Snorri, Iceland 🇮🇸 2022

Date: 24th July 2022

Travelled: 290 kms from Búðardalur to Kleppjárnsreykir  

Visited:  Grábókargígar and the Upper Borgarfjörður Þ  

Stayed: Camping Kleppjárnsreykir, Isk3200, N64.65500, W21.40690 

Budget: 60 days @ €104 per day

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We have a surprising quiet night in Búðardalur. Didn’t hear a peep after 9 pm, no problem with people arriving late. The sardine can was full.

As usual we are the only ones up at 8am, so we go for a quick walk around Búðardalur. Everything is closed, it’s like a ghost town. The town is supposed to be famous for its locally produced cheese but we find no sign of it.

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Back from our walk, we service the Hymer and continue into the Westfjords. Our guide book indicates its the least populated area in Iceland but it has some of its best scenery. We stop for a scenic breakfast at this memorial to a local musician and poet.

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We had seen an Police car go by, then an Ambulance going the opposite way 30 minutes later. Someone’s having a bad day, its a single vehicle accident by the looks. The delay is only minor and we continue on.

Then the road suddenly turns to gravel. It’s still a hundred or more kms to our next stop. Once again the road is badly corrugated, we drive on to the next turn around spot and head back. Obviously disappointed but better to miss a view than damage the Hymer.

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Back on route #1, still a bit pisses about missing the Westfjords and wasting a tank full of diesel trying, we pull over at a random rest stop for lunch. Pam wants a walk and a long flight of stairs beckons. Amazing just another scenic view of some unnamed volcanic craters.

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Thirty minutes later we turn onto route #50 into the Borgarfjörður valley. It’s 40 kms on to Reyholt. Our guide book recommends a visit to the old church in Reyholt and a visit to Snorri Sturluson home town.

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Snorri is the most important figure in medieval Icelandic history it seems. He was a firstly a local, secondly well educated and well married. Lastly he took on the Norwegian King regarding Icelandic rights, which cost him his life, hence the legend. To learn more about Snorri you can check out the link above, although I doubt you will.

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Snorri done, we drive a few kms back to a very ordinary campsite. Once again the campsite is full of locals and later this evening it will be overflowing with tiny vans they call campers full of Germans. A little disappointed but that was our day.

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Michael + Pam