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​​31 Days In Iceland

Day 8 - Tröllaskagi Peninsula - North Iceland

8/23/2018

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Unfortunately, we had lousy weather on our 8th day in Iceland. We did stop at one of the best village pools in the country, but other than that, we drove in the rain around mountains that were covered by clouds.

It looked like the Tröllaskagi Peninsula (the troll peninsula) is beautiful, but the weather just hampered our visit, and we didn't get to see or photograph much.
Hofsós Swimming Pool - North Iceland
We left Sauðárkrókur and took Road 75 east to Road 76 which goes around the Tröllaskagi Peninsula.

Starting out, looking across the fjord, we thought we might have a decent weather day. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
North Iceland
North Iceland
Making our way toward Hofsós, this was a nice scene looking up the river into the interior mountains on the peninsula.
Tröllaskagi Peninsula - North Iceland
This shot is from the parking lot at our first stop, the ​Hofsós swimming pool.
Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
The Hofsós pool is on everyone's list of "best pools in Iceland" because it sits on the edge of the fjord looking at the mountains on the other side.
Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
There is also a hot tub which was popular on this cold, windy day.
Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
We went inside, paid our entrance fees, and went to our respective dressing rooms which were quite nice.

​We got our pre-pool showers (sans bathing suit) and met outside where we quickly got in the big pool.

By the way, the showers at these pools are open like your high school locker room, and they have signs showing you which crucial areas you are to make sure you wash.

Apparently, Icelanders are adamant about their swimming pool rules, and some even have attendants that make sure you follow them. So, be a good guest, get over your modesty, and do what they ask.

Unfortunately, the pool wasn't as warm as we'd hoped which is why everyone was in the hot tub. I took a couple photos with my waterproof camera, ....

Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
and then we got out and quickly shuffled over to the hot pool which had thinned out a little. Ah, that was better.
Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Hofsós swimming pool - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
We met some young Americans and chatted with them for a while.

​Then a whole class of kids arrived and filled the pool although an attendant kept a watchful eye on them and made sure they didn't get in the hot tub area where we were.

It was certainly worth the stop. We just wish the pool had been warmer. Even the hot tub really wasn't hot enough. 

​After showering again and putting on our layers of clothes, we got back on the road.

We were fortunate the rain held off while we were at the pool, but it came later and gradually got worse as our day went on. We only got a few photographs for such a long drive around the peninsula, and we had to imagine what it might have looked like without the clouds.

Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
We eventually reached the northern point of the peninsula where we went through a short, single-lane tunnel before arriving at the highly acclaimed village of Siglufjörður.

I took a picture of the speed zone sign which we noticed on the edges of several towns. The system gauges your speed and displays a "smiley face" if you are at or under the speed limit and a "frowny face" if you are over. Linda enjoyed being rewarded with a "smiley face", so clearly this system was working .... at least on one person.
Siglufjörður - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
It looked like a nice enough town, but we didn't stop.
Siglufjörður - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
After two more back-to-back, two-lane tunnels, we popped out in Ólafsfjörður which I thought was as pretty, if not prettier, than Siglufjörður, but that just may have been due to the weather.
Ólafsfjörður - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
We then passed through another one-lane tunnel on the way to ​Dalvík.
Dalvík - Tröllaskagi peninsula - North Iceland
We continued south completing our wet trip around the Tröllaskagi Peninsula and eventually intersected with the Ring Road taking it through Akureyri.

Akureyri is the largest town in Iceland outside of the Reykjavik area, and it is often called the "capital of the North". It was our intent to stay there tonight, but since we didn't have much opportunity to get out and explore, we arrived early.

We decided to keep going and position ourselves between the coastal town of Húsavík, the home to the best whale watching in Iceland, and the Lake Mývatn area which is known for a variety of natural attractions.

We camped at Heiðarbær (on our Camping Card) which has a restaurant, pool, very basic rooms, and a campground. The campground was extremely wet with ruts everywhere, so we snagged one of the few spots out front near the road.
Heiðarbær Camping Site - North Iceland
Heiðarbær Camping Site - North Iceland
While I was walking around checking things out, a covey of Rock Ptarmigan appeared and started feeding nearby.
Rock Ptarmigan - Heiðarbær Camping Site - North Iceland
At the end of the day, we were disappointed in the weather, but that's just something you have to expect in Iceland. In hindsight, perhaps we should have stayed another day on the  Tröllaskagi Peninsula, but we have no regrets. 

Between the Vatnsnes Peninsula and the Tröllaskagi Peninsula, I would choose the latter to drive around and then just cross your fingers that you have good weather to get the full effect of the beauty.

Day 8 Driving - 268k (167 miles)

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