Monday Sept 19
After a windy, rain driven night, today looks partly cloudy as we hunt for the spots Tom has marked to photograph. Arnarstapi is our starting point known for its sea cliff formations and its saga history. Arnarstapi is a small hamlet of summer cottages, and has the only gas station in the vicinity. At the harbor, Tom catches the light perfectly on a picturesque cottage.
As we circle around the cliffs, magical figures, shapes and arches appear, pounded by wind and surf. Small showers move around us across the water, the light changing constantly with rainbows appearing unexpectedly.
The arches at Gatklettur beach are stunning and I hurry back to get Tom because the light is just right. As he works, I just marvel at the beauty and enjoy the moments. This is nature at its finest.
Moving along the cliffs, we are treated to a stunning basalt formation that reminds me of an old man's beard. The foam swirls in the black sand beach make an infinite array of shapes and patterns.
Arnarstapi is home to a huge stone statue of Bárdur, the resident guardian spirit - half man, half giant (does that make a troll?) who figures prominently in the local saga. He looks toward the sacred volcano Stapafell, and the cave, Sönghellir.
After a brief hailstorm, Tom captured a full rainbow over Stapafell.
Crossing the mountains on Rt 54, we reach the northern coast of the peninsula, and immediately notice the different landscape - no lava fields or shear cliffs, making access to the black sand beach much easier. I find more rocks than shells on the beach and multicolored seaweed! The light play is amazing here, and there are surfable waves, captivating Tom
As we drive east, we reach our destination, the mountain Kirkjufell and its nearby waterfall, Kirkjufellsfoss. More camera fodder and exploration for us to enjoy.
After another glorious day, we head back, catching the sunset light, knowing a cold beer awaits us.
