Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
It was crystal clear and sunny when we entered the harbor of Seyðisfjörður, in East Iceland, this morning. I had signed up for a tour described as a 75-minute bus ride with a hike to a waterfall at the end. Because P.J does not walk that well, she chose to stay in town.
Veendam in Seyðisfjörður Harbor
The bus ride went over a mountain pass. There were wide open vistas, even more so because of the lack of trees, and waterfalls everywhere. With the perfectly crystal clear weather, it was spectacular. Our Icelandic guide told us that they had a lot of snow at the higher elevations this past winter, followed by a cold spring. Therefore, there was still a lot of snowmelt from the mountains, and the waterfalls were rich with water.
Seyðisfjörður from the Pass (by Arjan Post)
At the end of the bus ride, we parked at the start of the hiking trail to the Hengifoss waterfall. They gave us two and a half hours to do it, each at our own pace. I was able to keep a high enough pace to arrive at the falls before the crowd, in relative solitude.
Hike to Hengifoss (by Arjan Post)
Hengifoss Track (by Arjan Post)
- Watch Arjan’s Hengifoss Video (MP4, 95.61 MB, 0:47 sec)
On the way back I took a spur trail, and I was one of the last ones down, walking with the tour leader who was responsible for making sure everyone was off the mountain.
After the hike, one of the women approached a tour leader with an urgent tone of voice, “Please, do you have a cell phone I can borrow?” After the tour leader replied she did not and inquired what the emergency was, the reply was, “I just did this hike, and I desperately need a spa treatment. I want to call the ship for an appointment.”
Little Blue Church in Seyðisfjörður (by Arjan Post)
Back in the charming little town of Seyðisfjörður I took a walk through town, which is easy in a town of 700. Seyðisfjörður, originally a fishing village like most Icelandic villages, is now mainly a tourist destination. It has a drier climate than the rest of Iceland, because it lies in the rain shadow of the mountains to its west.
Derelict Fishing Boat, Seyðisfjörður
People from other parts of Iceland come here to vacation. Seyðisfjörður has a car ferry to Denmark. Many Europeans reach Iceland with their own cars this way, and then drive around the whole island on the famous “Route 1” that circles Iceland.
It was also remarkably mild. This is the first time since Boston that I stood on the top deck in my shirt sleeves as we sailed out. In short, today was my trip highlight so far.
Sailing Out of Seyðisfjörður
Because of the slowness and expense of the Internet on board, we decided to upload our pictures after we arrive in Holland, on July 29. We will then sprinkle our posts with the appropriate pictures.
Photos © 2014 P.J. Gardner & Arjan Post. All rights reserved.
Video © 2014 Arjan Post. All rights reserved.