More on Laugarvatn to Snæfellsness - Day 4

Leaving Laugarvatn, we traveled on an unpaved road. Gravel roads are very common. They are often wide enough for two cars to pass each other as long as one inches past the other car going no more that 10 kilometers/hour. Fortunately, there are not too many cars to pass.

After the first leg of the drive (only 34 kilometers), we found ourselves on a paved road. This lasted for about 50 kilometers when we realized we were going the wrong way. After regrouping, we found ourselves on another unpaved road for 87 kilometers. Our car was rather dirty. I was very happy to have opted for the Super Damage Waiver at the rental office. When you manage to drive more quickly on unpaved roads, the stones hit the car with more velocity.

Iceland is full of small churches. That was included in a previous lesson. This is a great church on a clear day right after someone finished cuttion the grass (I think the sheep were over at the golf course). I think the red, riding mower makes a nice contrast with the white of the church.

We stayed at a farm on Snæfellsness. this wasn't the farm, but it is a good represrntation of most of the farms in the area. Suður Bár was the name of the farm where we booked lodging. The farm historically raised sheep and horses. Today, the farm has about a dozen horses and a few dozen sheep. Most of this farmers income comes from his rented rooms, renting horses, and the rental of land to a golf course. I think he provides the greens keeping equipment in the form of his sheep. Trim and fertilize in one continuous operation.

We wanted to see a glacier close up. We drove to within 2 kilometers of Snæfellsjokull. It is the glacier that Jules Verne used as the model for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Clouds covered the glacier. As we drove down the mountain away from the glacier, the clouds seemed to clear. We drove back to the top for this photo. As you can see, I have the same problem with clouds on glaciers as I do with scaffolding on buildings.

Here is the Arnarstapi Arch in Arnarstapi. It is near the bottom of the glacier. It is the only place in Iceland wher I could not find a hot dog.

Back on the road again. This time it was paved. Traffic was not normally a problem.