Road #1 is still closed (at least for cars, it seems that pedestrians can pass), we turn back on our way back to the north. I am also happy that we are leaving the north tomorrow, as snow above 200 meters is announced for Wednesday, which is another opportunity to get stuck.
Iceland is really a country where the human being feels perfectly miserable and where he can measure the extent of his insignificance: the only law inescapable is that of the elements. Rain, wind, water and molten rocks are the only masters on board and all resistance is completely futile.
We took advantage of this backtrack to see Dettifoss and his little sister Selfoss that we had not seen before. Faced with this roaring monster of water dropping 45 meters, we are not much. I still had this feeling when I saw the Myvatn rocks, swollen like the crust of a cake, letting the imagination get an idea of the power of the thrusts that created them.
We also went to Krafla, to see the geothermal plant, on the rift between the American and European plates that are moving away from 2 to 2.5 centimeters a year. The mountains smoke, the torrents are of a singular blue, an odor of egg floats in the air, and men try to domesticate the power of the earth.
After being very badly received at the Fosshotel in Myvatn, we went to console ourselves by immersing ourselves in nature. Our hike took us to the Vindbelgjarfall, culminating at 529 meters. We did not reach the top, because the rain and the arrival in the cloud was a little discouraging. Without having been able to enjoy the view of all Myvatn, we could admire the lakes and ponds, protected areas for the reproduction of birds. That said, they are all or almost gone to the south, we saw goose formations or ducks in the sky. Only the crows have stayed to remind us that winter is coming.
I would make a small “equipment” parenthesis: I thought we were a little over-equipped, but we were chilling (well, especially me). The water repellent hiking pants are really our best friend, in its mountain format. The little layer added below, which we call between us “bionics underwear”, is very appreciated. In addition to impermeability, wind resistance is essential. For my part, I have two layers of fleece (a sweater and jacket lining), Xim wears a single layer, but the ski anorak was still too much. So, overall, no, we were not over-equipped. Note that we have regularly seen Icelanders in T-shirt, looking at us with pathetic faces.
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