Akureyri to Blönduós

Moon over Blönduós

Up in time to take in a backbacker's breakfast on the main drag in downtown Akureyri and then straight onto route 1, although Humphrey looked to be interested in a local housing estate for a brief moment. Our first objective was a near 600m climb, this wasn't that bad as the first 300m was a gentle wind through the Yorkshire Dales again. Once at the top we expected a delightful descent, sadly the wind had other ideas and we were made to struggle down hill. The wind seems to know when you have a beautiful piece of descending road ahead and bellows up at you. For the first time on this trip we made use of each other and drafted into the town of Varmahlí∂, by town I mean 1970's Little Chef with similar service station attached. Coffee and Coke were taken, the sandwiches were museum pieces, I couldn't bring myself to touch. After a rather drawn out pause and many Germans' looking at our bikes, I assume because they are not used to such wonderful technology, or perhaps it was Humphrey's lady saddle... We were on our way again for the final 51km, another little hill, as we approached the top I sensed a breeze and thought we would encounter another frustrating descent, I was wrong. A glorious long drop, 66kph and kilometers flying by as we dropped onto the road leading north west and to our evening's destination, Blönduós. The Sun was out again and despite the locals' spacial awareness issues we flew into town, you can hear them approaching, you can see the car coming the other way and there is a moment when you wonder if they'll try and get through the gap or stay behind until the approaching car has passed, usually they go for the former and they are invited to be seen next Tuesday.

Looking back at the road leading to Blönduós

Blönduós is a functional looking place overlooked by the mountains of the Western Fjords, sadly off our route and one of the most beautiful places on Earth, we ate in a 1970's school building that turned out to be a good restaurant. Seal was on the menu and I was tempted to break my seal viewing duck by eating on of the cute little chaps, however I went for the lamb, they are plentiful and ask to be run over on almost every road.

We are 1088km down plus a little extension we took in the East, it is 244km to Reykjavik. Nearly there.

I am writing this at 11:30pm, outside. The sun set 40 minutes ago and will be up in just over three hours.

A face full of cycling kit to wake up to

The church in Blönduós and decorated lamp post.