On September 21st, Joan and I awoke to a view of the harbor at Reykjavik, where the Endurance had docked. (Click on any image to enlarge.)
The ship in the foreground is an Icelandic coast guard, or Landhelgisgæslan, vessel.
Some guests departed early, directly to the airport. This option wasn't available when we made our travel arrangements, which turned out well, as today's excursion will show. There was a choice of tours before being deposited at the international airport, Keflavik. Option 1 was to visit the Blue Lagoon, a famous geothermal spa, while option 2 combined a geothermal power plant, hot springs, and a show of Icelandic horses. Option 3 was a hike (several miles, rough ground) to see the lava flow from the initial 2021 volcano eruption at Fagradalsfjall. Joan and I chose #2.
Here's a map that covers most of the region traversed this day. Reykjavik is the urban cluster center-top, while the Hellisheiði Geothermal Power (and hot water) station is the red pin upper right.
We left immediately after breakfast and arrived at the plant. Here's an overhead view from Google Maps:
A gallery allowed us to peek into the works.
A lot was going on here, but all within pipes and generators.
In the back, company parking and more equipment.
The gallery had many exhibits and signs; this is a showcase geothermal power plant.
Research takes place here as well.
After leaving the plant, our tour headed further east to the community of Hveragerði, which has an abundance of hot springs and mud pools. Our group visited one location with a greenhouse and a signed walking trail.
Due to Hveragerði's location above an old magma chamber, hot water and steam are everywhere here.
Hverabrauð, brown bread baked in the hot ground for 24 hours, was offered, and yummy. A sign about the process was nearby.
Let's zoom in closer for better legibility.
Next, and not far away, was the Eldhestar ("Volcano Horses") farm and riding center, where we enjoyed a horse show featuring the small but hardy Icelandic breed. Horse diseases are few in Iceland; therefore, to protect the population, Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country, and exported animals are not allowed to return. Even tack is contraband.
The exterior of the site.
A wooden track held the middle of the show floor, to amplify the sound of the Icelandic horses' unique gaits.
In addition to the walk, trot, and canter/gallop paces typical of other horse breeds, many Icelandic horses can also do the tölt and the flying pace, making five gaits.
Joan and I witnessed many demonstrations during the show. Showing the colors in a circuit around the show floor far,
and near.
Coordinated maneuvers, too.
We enjoyed the meet and greet and pet at the show's end.
Now, it was lunchtime. We drove down to Selfoss, a town of about 7,000 -- the largest in south Iceland -- where the world chess champion Bobby Fischer spent his last years and is buried.
We had an abundant lunch there, but then it was time to leave; our target time for arriving at the Keflavik airport was 1:30pm.
The cloudy skies began to weep rain as we drove west. We passed the starting point for a hike to the 2021 volcano eruption at Fagradalsfjall, and, after that, through the now-threatened town of Grindavík. There were steady showers when we arrived at Keflavik. The check-in was well-organized. The gate area, however, was chaotic but eventually sorted itself out. When we arrived home and began to unpack, we realized that we'd brought some of Iceland back with us -- our luggage had clearly been out in the rain at Keflavik. No damage was done, though.
What a journey Joan and I had been on from our start in Norway!
