http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/TrafficJan82/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from TrafficJan82 en-us Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:12:50 +0000 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:12:50 +0000 Last day on Iceland We'll spend it in style after killing ourselves cycling around the place for almost 2 weeks today is going to make all of it worthwhile especially yesterday's torture ride to get here.In the morning again we are woken by rain. So again we decide to do the reasonable thing sleep in and wait for the weather to come to its senses and stop the rain. And it works At 11 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjanesbaer/blog-420010.html What a rude awakening Starting from 6am rain starts gushing on the tent and the wind shakes the tent even has us worried that the whole thing might take off. We try to get some more sleep the bus doesn't leave until 9 but by 7 there is no point so we get up and start packing up all the while trying to keep the tent from taking off. Breakfast is cancelled since there is no point trying http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjavik/blog-420006.html For the first time we our of the tent before 9 because it's too hot The sun is burning on the ten and soon there is nothing to take off anymore we have to get up. Hendrick and Carlo also soon come crawling from their tent and starting getting some basic supplies ready for a bus tour into the interior before heading on towards Skaftafell.We have some coffee and breakfast then get back on t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/South/Vik/blog-419739.html In the morning we're woken up by rain For the first time in over a week aside from day 1 in Reykjavik it's raining So we decide to do what any rational person would continue sleeping and wait for it to ease off which it does around 11. So we carefully pack up everything have breakfast at a covered bench and table nearby and head down to the ring road.Seems like our idea worked tail w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/South/blog-419724.html After yesterday's fun day of headwindcycling we decide to try and use the headwind which seems to be the predominant direction the wind here to our advantage. Since we had planned to get to Skaftafell and then take the bus back why not turn this on its head take the bus to Skaftafell and then cycle back along the south coast with tailwindAs it turns out the bus stop is also directly at http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/South/Vik/blog-419716.html As yesterday we have a good sleep in and are again one of the last tents on the camp ground by the time we finally crawl out of the tent. Good thing the sun doesn't shine too much in Iceland that way you can sleep as long as you want without getting roastedWhile I start packing up the tent Nadine goes shopping for some groceries. On her way to the store she already notices that the wind isn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/blog-419708.html After a good night's sleep we are woken up by the lawnmower cutting the grass all around us. When we open the tent it turns out that we are the last ones on the campground No need to rush though first we have some breakfast and the everimportant cup of coffee before we start packing up again and get ready for our first full day of cycling after the break.The road leads south along the same http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/blog-419206.html Another day another try the alarm rings at 7 and we drag ourselves out of our sleeping bags. Stefan and Elinborg said something about breakfast last night but they don't seem to be up for it now there is no sound in the house. So we pack up and start moving everything out of the house. We even find the back entrance to the cellar to get at the bikes. Once everything is loaded up and the b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/blog-418234.html Good stuff In the morning I feel a lot better and we decide to try to catch the 830 bus to Geysir and continue our bike tour there. So everything packed up quickly a quick dash downstairs for breakfast handing over waaay too much money for the hotel and off to the bus station we go.We arrive half an hour early plenty of time to buy the tickets and get the bikes on the bus...but what's http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjavik/blog-417845.html Not much happening today...I manage to drag myself out of bed for some breakfast aided by Paracetamol.While I spend most of the rest of the day sleeping Nadine is out in Reykjavik buying food and checking out the pool.In the evening I start feeling slightly better and we go for a small walk around town again helped by some paracetamol.Here's to hoping this whole mess will be better tomorro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjavik/blog-417838.html When going to bed last night I was already feeling quite cold and it doesn't get better all night. When I wake up in the morning I'm still shivering and it turns out that I have a fever...just perfect exactly what I need on a bike tourSpending another night in the tent next to the cold lake is not an option so after some thinking we decide to check into a nearby hotel and hope to be able http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/blog-417829.html Late morning the sun wakes us and we crawl out of our tent for some breakfast and coffee. Using the super special burning liquid bought in an outdoor shop in Reykjavik almost sets the tent on fire because it produces a high flame and all efforts to extinguish or control the size of the flame are in vain. Additionally it completely covers all cookware involved in a thick layer of black s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Laugavegur/blog-416223.html Having just arrived in the Smoky Bay yesterday we were happy to be able to sleep through our first night of well no night. Around June 21st the days in Iceland are neverending and even in the south it never gets even remotely dark.The bikes still packed away in bags our first mission for the day is to assemble them. Also two of my former colleagues from Edinburgh uni an Icelandic coup http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjavik/blog-415892.html Day of arrival if not without problems. It's the classical situation almost ripe for a movie...you're almost there but yet so far...anyways let's start from the beginning.Waking up a last time we go through the usual ritual I make coffee Hans takes down the tent we have some breakfast then get on our way. The road is good but my rear tyre has lost pressure once again overnight and need http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belarus/blog-209198.html I wake up around 9 and the rain has finally stopped no excuse to stay in bed any longer Time to get up make some coffee and it starts raining again fortunately before we start taking down the tent. So back inside play a round of cards then another and another and another...As predicted by Hans' rule of thumb the weather changes at 11 and we can take down the tent and get on the way. But http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belarus/blog-209188.html What a helpful bunch of people these Belarussians are Some of the friendliest people I've met on our journey I met today here in Belarus. But first let's talk about what happened...Around 9am it seems that the rain finally stops and we crawl out of our tent that held up well against the storm. We use the last of our water for some coffee and continue along the M7 towards Ashmani. The first prob http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belarus/blog-206996.html Early morning I wake up around 530 probably because of my less than pleasant sleeping position as we put the tent up on a slight slope my head is actually about 10cm lower than my feet which didn't make for a great night's sleep. Then I realise it's 630 Forgot about the time difference again I really must change my clock forward. As Hans is up as well we decide to just get up pack aw http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Lithuania/Vilnius/blog-205571.html Day 11 of our journey and the legs are starting to feel tired. A good thing that the road out of Druskininkai is absolutely perfect sheltered from the wind flat and the sun is not too hot.On our way out of Druskininkai we get lost once again as we did on the way out of pretty much every single larger town. Two Lithuanian women dressed up in their fancy car offer to not only help us find t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Lithuania/Kaunas/blog-205234.html The last half day in Poland Apparently our tent was hidden well enough as nobody found us or was bothered with us being where we were. As usual we start the day off with some coffee where I almost manage to set fire to the forest floor because I spill some cooking spirit.We get on our way towards Lithuania. As if someone was trying to keep us from reaching the border the headwind picks up http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Lithuania/Kaunas/blog-204941.html For the first time in over a week we get rain. And of course it has to happen in the middle of the night. Quickly get out of the tent pull the rain cover over the tent and retreat back into the dry inside. Fortunately the rain doesn't last and is gone by the time we get up in the morning.A coffee and some bread later we're back on the road towards Lithuania. If everything goes according to p http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Poland/Podlachian/Suwalki/blog-204935.html