I Love You Iceland!

I Love You, Iceland!

Hello Summer Vacation

  OMG, somehow, someway, get yourself to Iceland, even if only in your imagination. Immediately. Fellow Pacific North-westerners, did you know it's only a six hour and fifteen minute flight from Seattle? 
Many adventures we had on this surreal, lava and moss strewn wonderland. So much transpired (mountain climbing, glacier hiking, whitewater rafting, biking, iceberg lagoon etc.) it would be hard to fit it all into one post. So I won't even attempt it.
  Of course all the afore mentioned sporty, outdoorsy stuff was super fun, especially while surrounded by various vast, unique, and imposing landscapes. But it was the energy of the land, the people, and the lively and vibrant elemental energies that made this such an awesome place to visit. It was thoroughly refreshing on so many levels.
  Anyhow, here's how the whole she-bang got started:  Rob was invited to go walk Hadrian's Wall in England with a group of our friends from Portland.  Actually, the whole family was invited but walking 10 to 16 mile days for 8 days through a long grim history lesson on Roman occupation and other patriarchal shenanigans sounded like the antithesis of family fun.  I knew Rob had been wanting to do this for awhile and it would be fun (just not with a nine year old in tow) so I gave him my blessing.  "Have fun out there. We'll hold down the fort here in PDX!"   But noooo, the Hadrian's crew had planned on a jaunt to Edinburgh afterward and Rob really, really wanted us to meet up with them there. "Find something for you two to do in Europe while I'm walking", he said.  (Ok it's totally cool when your spouse insists on a European vacation.)

Totes Majestic

 Anyhow, a bit of pondering and a few internet searches later, I came up with the idea of heading to Iceland and meeting up with a tour company named Backroads that does family friendly  tours.  So  I decided to spend the big bucks and let someone else take care of the logistics for a change.  And I am so grateful I was able to do it this way.  It enabled me to relax and truly enjoy the experience rather than having to worry and plan for what needed to happen next.  That was for our amazing guides to do.  Thank you Dani, Katerina, Chema, and Scotty.  You made the magic happen! And you made it all look so easy.

Late evening hike near the East coast of Iceland

  We had a couple of beautiful sunny days with peak summer temps right around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, along with our share of windy, cold, and rainy conditions. In Portland, also a temperate climate,  we get more than our

 fair share of cold, blustery days and frankly, sometimes it can feel tedious and uncomfortable.  Somehow though, in Iceland it all felt really good to me.  Mystically good. Invigorating. Playful even.  And if we managed to get chilled to the bone, there was a good chance we would have access to a hot tub at the end of the day.  They are ubiquitous in Iceland, and of course, geo-thermally heated like everything else in this progressive, eco-minded country. 

Goats!

Thorsmork Valley.  Yep,  majestic.

  More details to come, but for now please enjoy a few pictures.  I hope some of the energy of this wondrous and enchanting island comes through.

Even more majesty