This section contains information about the first 5 days of walking, totalling 131km. This was by far the most civilised 5 days of the trip, with a few campsites and amenities en route.
Firstly, I started by pushing the buggy down a rough track that led to the end of the Rifstangi Peninsula. It was raining, of course, but the buggy did admirably well. After a quick photo, I returned down the same track and onto the dirt 870 that leads towards Kopasker.
The 870, about 15km north of Kopasker
Walking along the paved 85 road
I had started relatively late in the day, so the first night was a wild camp beside the 870. The next day consisted of farmland and barren landscapes pushing the buggy all the way to Kopasker where I knew there was a basic campsite. After a day and a half of heavy rain the shower facilities were much appreciated, as was the basic store which had a place to sit, buy coffee and eat chips. The next day I again slept in luxury. After walking alongside the paved 85 road I reached the small settlement of Lundur which consisted of only 5 buildings, 2 of which were a swimming pool and a school. There was yet again a basic campsite but I was told it wasn’t open as the water wasn’t working, so I was allowed to camp for free. Deciding to treat myself I ended up using the local swimming pool, and even had a beer by the side with the guy that ran it!
South of Lundur by 5km is Asbyrgi which has a gas station, camp site, information centre, cafe and a small shop. I spent my morning in there the next day, drinking copious amounts of coffee and reading a book, sheltering from the rain. From here I had a choice; the apparently better F862 to the west of Dettifoss and Selfoss, or the slightly more gnarly 864 to the east. I chose the 864, I had been a little bored on the paved 85 earlier and wanted to experience a little of the Icelandic harshness. A 300m push uphill brought me out onto a semi plateau and I happily rolled along in the rain smiling at passing cars, who I sincerely hoped wouldn’t think I had a baby in the buggy!
A strong wind came along that evening making finding a sheltered camp spot difficult. A small depression on an old lava flow did the job and the next morning I took a short detour to see the wonders of Dettifoss and Selfoss waterfalls. By this point I was rather soaked through, so upon arriving at Grimstunga Camping Ground I spent an hour and a half sat in the toilet, reading a book and trying to dry my clothes. Not my finest moment, but it worked and after a good night sleep with a fully charged power bank I made my way towards the ring road and the F88. From here on, civilisation ended and the real adventure began!
The Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, the second longest river in Iceland! I followed this river for almost its entire 206km course.
Dettifoss Waterfall.
The slightly more battered 864 road.