Day 8

Day 8 Route with photo locations marked

We departed significantly from our anticipated route on Day 8 due to the forecast 100 % chance of sleet and snow throughout the day on our planned northern route through Dalvik. Instead, we decided to take the southern route on the Ring Road directly to Akureyri. We started with a drive to Saudarkrokur Bakery for some pastries and coffee and then checked out the town square and church at Stop A.

On the way back to the Ring Road we encountered a large group of horse riders at Stop B, either starting or ending a trek across Iceland. There were ten riders and about 40 horses in the group. Each rider takes 3 to 5 horses along so none will get overworked. There is a group of lead riders and then the extra horses, followed by riders in the rear to make sure all the horses are accounted for.

At Stop C we crossed a mountain pass before coming to the fjord that Akureyri lies at the end of. Here we saw several families of Whooper Swans. At over 20 pounds, these are some of the largest flying birds. They breed in Iceland and winter in England. These swans are very aggressive and we are told to never approach them. This was a long telephoto shot. There also was a very jagged mountain range here.

After checking in at our apartment, we went down to visit one of the few sod churches left in Iceland at Saurbaer and a very unusual ornate church in Grund, located on the grounds of what was once a large manor farm. The mountains nearby were emerging from the clouds and there were some large (glacial erratic) bounders left in the valley by the former glaciers there.

Farm in a picturesque setting

Church at Saudarkrokur. Attempt at focus stacking on wind blown flowers in foreground.

Riders on a trek across Iceland.

Whooper Swan family

Saurbaer sod church from the late 1800s

Large glacial erratic boulders

Church at Grund