Hubbard Motorcycle Adventures

And as per the title of this blog so we had. At 12.15 pm on Wednesday  the 22nd the good Orlanda found herself on the same road we had been on 15 days earlier. The circumnavigation of Iceland was complete.  But let's go back a bit. Last night was in the sleepy hamlet of Borgarfjordur- population several hundred. It was nice. The guesthouse had a big hot sauna tub right on the beach and a barrel sauna as well. It was heaven after a long days ride.  The town was pretty. The photo below was taken on my "gentlemans walk" at just on midnight.    Then this morning it was a trip to the penguin colony. I still can't believe we ate one of these delightful creatures for an entree about a week ago.        Then from puffins it was a quick photo stop  in front of what is clearly an advertisement for weed eaters.....   Then the realities of the road hit as we go over the steep pass out of the fjord. So yesterday was bad?  Well during the nig...

It was back in the saddle for a long 300 km day which is a long distance  by Iceland standards. Plus we did not hit the road to after lunchtime as  I had some telephone meetings to attend to. And then we had over 100km of fairly hard going gravel - lots of loose gravel, sand , roadworks over a steep pass and a good stiff cross wind. If that was enough there were the washer boards  like I have not experienced since that outback of Australia. Note to s of - must check the fillings in my teeth when I get back! . All the juddering caused one bolt to fall out on the bark busters on the handlebars. No- bark busters are not an anti dog device - they are hand protectors on the handle bars of a motorbike  And all glory to cable ties as these  was used to effect the running repair. A lot is made of the versatile nature and cure all properties of duct tape but I think cable ties are right up there too. The last three running repairs  have been with cable ties as oppos...

So after a two day stop over in Akureyri and with minds,bodies and souls refreshed it was on the road again. First up was Myvatn lakes with its associated thermal area. It could be identified from a long way off by plumes of steam.   Getting up and close and personal with the thermal area    I half expected to see the Maori legend Hinemoa come around the corner with her flax basket  singing "Po karekare ana"! It was the closest thing I have ever seen to Rotorua in New Zealand although , without being competitive, , the Rotorua area would have the edge on size and variety.  Lots of mud pools.    And loud  steam vents    We go up past the geo thermal power station    And then a walk out on a recent lava flow - it was only formed in a big eruption about 40 years ago  I am not sure what I am studying here but it is obviously an important addition to the knowledge of mankind...   And we must be in Iceland !    An...

A nice easy run today of 200km on Highway No 1 ( aka " The Ring Road" ) to Akureyri. It is the second biggest town in Iceland with a population about that of Blenheim. It was showery so it was the case of dodge  the showers. .    With lots of farming    As we drove along I found I had a black spot on my left eye. Something inside my helmet. What was it? . I stopped on the side of the road  and removed my helmet. There on the inside of my left lens sitting there very happily was a bee. Like us I guessed  he was also making a bee line for Akureyri ! Anyway I felt is was important not to have a bee in my bonnet so I duly removed him from his position.  Then the greyness of the sky was a little dispelled by this building as we entered town   Thank goodness I was wearing sunglasses although I must get the focus checked    And Lo and behold in the main square we meet our friends Bruce and Caroline  from Twizel, New Zealand who are ci...

And so there was......   Today was a long distance day by Iceland standards - about 400 km including about 50 km of gravel roads  But first we wind in and out of the Western Fjords. We go along the coast of all of these fjords from left to right    One has to watch out for sheep on the side of the road - there are no fences. Fortunately Icelandic sheep are very traffic aware - they seem to just graze placidly as cars and motorbikes approach and we have not had one run out in front of us yet yet yet yet !    And then up and over another mountain pass   Diana finds the motif on the back of the helmet useful as it tells her which motorbike to get on in the mornings. However there has not been much choice - there has been a decided lack of touring bikes on the road in Iceland  The back of the  helmet also reminds her of the drivers name !    And now a lovely run along the isolated coast      And then the turn off to a nic...

Another drop dead gorgeous or eye candy day - take your pick. . 110km of gravel road , 40 km of sealed roads  and four mountain passes.   Let the photos speak for themselves today    Fjord,  mountain pass, fjord, mountain pass, fjord, mountain pass, fjord  .........   Get the picture          With waterfalls thrown in    And the odd roadworks. Might is right !   A delightful village    And a delightful coffee break    And a chance to get all the dirt off the bike. I think they use Calcium Chloride and other anti freeze and pro sticky stuff on the roads so best to get it off before it all sticks and cakes hard    Then the tunnel. Two thirds of the way thru the 6.5km  tunnel it unusually branches which I guess makes it a forking big tunnel !      Now here is the punchline  or should I say the deep and meangful philosophical point for the day.  Just at the ...