03. 06.24 Faskrudsfjordir-Reydayrfjordur-Egilstadir

Stuck in bad weather

Started 06:25 hoping on some "clement" weather, but not today. Strong (and increasingly cold) headwind. Moving forward at a pace of <10 km/h, but still - forward. Then 6km tunnel, a relief under these circumstances. And so down to Reydarfjordur. 

From here you have to cross a mountain pass at 350m. I started, in doubt, but soon there was a sign with live information: 0 degrees and 20m/s wind. That's not for me! Maybe for my friend Jonathan Labarre, who cycled from us to Tromsø in November some years ago, see his website: https://m.facebook.com/pihoqahiakas/, he does nice stuff and also offers guiding and presentations. 

I found a place to sit at a petrol station, waiting for a bus to Egilstadir at 14:35. Remember I started early, so quite some hours waiting. But Egilstadir has slightly more to offer than Reydarfjordur. 

Waiting for the bus

Suddenly the bus arrived, I didn't see it, looked like a large van without any signs. But fortunately he saw me 😊. And fortunately, he took the bike. 

Over the mountain you could feel the wind harassing the bus, temperature was zero and fresh snow at the side of the road. The funny thing is how technology (the bus) isolates you from reality (the weather). You have to think about it to realize it. It helps to have tried it just before though. 

Driver takes the bike off the bus

Reading a book of Jon Kalmar Stefansson (advised by Brit Arnhild) about postman Jens struggling through the winter storm in Iceland. I feel a bit a sissy compared to these guys 😀. 

And finally, this seems to be pretty special, even in Iceland. So I can always say: I was there. 

The drop in the profile is caused by the tunnel

Statistics:

18km, total/active time 1:40 which gives a moving average of 10. 6km/h. Total ascent 105m. 

I'll stay in Egilstadir at least until Wednesday, then try to take a bus to Akureyri (if the road is open, it closes tonight), and then hopefully continue cycling to Reykjavik from around the weekend. The earliest opportunity looking at the weather forecast. 

Not an ideal situation, but increasing your capacity to solve challenges and make the right decisions (which is easier when it only involves yourself, no negotiating).