Author Topic: Iceland round trip 2016 (the island of Iceland circled counterclockwise)  (Read 73508 times)

Jakov Minić

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #135 on: November 25, 2016, 23:01:51 »
Whenever I return to Thomas' thread I enjoy it so much!
Free your mind and your ass will follow. - George Clinton
Before I jump like monkey give me banana. - Fela Kuti
Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem. - Woody Allen

Akira

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #136 on: November 25, 2016, 23:06:17 »
Thomas, I also continue to enjoy this thread.  Appreciate your work!
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #137 on: November 26, 2016, 00:14:17 »
Thank you Akira and Jakov. I enjoy a lot to look through the pictures again (and again) to select some good ones for you: It's like beeing there again.
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Øivind Tøien

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #138 on: November 26, 2016, 00:33:36 »

I really keep enjoying this thread too. The colors and shapes in the third one of the last contribution is very interesting.

Could you make some comments with respect to your practical camping arrangement during the trip beyond equipment? Was it easy to find places to camp; organized camp sites (camping fees?) or "wild" camping, was there access to a minimum of needed facilities etc. ?
Øivind Tøien

HCS

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #139 on: November 26, 2016, 13:45:56 »
Thomas, I also continue to enjoy this thread.  Appreciate your work!

Count me in as well. Some great images here Thomas!
Hans Cremers

Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #140 on: November 26, 2016, 14:19:14 »
I really keep enjoying this thread too. The colors and shapes in the third one of the last contribution is very interesting.
Thank you, Øivind. I can use a little appreciation every now and then.
Quote from: Øivind Tøien
Could you make some comments with respect to your practical camping arrangement during the trip beyond equipment?
Sure, your are welcome.
Quote from: Øivind Tøien
Was it easy to find places to camp; organized camp sites (camping fees?), was there access to a minimum of needed facilities etc.
We were on Iceland  from September 13th to October 5th, whitch can be described as out of season time.
Once there we found that there are plenty of sites. We were told that due to travelers coming in the whole year now the opening times were adjusted.
Only in one case a campsite was closed, all others were  open or offered arrangements to accomodate the traveler.
Which could be as easy as to phone the representative or owner (some english skills and patience required)
or even easier by depositing the fee in a certain box or at a neighbor house.
Sometimes the owner came along in the morning collecting the fee.

Service level:
Sanitary was available on all sites, from quite basic to full blown including sheltered cooking and seating, washing machines and such.
Basic in my eyes is a room to wash yourself, facility to disk wash and get fresh water, toilets, and preferably a shower.
Size of the campsite varied, some were small with a capacity of hosting maybe 25 traveler tents and cars, some could take beyond a hundred.
The latter mostly at well known places and national parks.

Some places offer the wanderer/traveller access to showers and facility at a lower rate, if they do not stay.

Currency:
Icelandic Crown, ISK.
EUR:ISK average was 1:125 at the time of travel.

Fees:
Camping: Islandic crown 1000-1900 per person per night.
Some sites include the shower, some asked an extra for hot water, roughly about ISK 100 per minute.

Some rates:
1 Liter of regular fuel: about 190 ISK
1 bread (mid price): about 500 ISK
1 kg of bananas: about 400 ISK (varies, cheaper in cities)

Legal:
Quote from: Øivind Tøien
or "wild" camping,  ?
Wild camping is forbidden in national parks.
It is not allowed in most places else where.
Please refer to the official 'Public rights for visitors' publication (klick)!
Update 2020-04-14:
The original Link is outdated. Improved Information has been posted.
https://www.ust.is/english/tourist-information/
https://www.ust.is/english/tourist-information/where-can-you-camp/

I think due to the  thousands of tourists possibly not knowing their mannors this is a stressed thing.
That starts with littering, cross passing over private ground, leaving paths and disturbing or damaging nature and does not end with dine and dash (or wild camp just by the site and dash).

Øivind, does that help? Please ask if you'd like to know more.




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Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #141 on: November 26, 2016, 14:21:02 »
Count me in as well. Some great images here Thomas!
Thanks Hans! Appreciate that you spend some time here.
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Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #142 on: November 26, 2016, 21:57:38 »
Day 18 - a day long time to move on to Reykjavik. easily consumed with driving, hiking and photographing.

18 - 1 worn concrete bridge
18 - 2 cloud play
18 - 3 dimensions
18 - 4 looking back (Snæfellsjökull)
18 - 5 signature mountain (Snæfellsjökull)

[edit 20161210 - forgot to upload pic 3. fixed.]
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Øivind Tøien

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #143 on: November 26, 2016, 23:51:22 »
Thomas, thanks so much for the camping information! That gives a much clearer picture. The information about late/out of season camping is in particular very valuable - I have troubled with that here in Alaska when organised camp grounds closed in mid-September. I can see how there can be problems if things are not well regulated with the increasing pressure of tourists these days on a fragile nature.

I would like to add that I particularly have liked your series in that it does not only show the usual images of the "hot spots" that most photographers present, but provides a more diverse view of the nature and places.
Øivind Tøien

Hugh_3170

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #144 on: November 27, 2016, 00:54:47 »
Yes, I must agree. 

As others have said, and as I noted in an earlier post, I have enjoyed your journey immensely and have learnt a lot (for me that is) of Icelandic geography.  Thank you so much Thomas.

...............................................................
I would like to add that I particularly have liked your series in that it does not only show the usual images of the "hot spots" that most photographers present, but provides a more diverse view of the nature and places.
Hugh Gunn

Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #145 on: November 27, 2016, 13:52:29 »
You are welcome and thanks a lot, Hugh and Tøien.

Due to popular request a few examples. campsite takes. Less photographic, more informative.
I hope that's acceptable.

camp - 1 Myvatn
Hlíð Ferðaþjónusta - Mývatn Accommodation
looking down from the camping terraces.
left background: facility buildings, left foreground: office, the bright transparent building: cooking tent

camp - 2 Akureiyri - Camping site Hamrar
example of how a large site is adjusted to low seasons few travellers

camp - 3 Akureiyri - Camping site Hamrar
covered seeting

camp - 4 Hvammstangi Camping
main entrace closed for cars due to mud, sanitary facilities are small, the site has very few hedges to break the wind, good common room to sit in

camp - 5/6 Isarfjordur
excellent example of a very friendly site in a rough environment (Westfjords)

cam 6/7 City center camping in Budardalur
close to the main street (remember: in a northern small city)
pay at the guesthose (5 minutes walk)
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Thomas Stellwag

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #146 on: November 27, 2016, 14:20:01 »
what make this thread so extremly good and enjoyable for me, is the way you tell it, the unobstrusive visitor with "occationally elves spirit", shown in your pics, thats you respect the nature and the people over there
thanks...it is not the last time I will go through it
Thomas Stellwag

Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #147 on: November 27, 2016, 14:22:24 »
Camping, a few more

Camp - 8 heavy winds expected, tough ground - pegs don't go in, traditional solution
Camp - 9 full service
Camp - 10 well covered by the hedge, the scene after a night with winds up to 25 m/s
(some sites are plain without hedges - that's not that comfortable in a windy environment)

Camp - 11 seeking shelter (if your tent is not up to the task in a windy night)
                  the friendly girl at the desk told all palfreys 'you can pitch up where u like'.
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Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #148 on: November 27, 2016, 15:19:58 »
Day 18 - continiued. A spontaneous hike. Free advice: alway bring water and something to bite with you.

day 18 - 6 Roadside find. Barnaborgir hike. (spontaneous decision to take it on)
day 18 - 7 old lava stream (in an area mostly made of pumice stone)
day 18 - 8 reclaiming the fertile grounds
day 18 - 9 clouds and stones
day 18 - 10 fragile hexagone structures
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Thomas G

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Re: Iceland 2016
« Reply #149 on: November 27, 2016, 15:44:07 »
day 18 was spectacular. I'll extend the self set day limit of 10 pictures posted and add a few extra today.

day 18 - 11 a feast for the senses in bright autumn colors
day 18 - 12 lava and mountains
day 18 - 13 desert
day 18 - 14 grim watcher
day 18 - 15 lava field
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