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| Posted by Jerome Konen on 25/07/06 |
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| Where the Kaldidalur ends |
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| Photo by Jerome Konen |
| The entrance of the Surtshellir cave, Iceland's best known lava cave. |
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23-24 July 2006 - Leaving Reykjavík in the late morning, heading North, I chose the Kaldidalur, one of these easier Highland roads. It runs over a barren high plateau, although with a nice view on the Langjökull and the Þorisjökull.
Then, suddenly the Kaldidalur ends in a green valley, the river Hvíta running through it. The highlight here is undoubtedly Hraunfossar, a strange waterfall coming down the embankment, being the result of that river cuting a lava field here.
Next day, after a night spent at the lovely campground in Fljótstunga, I went for caving. So, I spent over two hours in the Surtshellir cave, a huge lava cave that can easily be explored, best with a leadlight and strong footwear. The huge gallery is littered everywhere with lava rocks, making it utmost difficult to progress. In two areas, the ceiling has collapsed over a large part, giving an idea how high the lava stream had been. A fascinating place, interesting and very impressive, you've got to have seen.
Not far from the cave, I drove down to Húsafell. What started with a small farm, is today a huge holiday area with a nice campsite and lots of summer houses, all hidden from each other in a low grown birch forest. And the trump is that I've got the key to one of these nice summer houses in my pocket - thanks to Siggi in Reykjavík.
So, I spent the evening in the private thermal pool, followed by nice food and drinks - I could get used to that...
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