Day Three
Egilsstaðir—>Djúpivogur—> Near Höfn
East Coast of Iceland
Activities
Today was an extremely chill day with no real “activity” scheduled. Therefore, Halli gave us the ability to tell him to stop on the side of the road at any point we wanted pictures. So basically, that is all we did all day long is stop on the side of the road, slip and slide all over the ice topped roads, and take pictures of the scenery. Be prepared. This post is going to be FILLED with pictures.
In the morning, we were driving through a really long tunnel and Halli mentions that they have cameras within the tunnel that will send you a ticket if you are speeding. My dad then answers back, “I hate it when you are guaranteed to get busted for breaking the law… It really cramps my style!” Which, if you know my dad, that is the most genuine reply.
Remember, it is about 10 or 11 am and we are barely seeing the light of day. We continue driving…
Halli Mentions that “in this area is where a bunch of what you would call rednecks… icelandic rednecks”. I’m fairly certain that Halli mentioned that he himself was raised in theses “redneck” areas. He also would ask us if we would consider this picture of this lonely house to be in the middle of nowhere. I almost immediately replied “yes!” which he then went on to say no! It is very civilized! Basically for him, and probably many Icelanders, anything that has a road is not in the middle of nowhere. haha okay…
We continue driving and taking in the sights. Still frozen in Halli’s van and my dad keeps alerting us on the outside temperature. “It’s up to two degrees!! We are basking in the warmth!” and then later on “Man it’s up to three degrees!? (sing songy) Heat waaaaave, burning up inside me!” haha
We finally reach the Atlantic Ocean and WE SEE THE SUN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE ARRIVED!!! Since the sun is only up for 6 hours, It is basically one really long sunrise/sunset. Therefore the sun remains low on the horizon. In most of Iceland there is either clouds or mountains covering the sun at all times. This was a momentous occasion.
These following pictures are some of my favorite pictures from the entire trip. Mainly because it feels like you would expect Iceland to be. Green moss with a lonely road nearby the snowy mountain tops. Truly fantastic.
Gosh you guys. I keep looking over these photos and each time I’m in awe, even though these photos are nothing compared to what it was like to be there. Thank you Lord for creating things that are so beautiful.
We then stopped off at a tiny little fishing village called Djúpivogur for lunch.
Earlier today, we saw some reindeer on the side of the road, but we couldn’t take a picture of them because it was too dark and we were moving in our car. This afternoon we saw multiple different groups of reindeer. They look like cows with antlers.
When we saw another group of reindeer, Daniel decided he was going to try and chase them. So of course my whole family was like “okay Daniel, knock yourself out”. haha As soon as he starting running towards the group I said “I can’t wait until they turn and charge at him.” LOL. As soon as I said that, the whole family brought out their cameras. haha He got close enough to them to make them retreat into the mountains, but Daniel gave up because 1) they are obviously faster than a human 2) he was running uphill 3) that grass in through there is frozen hard but as soon as you put your weight on it, it sinks. Therefore it is like you are running on sand. But it was still entertaining.
“Around here, they drive fjords instead of fords.”- DAD
Cue the 2 hour long sunset….
We basically skidded to a stop when we realized that the sunset was PURPLE! I think that is the first time I have EVER seen a pink and purple sunset
AND THE REASON WHY WE CAME TO ICELAND IN THE WINTER…..
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS (AURORA BOREALIS)
We were so worried that we had traveled all the way to Iceland and put ourselves through the misery of blizzards and the cutting wind for no reason. The very first day we arrived, so did this storm the exact size of Iceland. We were so sure that we were not going to see the lights. They gauge light activity on a scale of 1-9. The nights that it had a moderate chance of activity, it was cloudy. We were losing hope. We were checking into our hotel around 7pm and Halli was a DOLL and stayed outside to look for lights. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, There was a break in the massive cloud formations over us and the sky cleared directly above us. There was a moderate chance for activity (a 4 on the scale) and the LORD ANSWERS PRAYERS YALL. Halli came in quickly and alerted us that the northern lights were building up above us. We all ran outside and started trying to soak up the experience, but also trying to get our cameras to the correct settings. (still didn’t have enough time to get the best settings for it, but it will do.) Alicia was in the shower so she had to come outside with wet hair. lol what a dweeb.
These are some of the photos that Alicia got! (praise hands emoji)
I’m actually so glad that my camera died. It gave me the chance to really stop, and experience the glory of God. As I watched the green ribbons dance through the star speckled sky, I couldn’t believe that the God who created this incredible universe, created me. The all-powerful scientist that made the Earth to rotate around the sun at the exact distance it needs for human survival; the one who created the human body to function in such a delicate and intricate manner; the Lord who created a universe so vast yet we still cannot comprehend how far its expanses reach; the Only one who was, and is, and is to come; the Savior, who left his perfect life among angels singing “Hosanna in the highest” to come and live the life of a human and to die a miserable death. All for me. Watching this wonderful phenomenon happen in front of me is proof that we have an incredible God. All I could do was keep watching in awe through tear filled eyes full of wonder.
Blessing
Psalms 19:1
“The heavens declare the Glory of GOD; the skies proclaim the works of his hands.”
The Golden Hour 