End location: Akureyri (North central Iceland)
Route travelled:
Road 57 hugging the coast around Hvammsfjordur to meet with Road 60. East across Laxardalur on dirt track 59. South on Road 61 to the head of Hrutafjordur & east on Road 1 towards Blonduos. Passing the mountain, Vididalsfjall which collapsed at the end of the ice age creating the hillocks in the valley. Continued east o Road 1 over the Oxnadalsheidi with its glaciated mountains & descending through the Oxnadalur valley & passing the serrated peaks of Hraundranger before arriving at Akureyri.
Distance travelled: 435.0 km
Accommodation: Hotel Harpa
Sites visited:
Pingeyrar - On dirt track 721 & one of Iceland’s greatest historical sites. Local bishop, Jon Ogmundarson built Iceland’s first Benedictine monastery here is 1112. Becoming a literary hotspot, with monks working full time transcribing the bible & the sagas. The name reflects the sites original function as a ping (district assembly). All that remains is a solitary church built over 100 years ago.
Blonduos - Population of around 1,000 & very important fishing community. Sitting on the banks of the river Blanda where salmon fishing can cost up to US$1,300 per day.
Akureyri - Biggest town in Iceland outside of Rekyjavik with a population of 15,000. 100 km (60 miles) away from the Artic Circle, it gets some of the warmest weather in the country (summer seeing temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius). Located at the base of Eyjafjordur fjord with a backdrop of sheer granite mountains that are tipped with snow all year round. Mountains become Iceland’s premier ski resort during the winter months. The first permanent house was built in 1770’s.
Akureyrikirkja - made from basalt and dominated the town since being built in 1940. The climb up involves 105 steps & although to some it is an ugly building, it is Akureyris pride & joy.
Bautinn restaurant - Down as a saving grace & an institution. Elevated to one of Akureyris tourist attraction. The food was good & not a bad price either
Trip notes: man at petrol station in Blonduos shouted at me for using wrong pump & serving myself.
Photo notes: 70 - 111
70. Road 57 Skogarstrond mountains
71.Road 57 Hvammsfjordur coast road
72.My car after Road 57 turned into dirt track
73. View from Road 57 as rain closed in
74.Budardalur village Road 60
75. Road 59
76. Road 59 Hrutafjordur
77. Road 1 further along Hrutafjordur
78. Road 1 between Laugarbakki & Blonduos
79. View from dirt track 721
80. View from dirt track 721
81. Pingeyrar
82. Pingeyrar
83. Blonduos Road 1
84. Blonduos modern church
85. Blonduos modern church
86. Road 1 - Blonduos to Akureyri over Vatnsskard pass
87. Blonduos to Akureyri
88. Blonduos to Akureyri
89. Blonduos to Akureyri Road 1 look out
90. Blonduos to Akureyri
91. Blonduos to Akureyri
92. Blonduos to Akureyri
93. Blonduos to Akureyri
94. Road 1 - Near Akureyri over Oxnadalsheidi Pass
95. Road 1 - Near Akureyri over Oxnadalsheidi Pass
96. Road 1 - Near Akureyri over Oxnadalsheidi Pass - Hraundrangar
97. Road 1 - Near Akureyri over Oxnadalsheidi Pass
98. Akureyrikirkja in Akureyri town centre
99. Akureyri town centre
100. Akureyrikirkja in Akureyri town centre
101. Akureyrikirkja in Akureyri town centre
102. Akureyri town centre
103. My hotel in Akureyri town centre
104. Akureyri town centre
105. Akureyri town centre
106. Akureyri town centre
107. Akureyri town centre
108. Sculpture Akureyri town centre
109. Where I eat tea Akureyri town centre
110. Akureyrikirkja in Akureyri town centre
111. Akureyrikirkja in Akureyri town centre
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