towards Lake Lagarfljot from Litlanesfoss
Litlanesfoss with Hengifoss in the background
Litlanesfoss
Basalt columns at Litlanesfoss
Looking towards Lake Lagarfljot from Litlanesfoss
Studalagil Canyon
Studalagil Canyon
Sunset over Studalagil Canyon
Sunrise over Mývatn
Sunrise over Mývatn with Búrfell (left), the Hverfjall crater (center), and Heilagsdalsfjall (right) off in the distance.
Sue and I in front of Dettifoss
What's deceiving about this photo of Dettifoss is that it doesn't give you a true sense of how large and powerful this waterfall is.
Dettifoss
Selfoss, located just up river from Dettifoss.
Rainbow over Dettifoss
Viti crater
Námafjall Geothermal Area. Notice the steam coming out of the ground.
Sue at the Námafjall Geothermal Area. The water in the foreground is steaming hot.
Námafjall Geothermal Area
The low sun allowed me to cast a long shadow into the Hverfjall crater.
Goðafoss from the water's edge.
Goðafoss from the upper trails edge.
Goðafoss in slow motion
The northern city of Akureyri
Murals painted on the sides of buildings in Akureyri
Slate siding on a house by the seaport in Akureyri
Bailey's ice cream and sauce in a bed of caramelized popcorn and berries.
Instagram hashtag ready for posting from downtown Akureyri
The image is a portrait of ‘Sia’ who had passed away in 2010 in Akureyri. This piece was painted by Guido Van Helten in 2014 and is based on archival imagery of a play performed by the young actress.
Stopped at the Hof Cultural and Conference Center near the seaport in Akureyri and shared some of my pictures with my new best friend. She was a great listener.
The front gate of the Grafarkirkja turf church - the Chapel at Gröf in Höfðaströnd in north Iceland
The front of the Grafarkirkja turf church - the Chapel at Gröf in Höfðaströnd.
A side view of the Grafarkirkja turf church - the Chapel at Gröf in Höfðaströnd
The back of the Grafarkirkja turf church - the Chapel at Gröf in Höfðaströnd
Sunset over the Skagafjörður fjord in north Iceland
Sue looking out over the Skagafjörður fjord from the Hofsós swimming pool
That's me looking out over the Skagafjörður fjord at the island of Drangey
Sunset over the Skagafjörður fjord in north Iceland
Drangey is the remnant of a 700,000-year-old volcano and is mostly made of palagonite tuff. More creative with their explanations, Icelandic Folklore tells us that two trolls and their cow were turned to stone after being caught by the sunlight while crossing the fjord.
Sunset over the Skagafjörður fjord in north Iceland
Sunset over the Skagafjörður fjord in north Iceland
Hvítserkur from the shore
Hvítserkur from the Húnafjörður
Hvítserkur from the Húnafjörður
Looking over Húnafjörður at the distant mountains covered by dramatic cloud cover
Sue walking along the shoreline of Húnafjörður
Krossdalskúla - a 3,000' peak in northwest Iceland
Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss
Ingjaldshólskirkja (Ingjaldshóll church)
Hellnar arch
Hellnar arch
Hellnar arch
The Black Church of Budir
The Black Church of Budir
Vatnshellir cave
Vatnshellir cave
Vatnshellir cave
Vatnshellir cave
Vatnshellir cave
Bjarnarfoss - the waterfall that flowed backwards
Hvalfjörður Tunnel
Kaldi Bar - Puddle Reflection - 35 Klapparstígur - Reykjavík
Mural on the side of the Hotel Leifur Eiriksson
Skólavörðustígur Street
ROK "Plokkfiskur" Traditional Icelandic fish pie with cheese, hollandaise and rye bread
Wild mushroom risotto with fresh parmegiano and red wine sauce / Bruchetta with roasted tomatoes with garlic, mozzarella cheese, basil and gremolada.
Fresh cantaloupe and liquorice
Sue peering through a section of broken glass in the Harpa
Gígvatnsvatn Crater Lake
Krýsuvík Geothermal Area
Krýsuvík Geothermal Area
Fagradalsfjall Volcano at dusk
We visited on September 2nd and September 14th. The volcano wasn't erupting during the first visit but was during the second. It stopped erupting 4 days later on September 18th.
The live video feed from the site of the volcano captured Sue and I hiking on Path C.
On our second visit, the volcano erupted every 20-25 minutes. You could hear it before you could see it. Steam and poisonous gas billowed from the vent and were blown to the west by gale force winds. While we didn't see any lava flowing out of the crater, the lava flows at the base of the volcano came alive with activity 5-10 minutes after every eruption.
I was captivated by this little fissure that kept erupting at the base of the larger cone.
