Day 5 – Iceland Trip 2014

We ventured out to the Snaefellsnes peninsular. This was a popular activity on last years trip, most notably due to the most amazing Aurora show that greeted us on our final night in Iceland for 2013. With this in our minds we looked forward to returning this year.

It was an early start, and a very long drive. Lee very kindly gave me the task of looking after Welshot monkey (and a little later Welshot Man).  She wanted me to blog about these shots today.

We started our photography for the day in a Lava field, but not before our trusted guide Ymir treated us all to an Icelandic delicacy of fermented shark meat and a shot of Brennivin (Icelandic Vodka). I tried the shark meat last year so I kind of knew what to expect. Ymir gave me a piece which also had a softer piece attached. My word it was rank, the taste of ammonia hit the back of my throat and the softer piece erupted (it must have been roe or something similar) as this most awful taste hit my mouth and I almost gagged. Suffice to say I took a swig of Brennivin to wash away the taste.

Lava field, Snaefellsnes

So after the tasting, I got to work with Welshot monkey. Knowing only too well what I was like, Lee must have thought Welshot monkey would come to no harm, how wrong she was!!

First I let Welshot monkey have a nice picture.....

Welshot Monkey in a Lava Field

Then Welshot monkey started to play up a bit when he saw the snow, the little beggar ran off and started sliding down miniature ice flows.....

Welshot Monkey sliding down the Snow / Ice drifts

He then spotted the Brennivin and must have taken a few swigs whilst nobody was watching....

Welshot Monkey steals the Brennivin

He must have drank quite a bit as the next time we saw him he'd fallen into a snow hole.....

Welshot monkey falls into a snow hole

Once released, the little beggar ran off again and started to climb some of the trickier boulders.....

Welshot monkey climbs the rocks

He eventually began to slow down after all his shenanigans......

Chilling out in the Lava rock

After which a tired little Welshot monkey went to sleep between the photography bags....

ZZZZzzzzzzz

After the Lava field, we went for lunch at a Horse farm.....

Horse Farm

Welshot monkey tried his hand at driving a tractor....

Welshot Monkey tries to steal the tractor

Checking his mirror

Whilst Monkey had beggared off, I had a wander around the farm and took a few shots....

Horse farm

Horse Farm

From the Horse farm we travelled to the small port of Arnarstapavegur....

Arnarstapevegur

Welshot monkey did a spot of sunbathing....

Sunbathing monkey

Welshot Monkey in Arnarstapevegur

Welshot Man at Arnarstapevegur

From here we ventured back to the 'Energy beach' at Djúpalón...

Trawler wreckage at Djúpalón

That was that for Day 5. When we got back to the horse farm, we were asked if some of us would like to go to the festival that was happening that night. Five of us decided to stay, suffice to say we got very drunk. I thought I had lost Welshot Man and didn't want to tell Lee. Turns out we never had him anyway !!

The rest of the group sensibly went back to the hotel, they stopped off though as a spectacular Aurora display turned out. Which was excellent really as it was Rachel and Alan's last night, so that must have made their trip.

The five (Richie, Danni, Rob, James and myself) who stayed on at the farm watched the aurora on our backs in one of the fields at the farm. Once it was over we attended the festival and got very merry on yet more Brennivin and Red Wine. Our heads really did hurt in the morning!!