We made the trip from the north of Iceland to the south today. I’m guessing it would take 4 or so hours in summer, but after the snow storm last night, it took about 8 hours. We have the upstairs flat of a home in Keflavik tonight–and it’s nice to be here.

The first 80 km of the drive from Siglufjordur is like the Oregon coast, high cliffs above the ocean (the Atlantic Ocean here seems so much more threatening) and not a lot of guard rails. The road was icy, but it had been plowed in the night. We took it slow, but it took nearly 3 hours to make that 80 km stretch. The middle part of the drive was better because the road was dry. One town, Asgeairsa, reminded me so much of towns in the Fraser Canyon that sit about the river. Two arms of a river came together in a canyon below the town. They were coming from different levels and so it was quite dramatic. We were eating hot dogs at a gas station–gas station food is very good in Iceland. The last part of the drive was stressful again when another storm hit. But we were careful and slowed down and got through it. The one thing that always complicates driving conditions here is the wind. It’s always windy, often very windy with strong gusts which make it disconcerting on icy roads for sure.

Oh well. We are warm and safe near Reykjavik and plan to go to a cheese deli tomorrow that also serves a lunch catch of the day–if we understand right, the owner fishes (probably what it means is that he goes to the docks in the morning to buy fresh fish) and then cooks up the best catch he can find in a traditional style and serves it with fresh bread (cheese plate extra). We are going to give it a try. They better have beer!

Postscript: Louis, Amaya, Ellie and Mary lounged in the Blue Lagoon last night after the long car ride. They heard languages from all over the world and especially loved the silicon mud masks and being in the lagoon as the snow was lightly falling. However, the girls had been to the smaller and less fancy Lake Myvatn lagoon a couple of days ago and actually prefer it to the famous Blue Lagoon. The Lake Myvatn pool is set outdoors among the lava fields and mountains of northern Iceland: no drink bars, mud masks, plush robes or water falls. Just a warm soak in the stunning Icelanding landscape.