Iceland. My route is marked on faintly in orange. (double click on the map to enlarge)
Wild camping the whole way
Gullfoss, largest waterfall in Europe.
Sprengisander - road across the interior of Iceland
Godalfoss waterfall
This is a good indication of the fine weather and the road conditions.
Iceland was a long standing dream dating back about 15 years. My trip was over three weeks, straddling July and August, in the year 2000. I took a flight from Glasgow with Icelandair. I shared the flight with some Icelandic golf fans who had been over to watch the Open in Scotland.
There are not many people about in Iceland and sometimes I felt quite wretched with loneliness. But now, in reflection, it was a classic journey of which I am proud. I am steeled for such things now.
The best part was the crossing of the Sprengisandur road which crosses the centre of Iceland, through a glacial desert. I had to carry enough food to keep me going for upto six days. On the road there was a major river crossing. I had some old trainers with me to use in the rivers, so I could keep my normal trainers dry. The torrent was knee deep and strong flowing.
Amazingly for Iceland the weather was ideal for nearly all the trip. I only experienced a heavy drenching on the ride to the airport for my return flight.
The tent I used was a Dale Trekker Sombrero. I bought the tent in about 1980 for £30 and used it for over 20 years before the flysheet finally perished in 2004 on a trip to Kiev. For most of the time I just used the fly and a sheet of polthene on the ground to save weight. Fancy expensive tents are not necessary.
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