Iceland Day 1, October 2015 – Can it get any better?

Iceland Day 1, October 2015 – Can it get any better?

Iceland…what does it conger up…scenes from Game of Thrones perhaps, volcanoes erupting spewing lava down its cavernous mountain slopes created thousands of years ago, well you wouldn't be far wrong!

This year’s trip to Iceland was met with the normal round of frantic searching through wardrobes and chests of drawers for winter kit not yet needed in the UK. Flights from Edinburgh thankfully proved in eventful, the weather forecast predicted to be overcast and rainy appeared to be correct as we waited for our final visitor on the trip to arrive, having taken a different flight.

Alighting the aircraft we were met by fresh crisp air a welcome after the heat and stuffiness of the airport. Bundling into the minibus, introductions taking place as we headed towards Reykjavik and our accommodation. The normal pattern of offloading kit and heading to the lighthouse for banished from our mind as the weather appeared true to prediction.  But as the journey expanded the clouds dissipated and in their place flashes of green flowed across the sky. Shane at the helm quickly found a place to park and we got out, cameras at the ready. The aurora was out to play and play it certainly was as the almost luminous bands of green had us instantly joined as a team as we coo’d like children at a firework display. Having seen the northern lights last year I thought I could be any more impressed, these were brighter and seemed greener in comparison. A quick phone call to Roger Taylor, who had already arrived ahead of us, ensured he rushed outside to see them too. Behind Rebecca Devill literally bouncing and squealing with delight in-between taking photos made the night complete. The rest of the journey was spent chatting as we were an old group of friends reunited.

A good night’s sleep ensured we were ready for the adventures ahead. First stop Silfra with its crystal clear water, over 100m visibility up, down and all around us. For the divers as well as the swimmers chance to transport yourself through two tectonic plates into a bay that is simply breath taking. Having swam there last year for me it was interesting to see if there were any changes beneath Iceland’s watery masses

There certainly were gaps in the ground that appeared wider, large boulders having given way to gravity now lay in their water grave,  no man capable of returning them to their previous place. The algae hung limp, the already fading number of sunlight hours depleting their food supply. Some larger pieces already fallen to the bottom to be reabsorbed into the water. Last year I was fortunate enough to see the arctic char briefly before a flick of its tail disappeared between the cracks in the rocks. This trip say a large char waiting patiently at the bottom as if he know of our presence and waited to show his glory. Praying the divers would look skyward to where us swimmers were happily snorkelling, eventually Shane Waisk of Basking Shark Scotland did frantically pointing…what is divers speak for…’there’s a fish’ …not a clue but thankfully he got the message and headed in the right direction. Closely followed by Manson Tan, who at realising the sight in front of him put is fins onto burst mode and sped towards the char at full pelt….naturally the fish vanished into the blue, not to be seen again.

How different this time in Silfra, the overcast sky you would think would affect the visibility, instead it appeared to enhance it. The area known as the ‘Cathedral appeared as it hadn’t before. Huge vaulted walls of stone lending itself naturally to its given name.

Skins swimming has been banned at Silfra – apparently due to a death of a diver (not sure how the two are related) but we gained permission to don our wetsuits and swim. Whilst those that dove re-entered the water we waited patiently for them to arrive. The water was around 3.1 degrees and we were eager to get in!!! Without warning the wind got up, and my word it was an icy wind, its bite cutting through the air and rapidly removing the heat from our bodies and making us huddle tighter into our Dryrobes. (http://dryrobe.com/)

The divers appeared and in we leap….well I should say we entered as quickly as we could, the wind had done its worst and most of us were starting to feel chilled. But how delicious was that to be minus the constraints of the dry suits we had used for snorkelling. Whilst the bodies were fine the cold really did get the face, its chill whipping away our breaths.

Finally back in the vans, dressed and with plenty of hot drinks inside, the team headed for the geysers and Gallofoss waterfalls. Alison Darley and I having already seen them opted to return to Reykjavik to explore.

Day turning to night and we headed to the lighthouse to see the lights. Again knowledge is a small thing as whilst others fiddled with cameras, Alison and I headed to a natural hot tub found on a previous trip and complete with bottle of wine and some glasses we sat surrounded by French students who were unaware of the lights and what was happening. As we sat in the beautifully warm water we explained the natural phenomenon that was happening and why which appeared to enhance their experience.

All too soon the night drew to a close and it was time for bed…What a fantastic first day!!!!!