ICELAND 2020 ... the Wet One

Timolgra · Sep 3, 2020

Right from the start of organising this trip I knew Liam and Jon were unable to get enough time away for the full two weeks, we were almost at the point of no return so the following morning packed their wet gear up and headed towards Reykjavik ..... no doubt with some well earned fine dining and wining along the way :beerjug:

Now we are four ....for now.

Dodging showers we take to the tarmac in and out of the northerly fjords

Stopping of at the only place along this empty coast line

In the warm attic we wait with coffee for.......

..... waffles, homemade jam and oh the luxury of squirty cream

and toasted sandwiches all made by a lovely German couple

We need to get some trails in so head up high again

Steve and Dave peel off for the road much further down as I suggest Stuart and I finish it to the end over a deceptively tricky and unused rocky section. I was on the limit with my loaded bike and for the second year running wondering why I do this to myself .... but actually I do know :blast

We make camp in a lovely town, the following days forecast is very poor and we still have a great ride to complete which needs to be ridden in good conditions ........ ie. today!
So our day isn't over yet by a long way......

Udders · Sep 3, 2020

Tommy Gunn · Sep 3, 2020

Terrific stuff. TY for taking the time.

Timolgra · Sep 3, 2020

I've written much about this trail and have ridden it more than a dozen times, each time is very different but always memorable

Sadly though for Dave, we'd barely started when he caught a rock splitting the sidewall of his tyre.
So for all you advocates of tubeless tyres for adventure bikes, think again unless you carry a spare tube!..... which Dave wasn't. Although the front wheel rim was also dented it wasn't causing concern. (of course we other 3 were carrying one and would have donated it if push came to shove).

Dave was carrying a Tubeless repair kit which came with the bike and we encouraged him to read the instructions and carry out his own repair.....it also gives me time to roll one up

One plug in the tyre wasn't holding pressure, poor Dave was looking a little concerned so I fitted a second plug at 90 deg, it held until he got back to the camp but only to leave us early next morning and limp back to Reykjavik over a the following couple of days and fly home early.......at least the repair held up with no further problems.

It doesn't need to look pretty if it works.

Timolgra · Sep 3, 2020

Now we are three and it's time to play

This is Stuart playing a little further on with a sheer drop over the edge

Toddmeister · Sep 3, 2020

I love the "Bridge of Doom" trail, but have never done it in the down hill direction. There's never been any water in the river it used to go over either

Fabulous pics as always Tim and good the hear that Liam and Jon have maintained their ability to get completely wasted

Timolgra · Sep 3, 2020

As I've described this trail many times I won't bore folk with any more, but those on the second trip will notice several differences between now and a couple of weeks time.... and not only the weather

Just photos with a couple of Bakerman's thrown in :beerjug:

The 'short cut' in daylight this time

Back to camp and Bakerman has promised to cook us an omelette so while he's working his magic I take Stuart to a good spot to complete the day's ride.

From here we can almost see Bakerman preparing our dinner

Using this egg yoke, some cream and herbs Bakes proves he really is a magician with food

This was most definitely the best omelette I've ever had. Thank you Steve :okay

My eyes look like I'm a 100 years old but it's been quite a day!

Ended with a contemplative smoke and some Jameson's on the beach

Timolgra · Sep 3, 2020

Riding this part of the world in poor weather can understandably be miserable for some although with the right riders and positive attitude it can be just as much fun......until your sleeping bag gets wet, but that's another story and my fault :blast

We stop off and Bakerman has two unsuccessful attempts to brew us all coffee, first time the stove wind shield knocked the boiling water over which of course Stuart and I found amusing but did actually try hard to hide our laughing when Bakes finally made some coffee only to trip over spilling it all on the ground

It was around now that Stuart's sense of humour had a momentary lapse when he realised he's left his twin walled titanium mug back at the campsite :blast

As we inevitably climb higher again the weather turns to it's worst yet, driving rain and dangerous wind.
We high tail it to the ferry port where there's a welcoming old world cafe to buy our tickets out of the West Fjords and sit in the warm drinking coffee........except it's shut due to Covid!

A few miles back we drip water over a much posher cafe floor and eat as we're very early for the ferry.

Then it's time to make a move and wait for our boat but of course there's no shelter so.....

Stuart takes 40 winks

Once we're on the ferry.....

Bakerman adheres to the latest Covid rules on public transport

Timolgra · Sep 3, 2020

I had a message from David who was well on his way back, he'd booked and paid for a room which I was welcome to use.
The other's were more than happy to find somewhere rather than a planned wild camp, it was a great quirky old place with an interesting landlord.
I'm very grateful David thanks :beerjug:

Ham roll for tea

And a late walk to the harbour before a clean warm, DRY bed for the night.

Micky · Sep 3, 2020

Timolgra said:
Ha ha just my old phone

Well that just goes to show that you don't need expensive fancy cameras Tim :thumby:

Good one

ahebron · Sep 4, 2020

As usual a great write up but as I only read the other Iceland trip RR yesterday I thought this one was extra for that one so started at page 5 then 4 then 3....1 before realising it was a different ride.

Udders · Sep 4, 2020

Was there no chance of getting another tyre from somewhere in Reykjavik so Dave could carry on for a few more days instead of having to head home? :nenau

gazza12adv · Sep 4, 2020

Great ride report Tim. I would love to do a bit more of the extreme stuff but not on the GSA though, I fear my riding talents may be lacking for some of it even on a smaller bike.
Nice to see the bit of "beach" we got stranded on with a little less water on it.
Despite some of the weather you all seemed to have a great trip anyway.

Timolgra · Sep 4, 2020

Udders said:
Was there no chance of getting another tyre from somewhere in Reykjavik so Dave could carry on for a few more days instead of having to head home?

Yes anything's possible although given where were it would take at least 2 days to get a new tyre.

The tyre was already repaired and a tube would provide a 'permanent' fix if needed.
Dave was always going to shorten his trip slightly for other reasons so this was probably the right moment for him.

Udders · Sep 4, 2020

Timolgra said:
Yes anything's possible although given where were it would take at least 2 days to get a new tyre.

The tyre was already repaired and a tube would provide a 'permanent' fix if needed.
Dave was always going to shorten his trip slightly for other reasons so this was probably the right moment for him.

Aah, ok.

Timolgra · Sep 4, 2020

gazza12adv said:
Great ride report Tim. I would love to do a bit more of the extreme stuff but not on the GSA though, I fear my riding talents may be lacking for some of it even on a smaller bike.
Nice to see the bit of "beach" we got stranded on with a little less water on it.
Despite some of the weather you all seemed to have a great trip anyway.

Yes that's why I run two trips mate and I talk with everyone before its decided which one to be on, 790 KTMs are generally at the upper limit for this one ... even then they uneccesarily skipped one big ride, but that was their call.
As the weather was poor over the first few days we also had to miss out several trails that would be beyond a GSA....unless someone like Mark (Pacific) was riding it

Timolgra · Sep 4, 2020

ahebron said:
As usual a great write up but as I only read the other Iceland trip RR yesterday I thought this one was extra for that one so started at page 5 then 4 then 3....1 before realising it was a different ride.

The lack of sunglasses and factor 50 may have been a clue

ButtonMoon · Sep 4, 2020

Brilliant ride report Tim as usual. Brings back so many fantastic memories. Can’t wait to be able to ride again, put me down for next year please mate !!!

Timolgra · Sep 4, 2020

Bright eyed, bushy tailed full of coffee and croissants we set off next morning to further explore the lava fields....in heavy rain.

There was a circular route I had in mind which does become quite technical in places, I did start it several years ago with my wife...... but she gave me 'that look' and we turned back

This time though with the right riders and right bikes we tried again, eventually the trail ran out into a wide bog with no sign of where it went the other side of a river .... which was full, so once again it's beaten me......one day

On a calm day the Snaefellsnes Peninsular is beautiful but it has it's own micro climate which at times can only be described as violent!
The wind will slap you hard from the left, pause then flatten you from the right. We took refuge in a cafe before agreeing to try and cross 'the best part'.

We're only a short way into the trail before Bakerman is blown off the track.

Stuart and I decide to press on a little further to see if things improve, it become worse with hard horizontal rain preventing my bike from making a sharp bend in sand, we were nowhere near where it could become more serious so beat a retreat and rested out of the wind.

Timolgra · Sep 4, 2020

The weather can be completely different on the other side of this narrow peninsular, with hope we took the road around.

We passed some road repairs where a friend who had been working nearby told me 3 weeks early the wind lifted the tarmac from the road.

Arriving battered at the empty soggy campsite with no prospect of even a pause in the rain for the next two and a half day we inquire after a cabin for the night.

My friends of a friend helped Stuart find a good deal

Like drowned rats we soon made ourselves at home

The bikes were stabled out of the wind

While we drank beer as Bakerman chooses a new hat

ICELAND 2020 ... the Wet One

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