Rob riding his CRF 300 Rally
Rob leads myself then Baz followed by the other along this favourite trail.
While stopping for fuel again and of course more coffee I ask a pretty Icelandic warden about the condition of river crossing much further ahead along the Sprengisandur, there's a warden stationed there, she calls him on the radio.
Smiling she tells he advises against all small Jeeps attempting it and we should walk the crossings first, carry our luggage and walk the bikes across, smiling again she says "have fun"
I've ridden this long trail many times and find the first 20 miles or so a grind but soon becomes a great fast ride.
Passing the warden's hut just before the first river, he's of course right as the river is higher than usual, so I walk it first and find the best way across a series of streams just a matter of zig zagging between islands and missing the deeper parts.
It wasn't anywhere near as bad as I feared and we all crossed without incident.
We're about two thirds of the way across where these photos are taken.
H lining it up!
Last bit
I don't seem to have any photos of the second river which although narrower it can have a strong current and has caused problems for a GS during a previous trip, no such hiccups this time thankfully.
Turning off the Sprengisandur towards our wonderful campsite with natural hot pool we're on a smaller remote trail which I always enjoy, part way along is another river which although quite wide has never caused the slightest issue.....until now
Terry
Since I know this river quite well and although there's more water in it than previous trips I did ride straight in and crossed without an issue, there I saw a guy in the water with waders on quite rightly checking it out. We had a chat and was quite happy to continue in his....
Transporter!
Liz heads downstream for a while
I wonder what was going through H's mind at this time, unusual place to exit but safely across
Rob's turn on his CRF 300 Rally, although he's had the suspension upgraded with heavier springs and valving to suit on the forks I'd noticed it still handled like a 'bag o' shite' over rocks and did him no favours on several occasions! He's since been talking of Ohlins inserts and who can blame him.
Rob's a good rider, what happens here was down to the bike.
Nearly across
Oh Oh......
And....Splash!!
On the plus side, the crf 250 and 300 does handle deep water well, despite being under water a few times it always started again on the button.
We pitch tents, the warden sells us some beer and we enjoy the beautiful natural hot pool....our first wash in warm water since setting off.
I get chatting to an interesting Brit travelling in his truck, I have a couple more strong beers then he insists I share his red wine......two bottles later I stagger to my tent.