The following day at The Retreat at The Blue Lagoon, we began off with a calming swim, then breakfast and a willpower to hike to the wonderful viewpoint of the newly erupting Meradalir volcano.
When you bear in mind on this publish right here we had really carried out this hike however ended up at a not-so-ideal viewpoint of the volcano.
We had then tried to do that hike on the proper path the subsequent day and the change in climate meant that the authorities needed to shut the volcano hike path.
Effectively immediately, from the information on-line, it appeared just like the climbing path was open and the climate appeared completely nice for it.
So with that, we had an early lunch and went all the way down to the grocery store to replenish on provides for the hike.
This time, we kinda overdid it with the snacks, in contrast to the primary time once I didn’t assume to even carry water with me as a result of I assumed the hike was only a quick factor.
Fortunately Lloyd did carry water with him that point however neither of us packed snacks.
So yeah, all stocked up we made our method over to the proper car parking zone for the hike and started our ascent in the direction of the volcano.
Now this hike was tough however not within the methods I used to be anticipating.
It begins off with a comparatively fast uphill climb however it’s nowhere close to as steep as the opposite route.
This then zig-zags until you get to the highest of the mountain and that is the half that’s really rather a lot tougher though it’s flat.
See, this whole path is affected by large rocks which have been blown right here from earlier volcanic eruptions and it’s mentally exhausting attempting to stroll by this and try to not fall.
Initially, all of it appears okay however then the construction will get trickier the additional in you go and though lively work was being carried out to create a path right here by the federal government, it hadn’t actually gotten this far.
The view is wonderful although as you go alongside and due to the rain, you may see the earlier lava circulate simply steaming within the distance as you stroll previous. It’s a bit surreal.
Ultimately, this rocky space offers strategy to extra even terrain after which a bit extra uphill climbs after which a number of downhill climbs and earlier than you realize it, there the volcano is in entrance of you however nonetheless within the distance.
This final a part of the climb is a bit muddy and really while you kinda want it had these rocks from earlier on so that you don’t go slipping down the hill.
When you’re carried out with this, it’s a straightforward stretch to this viewpoint overlooking the volcano.
At this level, we had been simply so grateful that we had been cussed with our choice to come back again right here as a result of the view of the volcano from right here is strictly what we noticed within the information and the rationale we did the primary hike, to start with.
It’s so surreal to see, particularly with all that lava that you realize is just about arduous earth simply flowing like water.
After which there’s the sound.
It’s simply this unusual mixture of loud buzzing and constant rumbling.
After taking a second or two to take all of it in, we then determine to descend into the valley to the sting of the lava circulate.
You will need to notice that the Icelandic authorities’s security officers had been right here monitoring issues, particularly the fuel ranges from the volcano so there have been folks looking for security on that entrance.
Randomly, and I don’t know the way advisable that is, some folks confirmed up with fish that they then proceeded to roast utilizing the warmth from the lava circulate.
Because it began to get just a little darkish, and by the best way, it largely obtained darkish due to the cloud cowl, not as a result of the solar was totally setting, you began to see a part of the lava area glow and will see rather a lot clearer how the molten lava was making its method across the valley from the volcano eruption.
It was unimaginable!
We ended up spending rather a lot longer right here than we initially deliberate earlier than deciding properly previous midnight that we should always in all probability begin heading again to the automobile.
Our flight again house was simply in just a few hours and we hadn’t even checked into the lodge we’d be spending the evening in.
And so we started that stroll again however because of the cloud cowl it was darkish and the fog had arrived too.
It was an ‘journey’, to say the least, attempting to get again in these situations however the adrenaline and pleasure we nonetheless had from simply having witnessed that unimaginable sight of the volcano was greater than sufficient to hold us by the entire hike.
And naturally, when you get previous these rocky bits within the mountains.
The remaining is fairly straightforward!