August 13: "Roughing it in luxury"
The night was punctuated by many downpours and it is only at 9 AM that precipitation
comes to a stop. Departure around about 11:30 under a partly sunny sky allowing
us to pedal short-sleeved. Here we are with the pleasure of rolling again
surrounded by a superb landscape: white water rivers on the left, splendid
waterfalls on the right. Ahead, the longest stretch of road without official
campsites: 162 km which we planned to do in three days. This section that
we had already discovered whilst poring over the maps in France was crucial
in the choice of much of our equipment as well as our psychological preparation
since we had to face the rigours and difficulties of "camping in the
wild". Alone against the wilderness! After travelling 52 km, what do
I see? "SUNDLAUG"***. My Icelandic is much less than scanty but
I caught onto this word like a nursery school child learns swearwords. Caliper
and disc brakes were put into action simultaneously and while Anne held the
bicycle, I quickly ran to check the opening hours. Up to 9 PM. In sign language
(because the lady lifeguard did not speak English, rather surprising in this
country but when roughing it, one must be prepared for all eventualities),
I asked for permission to pitch our tent beside the pool on the football field.
Dinner in front of the tent (noodles and tuna for the 10th time but after
a day of pedalling under extreme conditions, any insipid meal has the taste
of a feast) then a "quick" one and half hour dip in the swimming
pool at 35,7° and the jacuzzi at 40,4°. And this beautiful and luxurious
setup in a village so small that we did not even find it on the map! (Probably
only half a dozen houses.)
*** Swimming pool
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Between Egilsstadir
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and
Skjöldolfsstadir
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Half buried
house
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Future lamb
chops
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Camping
by the pool
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