tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post3183137829541368661..comments2024-03-27T21:49:28.793+00:00Comments on A Yorkshire Memoir: Walking In Iceland 6: Eldgjá and Álftavötn Tasker Dunhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-30140898967842650132021-09-19T14:20:36.153+01:002021-09-19T14:20:36.153+01:00Graham, thank you for being so persistent in catch...Graham, thank you for being so persistent in catching up. I appreciate it. I only ever went rock climbing once, through a local authority evening class (remember those) on a climbing wall in a sports centre, culminating in a weekend at Borrowdale. I tried to do it in vibram-soled walking boots and was useless. Never again. The really keen ones bought something called PA climbing shoes (Pierre Allain). Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-49911187116737046992021-09-19T10:11:46.639+01:002021-09-19T10:11:46.639+01:00I have discovered the way to enjoy catching up is ...I have discovered the way to enjoy catching up is to read an episode whilst having a coffee - the one time of day I relax sufficiently (usually with a crossword). I makes me hark back to my parents (much simple of course) tales of hiking in the English Lakes and Scotland back in the 20s. I have pictures of Dad rock climbing in hobnail boots. I had climbing boots too. My son wears something like vibram slippers. You really did it the hard way. And I bet you appreciated the achievement all the more.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-51575712019810365772021-08-29T11:20:18.500+01:002021-08-29T11:20:18.500+01:00I didn't know you were a space explorer. We ne...I didn't know you were a space explorer. We need to see a blog of your adventures. Paul wasn't a bad guy at all. Just doing his job. No point telling people not to go off in front. They have to learn through personal experience. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-57959031304811868892021-08-28T23:29:59.974+01:002021-08-28T23:29:59.974+01:00This is after the manner of 1001 Nights as Tigger ...This is after the manner of 1001 Nights as Tigger said except I cannot remember Scheherazade ever crossing a volcanic canyon.<br /><br />Paul and Dick hiding their dry socks hits the right note. <br />If you can't have a baddie in the story have two sneaky guys.<br /><br />When I was seven I received Patrick Moore's novel Mission To Mars as a school prize. <br />It gave me a taste for space exploration, the numinous, and the journey as a quest for hidden knowledge. <br />The hero is saved by a Martian creature resembling a bat and with the empathy and intelligence of a moral being.<br />The bad guy is another spaceman and reminds me of Paul.<br />HaggertyHaggertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13428937273804366081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-21257637718280885172021-08-26T17:41:24.258+01:002021-08-26T17:41:24.258+01:00The ground wasn't particularly uneven where we...The ground wasn't particularly uneven where we were, but Paul certainly knew all the tricks. Both him and Dick Phillips were said to hide spare pairs of socks along the route so they always had dry ones, while we had to try to dry them by taking them to bed in our sleeping bags. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-14548132456813850302021-08-26T14:45:33.894+01:002021-08-26T14:45:33.894+01:00Neville was right. Paul was a crafty guy.
In cont...Neville was right. Paul was a crafty guy.<br /><br />In contrast to crossing a snow covered glacier and trying to avoid crevasses, the volcanic landscape you traversed meant watching out for deep crevices. Hard on the feet and ankles.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11587652444835060129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-17070749118964462962021-08-24T20:40:51.941+01:002021-08-24T20:40:51.941+01:00I know what you mean. I suffered a lot with bliste...I know what you mean. I suffered a lot with blisters until I worked out the right boot-sock combination for the different conditions, and now hardly get them at all. Before going to Iceland I'd had wet feet every night for nearly 3 months, despite wearing (and wearing out) several pairs of wellington boots, and it took its toll. I also had a tendency to go over on my ankles, which could make walking painful. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-4828847266603118542021-08-24T17:59:12.252+01:002021-08-24T17:59:12.252+01:00we continue to be spellbound - this is becoming li...we continue to be spellbound - this is becoming like 1001 nights - as for blisters (and you have my sympathy) I used to spend my working life in the NZ 'bush', up hill and down dale, and all it needed to bring on blisters despite the boots being old well worn-in every day footwear, was a change of terrain.Tigger's Mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15829665785202495073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-3966168623519434652021-08-24T16:54:17.116+01:002021-08-24T16:54:17.116+01:00She closed the door. She closed the door. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-45095107736052801482021-08-24T14:55:16.231+01:002021-08-24T14:55:16.231+01:00Did they show Julia Bradbury having a shower?Did they show Julia Bradbury having a shower?Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-66149527611034976282021-08-24T09:36:55.072+01:002021-08-24T09:36:55.072+01:00I watched the programme last night, and remember w...I watched the programme last night, and remember when it was first shown around 2010/11. Whereas we went West to East, she went North to South. I realised last night that when she had to miss a section and go by 4x4 because of awful weather, it would have been the Eldgjá section because they were taken to "Swan Lakes" which is indeed Álftavötn. What a luxurious place now! I felt so superior when they showed the showers and comfortable bunks, and astonished when the warden of the later cabin said they could accommodate 60 and if more turned up they found space on floors. Warden! 60! Like a Wallace Arnold bus trip. Not the same at all. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-20780098497739858632021-08-24T09:29:33.187+01:002021-08-24T09:29:33.187+01:00"Dottir", surely. Does Icelandic have Gr..."Dottir", surely. Does Icelandic have Greek roots? Discuss. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-66789868168511477952021-08-24T09:28:44.218+01:002021-08-24T09:28:44.218+01:00The canyon is beyond belief - that it just opened ...The canyon is beyond belief - that it just opened up and caused such disruption. The Oskarsson photograph shows it best (I hope it's OK to use it).Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-48067143911685639112021-08-24T09:26:36.180+01:002021-08-24T09:26:36.180+01:00You've now given me an image of it collapsing ...You've now given me an image of it collapsing with people on it. The collapse probably happened during the winter when the area is inaccessible, even on foot. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-10952040171206417912021-08-24T09:25:04.335+01:002021-08-24T09:25:04.335+01:00When are we all going then? When are we all going then? Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-51752826568231124412021-08-24T09:24:47.460+01:002021-08-24T09:24:47.460+01:00I think the irritations started to emerge in the f...I think the irritations started to emerge in the first hut where we had to stay in for a day because of awful weather, and as indicated later in the diary, they worsened, but nothing too serious. It makes me wonder whether more serious hostilities have emerged in other groups and how walk leaders manage them. Fortunately, I seem to have inherited my mother's gift of being able to get on with most people. Tasker Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634612033217902946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-84132246619533757962021-08-24T06:32:38.386+01:002021-08-24T06:32:38.386+01:00Joseph Conrad wrote "The Heart of Darkness&qu...Joseph Conrad wrote "The Heart of Darkness" but it seems to me that you and your party were heading there in the heart of Iceland. Wearing comfortable boots when walking big distances is so important. I guess that walking on that gravelly volcanic surface must have been energy sapping - especially when climbing to 3068 feet. <br /><br />I have seen it before but there was a programme on the BBC on Sunday night showing Julia Bradbury trekking up to Eyjafjallajökull. I guess that you have seen it too? Breathtaking stuff.Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-70254540660355035372021-08-24T03:59:32.169+01:002021-08-24T03:59:32.169+01:00I commend you for attempting to learn Icelandic. ...I commend you for attempting to learn Icelandic. If it’s not Olafsson or Eriksdotter it’s all Greek to me!rhymeswithplaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10870439618129001633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-51209261086676105972021-08-24T03:31:01.390+01:002021-08-24T03:31:01.390+01:00What an amazing adventure this was for you. I love...What an amazing adventure this was for you. I love the pictures and the map helps me to understand the layout of it all. The volcanic canyon is quite a view. Isn't it wonderful that we had our youth to be able to enjoy such adventures!Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17738727252267659979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-79598594034014307202021-08-23T23:43:27.246+01:002021-08-23T23:43:27.246+01:00I can't imagine taking such a trek. Rather dis...I can't imagine taking such a trek. Rather disturbing about the rock bridge over the falls collapsing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-24443118781151045732021-08-23T20:16:59.008+01:002021-08-23T20:16:59.008+01:00Now that really does sound like a trek. Only for ...Now that really does sound like a trek. Only for the young and fit.JayCeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01373622852406554111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023204082711630211.post-40281030047429520232021-08-23T16:06:16.614+01:002021-08-23T16:06:16.614+01:00Sounds like one of those holidays where everyone s...Sounds like one of those holidays where everyone starts out as friends but does not end up so.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.com