Iceland!

In the distance we can see the Island popping up on the horizon, it is a beautiful sunny day and we slowly come closer and closer

Guess what? We made it to Iceland! It's been quite a journey. We rode 1500 kilometers from Zurich to Hirtshals, hopped on a ferry for another two days, and now, here we are! It's Mike's first time, and I'm super pumped to share this adventure with him. It's almost like my first time too because now I have my very own motorcycle, and it feels like a dream come true.

The weather is fantastic—about 18 degrees, as we heard from the captain over the speakers as we got closer. Our destination is Seydisfjordur Harbor on the east side. But before we can explore, there's the whole COVID testing thing. We had to do a test on the ferry, and then I'll need another one three days later at a test center. It got a bit confusing because we had to fill out a webform a few days before arriving, and I messed up because I didn't have the certificate yet. It took a while for the certificate to arrive via email, so I decided to just be a regular visitor.

This meant we'd be separated into three lanes when we leave the ferry to enter Iceland. It was a bit odd with covid and everything, but we decided to make the best of it. Fewer people on the island means less risk of catching anything, especially in the Highlands! I'm really looking forward to riding those famous F-Roads I've read and heard so much about and exploring all the beautiful places they lead to.

But hold on, we're not there yet! I love this slow approach to the harbor. It gives you time to soak it all in, savor the view, and not rush through things. It took about three hours to get close to the harbor—the fjord is massive! Sometimes I forget just how big Iceland is.

As we left the cabin, making sure we hadn't forgotten anything, we headed to the top deck for a front-row seat. We unstrapped the bikes, packed our gear back into the bags, and got into our riding outfits because we had to tackle a pass to get to Egilsstadir, and we could see there was still some snow up there! Finally, our turn to disembark. I was a bit nervous, wanting to record the moment with my GoPro but also not wanting to slip on the wet floor. But, man, I was so excited about being in Iceland again! We said our goodbyes and joined separate lines. I had a red card, or maybe it was yellow—I can't remember the exact color. But Mike had a green one, that much I recall.

After waiting in line for what felt like 2 or maybe 3 hours, I got questioned by two officers about the purpose of my visit. They mentioned they'd changed the rules, and camping with a tent or vehicle wasn't considered quarantine anymore. Luckily, we had booked a room in a guesthouse close to the entry point for the famous F-26 road. I got the green light and finally met up with Mike, who had been cleared about an hour before me.

Hell yeah! That rush of excitement hit me—I was back in Iceland, and this time, I had my own bike and my best buddy with me. We cruised up the winding road to up the mountain pass to Egilsstadir and realized it's pretty chilly here on this island, despite the sunny weather.

After a quick pit stop for some grub and cash in Egilsstadir, we had to make our way to Akureyri up north. I can't remember the exact distance, but it was quite a haul. Every now and then, we took the chance to explore some gravel roads next to the famous Road 1. We even stopped at the entrance to an F-Road, and there was this massive sign. I remember we shared a pack of chips, and it was pretty darn windy. We tried to snap a pic with my GoPro, but the burst sequence was so fast that I couldn't even turn to face the camera, and we didn't check the shots, of course! 😄

The road was closed and we met a couple that just happened to stop here too to check the entrance, we didnt really have a clue how it all worked with these F-Road, so we chatted with them for a bit and learned from them how to monitor the road status on the official iceland website. With a super simple name to remember road.is. They also showed us what they have been up to and whats next, I snapped a quick picture might come in handy.

Off we go closer to Myvatn and our destination! I love these vast mountains and I dont know why but this lifeless looking place really does something to me and its great!

Here are some pictures on our way to Akureyri!

As we approached our destination, we began to experience a fuel shortage, prompting us to make a pit stop in Myvatn, known for its captivating and unique scenery. The only downside of this place was the persistent presence of flies. The moment you come to a halt, you find yourself surrounded by these tiny, sluggish insects that land on you and seem reluctant to budge. This wasn't Mike's preferred fuel stop! 😄

We arrived at our guesthouse, where we had booked a room with a private bathroom, which was mandatory due to COVID regulations. The room was lovely, with all the amenities we needed, including two relatively large separate beds. I would definitely recommend this place! Initially, the owner didn't seem very welcoming, but after chatting with him for a while, we found him to be a really nice person. We were hungry, and luckily for us, they also had a restaurant and a souvenir shop – it was quite a surprise! I even bought a handmade woolen hat to keep me warm in Iceland. 😄 Full bellies and tired, but excited about tomorrow we went to get some sleep!