(near) Siglufjörður to Akureyri (61.5km): An important thing to know about this day of riding is that the wind consistently blows south to north in the fjords. So this ride, which started with a van ride through the tunnels near Ólafsfjördður, was a slog. We had a couple of good meals, a late lunch at a restaurant in Hjalteyri a few kilometers off the route, and dinner in downtown Akureyri.
Siglufjörður docks in the morning |
a boat (Ólafsfjörður is 16km downroad, though presumably further by boat) |
more docks and mountains in the morning |
clocktower/steeple on a hillside under some avalanche guards |
mountains across the fjord |
buildings and mountain fog |
a long olive building with a long metal roof |
looking back at Siglufjörður from the road east |
a mountain stream |
about to enter the tunnel we're not allowed to bike through |
TUNNNNNELLLLL |
exiting the tunnel at Ólafsfjörður |
looking up the fjord from Ólafsfjörður |
presumably a useful thing to have in your backyard |
wall art: possibly a troll |
wall art: possibly a family |
in the last tunnel, west of Mígandifoss |
looking east across Eyjafjörður |
looking southeast across Eyjafjörður |
it is quite windy here |
David demonstrates how windy it is |
waterfall |
a closer view of the island in the fjord |
the group, stopping at the side of the road |
waterfall, headed down to the water |
hang on, what's in this field? |
it is blueberries! many blueberries! |
they were totally edible, we didn't die even a little |
looking up at the waterfall |
more waterfall |
south along the coast |
David and Gina, with blueberries |
sheep, among the purple heather (i think) |
an avalanche fence |
i don't know exactly what causes this rock formation, but it's got to be troll-related |
fluffy plants |
riders, climbing |
road, valley, mountains, riders |
the view across the fjord |
a distinctive bit of glacial ice |
view down the valley |
mountains, water, troll footprint |
mountains reflected in the water |
we took a rest stop just past Dalvik to photograph things reflected in the water |
mountains, valley, buildings |
Bill, Tom, and David, approaching |
more mountains reflected in water |
mountains and island |
an excitable cloud |
sure, it's only 32 km, but let's briefly recap the headwind situation |
turnoff to Hauganes, which we do not take at this time |
Dana and Gina at the road side |
water view as we approach the fjord again |
mountains inland |
mountains and trees inland |
riders, approaching |
hay bales and trees |
view north up the fjord |
Tom and Bill walking into the wind |
view south down the fjord |
we've been led to believe if we ride to Hjalteyri, we can eat lunch |
Dana opts to press on to Akureyri, but the rest of us want lunch |
Bill, out of the headwind for now |
We made it to the water |
Bill, David, and Tom inside Eyri Restaurant |
there is a bit of a nautical theme |
and a nice mountain view |
and a tasty bacon and egg sandwich |
...and a pavlova? |
docks at Hjalteyri |
lunch achieved, time to climb back to the road |
we saw these 'leaving town' signs in several towns in northern Iceland |
view from the road east |
mountains across the fjord |
Sarah and Scott rejoin the group after their mountain-climbing adventure! |
the road ahead |
valley, mountains, clouds |
stopping to take a picture because the headwind is terrible |
a river beside the road |
river, fjord, mountains, and we've come 14km from Hjalteyri (it feels like longer) |
approaching Akureyri |
Sarah and Gina heading uphill into Akureyri |
dark clouds, pointy tree |
the bike parking space at our hotel has a slightly low roof |
hotel grounds |
masons? |
a street on a hill in Akureyri |
theatre in Akureyri |
walking along Strandgata |
looking south across the bottom edge of the fjord |
dinner at Bryggjan |
cocktail at dinner |
pasta at dinner |
an exciting-looking food whose precise nature i do not recall |
view across the water in the evening |
lights in the mountain above Akureyri |
the group, at dinner |
art on the side of a building |
elf houses! |
mediocre photo of a very cool night sky |