{"id":28931,"date":"2022-07-21T00:29:43","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T14:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=28931"},"modified":"2023-01-25T08:05:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T21:05:42","slug":"myvatn-iceland-%f0%9f%87%ae%f0%9f%87%b8-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=28931","title":{"rendered":"M\u00fdvatn, Iceland \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf8 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date: 18-19th July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled: 70 kms from H\u00fasavik to Rekyjahl\u00ed\u00f0 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited:  M\u00fdvatn-Lax\u00e1 Conservation Area  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed: Camping\u00a0Rekyjahl\u00ed\u00f0<\/strong>, Isk5150, N65.64810, W16.91290<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget: 55 days @ \u20ac97 per day <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

We decided to stay an extra day (18th) in H\u00fasavik. The campsite has a laundry and our last wash day was back in Denmark more than two weeks ago. Apart from that, it\u2019s a beautiful sunny day. So we get the chairs out catch up on our vitamin D, do a couple of loads of washing and dry out some damp jackets and boots from our Dettifoss drenching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We still manage a walk into the centre of H\u00fasavik to wander the harbour which is particularly picturesque today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
The H\u00fasavikurkirkja (circa 1907)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Yes, thats how its spelt. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Next morning the fine weather has past, replaced by grey skies and a touch of drizzle once again. It\u2019s Iceland for goodness sake, you cannot complain about the weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pam has gone for a quick walk, so I give the gas jet on our Dometic Fridge a service. The fridge works but when turned to gas it\u2019s not a cold as it should be. After 9 years of motorhoming I consider myself something of a fridge mechanic (at least on our old fridge). I remove the cover and check the flame, as I suspected the flame is not a deep blue and its uneven. Sure sign of a bit of ash or grit in the burner. I give it a clean, blow out all the bits, I\u2019m putting it back together when Pam returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Hopefully back to cold beer tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lava fields, we must be getting close.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

So we service the Hymer once again and head firstly for the supermarket, then a service station to top up with diesel before we roll out of H\u00fasavik west for route 87, then on to Rekyjahl\u00ed\u00f0. After a quick drive through the village we pick a campsite and checkin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So a little about the M\u00fdvatn<\/a>. The area is named after the volcanic lake that dominates the valley. It sits squarely on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the violent geological character of the area reflects that. The last major fissure eruption was in the 70\u2019s, it lasted for 9 years. You can read more about the area from the link above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t settle in, just claim a good spot in the campsite and go exploring, our first stop is a water filled cave called Grj\u00f3tagj\u00e1. Just off route 860 a few kms south of town, we just follow the signs. Grj\u00f3tagj\u00e1 was created by a gaping fissure in the adjoining laver field, the information panel indicates the water is a constant 44\u00b0. If your a Game of Thrones fan as we are, it\u2019s the place where John Snow looses himself to a wildling girl. It\u2019s a magic spot, but they\u2019ve banned taking a dip now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Pictured below, the fissure above Grj\u00f3tagj\u00e1 that formed the cave is equally amazing in our opinion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Returning to the 848 we drive another km south before turning for Hverfjall. This crater dominates the eastern side of the lava fields. According to the blurb it was the result of a cataclysmic eruption 2700 years ago. It further states the Hverfjall crater is 450m high and more than a km wide. Our walk from the carpark up and around the crater lip and back down is more than 5.5 km on Pam\u2019s Apple Watch. The crater and the views around are memorable, despite the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Its a steep 350m to the viewing point. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Spot the Hymer shot ?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Views of M\u00fdvatn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
From the highest point of the rim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n