Iceland Day 7: Hofn to Skogafoss

April 24, 2015

by Bianca

The day was off to a good start with an Icelandic farmers breakfast which included hot chocolate and chocolate cake for breakfast. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Last night we stayed on a working horse farm. So after breakfast they very kindly took us around their stable of pure breed Icelandic horses. It was interesting to see their very rare blue eyed horses and their rare stallion whose coat changes colour four times a year between red-pinto-white. We got to feed and pet them.

Then we bypassed the chickens in our excitement to see their new baby lambs….awwwwww how cute!

Then we were off along the south coast heading west.

Along this drive we could see the glacial fingers off from the main glacier…

First stop was Jolksarlon Glacier Lagoon to see the icebergs that had broken off from the tongue of the glacier and of course the seals.

Then the beach opposite to see the ice that had washed up on the black sand beach.
(unfortunately I’d had some funky setting on my camera and so most of these creative pictures didn’t work out 😦 )

Then an impromptu stop at Fjallsarlon.

Then a quick hike at Svinafellsjokull.
(look at the ash on the icebergs from nearby volcanoes. The cracks are huge too – you sure wouldn’t be walking on these!)

Again it was meant to be lunch at Skaftafell National Park but the “open every day” café – was not open. So after more car snacks there was a hike to Svartifoss…

Lunch in Kirkjubaerarklaustur (for the most tender lamb sandwich ever!) Yes the pizza tour continues…

A little wander around Vik most notably the black sand beach and its elusive puffins (we saw loads and loads and loads of birds – but no solid proof that any of them were puffins!).

Photo 1 below – Strangely there were surfers at the beach…yes there was a decent swell – but brrrrrrrr!
Photo 2 below – along there coast there are sadly but not surprisingly many monuments for ships wrecked on the rocks / cliffs / beaches.

A little stop for the views at Dyrholaey…
(The last photo here shows a house built into the cliff…we totally understand why given the cold and the wind)

On our way back to our hotel we saw a Troll house! or was it? So like any sane family – this called for a climb and then crazy E+L rolled down the hill in the fluffy grass.