tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post1399120891767377466..comments2024-03-28T20:15:25.409+00:00Comments on A Yorkshire Memoir: Iceland 12: to FljótsdalurTasker Dunhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-77477329431359374592021-10-29T09:23:52.609+01:002021-10-29T09:23:52.609+01:00There could certainly be a stong wind, although it...There could certainly be a stong wind, although it's well sheltered there. The following day we had a last walk and the wind was bitterly cold. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-26666151113159360132021-10-29T07:46:38.465+01:002021-10-29T07:46:38.465+01:00Perhaps for many of us having some bleak time in o...Perhaps for many of us having some bleak time in our late teens was a rite of passage. <br /><br />I would add the wind to the sounds at Fljótsdalur. I have leaarned the different winds over the last half century - those to enjoy and those from which to hide in fear.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-42914284156156127242021-10-25T22:24:38.405+01:002021-10-25T22:24:38.405+01:00The photo looks positively Tolkien-ish.The photo looks positively Tolkien-ish.rhymeswithplaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10870439618129001633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-39568468072905552092021-10-25T16:25:00.937+01:002021-10-25T16:25:00.937+01:00You have to spread the Mayflowers, as they were kn...You have to spread the Mayflowers, as they were known, on your threshold on May Day to ward off the spirits and little people.JayCeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01373622852406554111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-5113200824842838472021-10-25T16:10:12.821+01:002021-10-25T16:10:12.821+01:00Ah but we have our outdoor clothing, also very pho...Ah but we have our outdoor clothing, also very photogenic against the green, greys, browns and whites of the landscape. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-73342340998081813332021-10-25T15:07:45.170+01:002021-10-25T15:07:45.170+01:00I love the ri h warm colours underfoot and the con...I love the ri h warm colours underfoot and the contrast to the bleak cold coneyed by the mountains and the braided watercourses. The lzck of anything resembling a tree just adds to that feeling you would be at the mercy of the elements out there. Hardy souls all of you.Tigger's Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15829665785202495073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-6151293510574071362021-10-25T13:03:41.542+01:002021-10-25T13:03:41.542+01:00Evidently in the Isle of Man they have magical pro...Evidently in the Isle of Man they have magical properties. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-65815705235909996032021-10-25T13:03:02.780+01:002021-10-25T13:03:02.780+01:00I for one had been thinking of marsh marigolds lik...I for one had been thinking of marsh marigolds like French or African marigolds which don't survive even our winters. However, I now read that marsh marigolds are of the buttercup family. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-15890726997430993552021-10-25T12:57:40.539+01:002021-10-25T12:57:40.539+01:00Thing were looking up because I had just received ...Thing were looking up because I had just received my results for two 'A' levels I had studied for, and done well, so by this time I felt confident that I could and should do a degree. In the years prior to that, though, I had gone through some bleak moments. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-35288903230403722552021-10-25T12:07:18.122+01:002021-10-25T12:07:18.122+01:00We were looking at Norwegian art a couple of weeks...We were looking at Norwegian art a couple of weeks ago and Marsh Marigold appeared in many paintings by Nikolai Astrup. I was surprised seeing it so far north. Rachel Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16053924416805878169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-37180803508056101492021-10-25T11:03:36.331+01:002021-10-25T11:03:36.331+01:00As you deal with the challenges of the walk, it is...As you deal with the challenges of the walk, it is interesting that you were also grappling with the challenges of a major life decision. I imagine that at your age, you probably felt as if you had failed, having to change your course of study, but looking back at it from the comfort of many years, you can see that you were not...simply a young man in the wrong field. <br />Debbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-35403612629697435372021-10-25T10:30:04.297+01:002021-10-25T10:30:04.297+01:00I guess they would have had to keep the animals in...I guess they would have had to keep the animals indoors over winter. But my uncle did that with his cattle - he had a machine for chopping up turnips to feed them. <br />Didn't know that's where Marsh Marigold is from. As regards the bleakness, I think that's what we went to experience, but by the time we got to this point after all the ice and volcanic stuff it looked positively lush. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-19559997461124268662021-10-25T10:16:56.807+01:002021-10-25T10:16:56.807+01:00I find the farmhouse interesting, I read somewhere...I find the farmhouse interesting, I read somewhere long ago, that in olden times the cattle were housed all winter and then in the spring carried out to the new pastures. They were starved of course over the long winter. Another interesting fact, that is if you love flowers, is that the Marsh Marigold comes from Iceland. <br />I wonder how its bleakness struck you and your fellow travellers as you trudged through its evocative landscape?thelmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934860502828923562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-69373348499245306352021-10-25T10:02:01.471+01:002021-10-25T10:02:01.471+01:00Sheep, sheep and more sheep. The land not far from...Sheep, sheep and more sheep. The land not far from there will also grow a few crops, but you have to choose what you grow carefully. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-88465283933104369792021-10-25T10:00:52.088+01:002021-10-25T10:00:52.088+01:00Thank you. We did, although the following day when...Thank you. We did, although the following day when we did a last walk there was a very icy wind.Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-91507919476383998742021-10-25T09:59:50.383+01:002021-10-25T09:59:50.383+01:00Paul, the leader, said everyones pronounces Einhrn...Paul, the leader, said everyones pronounces Einhrningur differently. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-59900066964994784632021-10-25T09:59:16.411+01:002021-10-25T09:59:16.411+01:00There were 12 of us on the walk, plus the leader, ...There were 12 of us on the walk, plus the leader, plus by this point the leader's wife had joined us, so 14. I'm not quite at the back. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-23459231922466019502021-10-25T09:58:27.335+01:002021-10-25T09:58:27.335+01:00Thank you. As mentioned in preceding part, there w...Thank you. As mentioned in preceding part, there was something of a party atmosphere knowing we were nearly there. We actually did have a last walk the following day, but it was optional. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-46619596172259204852021-10-25T09:04:07.409+01:002021-10-25T09:04:07.409+01:00It looks like you had the best of the weather at t...It looks like you had the best of the weather at the end of your trip. Great photos.JayCeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01373622852406554111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-6545468588195584652021-10-25T07:55:58.282+01:002021-10-25T07:55:58.282+01:00I remember that volcano eruption very well - my fr...I remember that volcano eruption very well - my friend from Northern Germany was going to come for a visit, but her flight was cancelled like so many others. She sent a picture of the eerily empty airport hall with the signs all reading "Cancelled".<br />Can you imagine what life was like on such isolated farms, especially in winter? No sun for months on end, and how they managed to make enough to survive from such infertile-looking land is beyond me.Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-2544765333149486942021-10-25T01:21:17.847+01:002021-10-25T01:21:17.847+01:00The map is interesting. Of all the place names I c...The map is interesting. Of all the place names I could only pronounce a couple, and I may even have those wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-56166287921405936832021-10-25T01:13:49.168+01:002021-10-25T01:13:49.168+01:00I count nine sets of feet leaving on the last morn...I count nine sets of feet leaving on the last morning. Is that correct?, and I am simply astounded that your put one foot ahead of the other and made the trip.Joanne Noragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16601010208310707750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-67749642212019318952021-10-24T22:46:14.097+01:002021-10-24T22:46:14.097+01:00I am truly enjoying this series on your Iceland ex...I am truly enjoying this series on your Iceland experience. The map helps me to picture the distance you covered and the layout of the land. This may have been a walking expedition, but you were all amazing to do this for that distance and in those conditions and location! I especially love that first picture because you can almost see a little skip in your steps knowing it is the last day of walking.Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17738727252267659979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-53233088916614328842021-10-24T22:21:52.414+01:002021-10-24T22:21:52.414+01:00Goodness, it was only a walking expedition, not cl...Goodness, it was only a walking expedition, not climbing. It would probably have been a full days walking needing ropes and other equipment just to get on to the ice, but as you correctly read, we turned right and descended into the valley. The peak is the volcano that blew up in 2010. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-8955083937436427012021-10-24T19:32:52.182+01:002021-10-24T19:32:52.182+01:00Your Icelandic saga continues to be fascinating. ...Your Icelandic saga continues to be fascinating. If ever there was a daunting picture, the first photograph in this post is it. The prospect of that little band forging straight ahead, up and over that great peak in the distance, gave me chills (no pun intended). I was relieved to read that your journey veered off in a less challenging direction rhymeswithplaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10870439618129001633noreply@blogger.com