Iceland 2013 anyone?

[Dogo]

Howdy,
planning on riding solo around Iceland next year.
Planning on taking my bike in the Ferry leaving Denmark, spending around a week or so, and then back in the boat.
Anyone hesitating to go that would be interested in joining for a Brew on board?
Any hints on local contacts, biker friendly clubs and/or spots would be welcome.

Safe rides.

[Wildman]

Tentative but thinking about it. Have from 08 August but must be back in London for 02 September.

[mike turner]

hi
im looking for a trip in 2013 im of from 10th june till 28th june.are you camping or hosteling.

[Wildman]

Likely to be going out on 6 August sailing from Hirtshals, back on the 15 August sailing from Seyðisfjörður.

[Hellboy]

Iceland is indeed fantastic! Was there with the bikes in 2011. Would love to go back. We camped most of the time. Costed very little money and we bought food in stores and cooked our own food most of the time.


The landscape goes from looking like you´re on the moon to very green and beautiful.


Petrol station on Iceland....




Totally amazing to see steam coming out of the ground as you ride by.....

We stayed in Reykjavik for two nights but that was actually the less interesting part of the trip. A very small "big" city but it looks rather much like any other city in Europe. The countryside is soo much more interesting. We decided to try some traditional icelandic food while in Reykjavik and we found this place. Said "Traditional Icelandic dishes" on the sign.



And what was the name of the place? "Tabasco´s - Mexican bar and grill".We did not enter....

We arrived at Seyðisfjörður where we met up our fantastic islandic friends learned to know the year before. And then we went up to Akureyn via Myvatn and some other places. And then we went up on the highlands and visited Dimmuborgir, Godafoss, Geysir and Thingvellir before heading down to Reykjavik. We took the southern ring road back to Seyðisfjörður. VERY windy at times along the southern ring road. We almost blew off the bikes when coming over the hill down to Vik. Very close call. And extremely foggy out east. Could hardly see 20 meters if even that far. But Iceland was fantastic. I would actually recommend to go off at Faroe Islands and drive around there for a couple of days and take the next ferry to Iceland. The Faroe Islands was also a great (!!) visit and the two and a half days (if I don´t remember wrong) that you get if you drive off the ferry in Tórshavn and then take the next ferry to Iceland is rather enough time to drive around on the main islands on the Faroe Islands.

This is the route we took.....





Forgot to turn the Spot tracker on for some days so the route from Fljótsdalshérað, Myvatn, Akureyn towards Varmahlíð is unfortunately not on the map. Sorry for that. But we did not take the northern ring road for much of that ride. Took a more southern route over the northern highlands if I don´t remember things wrong. Have to ask Unnur and Högni who guided us around. Wonderful people indeed. Iceland is fantastic!!

//J

[Wildman]

Originally Posted by Hellboy

... Wonderful people indeed. Iceland is fantastic!!

Excellent; thanks. The first thing I've learned is that Seyðisfjörður is on the east side of the island! Where's that, "Planning: is it really necessary?" thread?

[spip]

Hey Hellboy,

I'm pretty sure we met near the Blunda power station at N65.16 W19.73. This should be you (not the sheep, the riders):


... and this was us:


Here's more about our trip: Planless on Iceland - ADVrider

Anyway, I'm considering another Iceland trip this summer - Wanna meet?


Greetings,

Pip

Originally Posted by Hellboy

[...]
We arrived at Seyðisfjörður where we met up our fantastic islandic friends learned to know the year before. And then we went up to Akureyn via Myvatn and some other places.

[Hellboy]

Originally Posted by spip

Hey Hellboy,

I'm pretty sure we met near the Blunda power station at N65.16 W19.73. This should be you (not the sheep, the riders)

Ha ha ha! Yeah that is us. Good fun. I recall you as well had stickers from Motocamp Bulgaria and Balkans Orange Adventures etc on your bikes. I and my gf met our islandic friends Unnur and Högni at the motocamp two years earlier and that was basicly the reason for us being on Iceland. And then you guys showed up with the same stickers on your bikes as we had on ours.... Gave us a giggle I recall. Good fun to find you here as well. Small world....

All the best and ride safe.

Sincerely//Jan

[Hellboy]

Originally Posted by Wildman

Excellent; thanks. The first thing I've learned is that Seyðisfjörður is on the east side of the island! Where's that, "Planning: is it really necessary?" thread?

lol Yeah Seyðisfjörður is pretty much on the opposite side of the island than Reykjavik. Iceland is actually a bigger island than one can imagine when looking at a map. Takes at least 10 hours to go from Seyðisfjörður to Reykjavik on a bike on a sunny day. The southern ring road is around 720 kilometers and the northern ring road is pretty much the same distance. Go across the island over the highlands takes lots (!!) longer. Iceland is fantastic and very diverse. We choose to drive off the ferry in Torshavn to spend three days on the Faroe Islands and then we took the next ferry three days later to Iceland. Spent 7 days on Iceland but could easily spend another week there. Lots to see. But one week was good enough for a first visit. Can´t see anything at once since we won´t have a reason to go back then.....

The Faroe Islands are also well worth a visit. Three days there was actually perfect. Just enough time to see the main islands and a good warm up to Iceland.





Beautiful....

Cheers//Jan

[Modman]

I've just spent an hour or so reading the advrider trip report and now want to go more than ever, all my mates are married or have kids though and can no way get a pass for a week or two.

Is anyone still planning to go? I'm tempted (When I get around to replacing my recently sold 650GS with an 800GS) which may be as soon as this weekend.

[Wildman]

Originally Posted by Modman

... Is anyone still planning to go? I'm tempted (When I get around to replacing my recently sold 650GS with an 800GS) which may be as soon as this weekend.

Originally Posted by Wildman

Likely to be going out on 6 August sailing from Hirtshals, back on the 15 August sailing from Seyðisfjörður.

Still not 100% certain but still planning for these dates.

[Modman]

Wildman, do you have a plan for when you're there or will you just take it as it comes? Are you looking for fellow motorcyclists to join you at all? if so, camping or? Cheers - Dan

[Wildman]

Hi Dan

Honestly, no firm plan as yet. I picked up a map at the Adventure Travel Show last weekend and that's about as far as I've got with planning. Looking to travel with others although not necessarily ride all-day long together for the whole week, just see how it goes. I usually do 75% hotels/B&B and 25% camping but I'm guessing Iceland may be the other way around due to cost and availability. Will have tent and a budget; see how it goes.

Also ride an F800GS. Comfortable with light off road. Expecting to get more experience riding gravel.

[Modman]

Thanks for that. Similar to my plan, I'm happy to plod along by myself but it's always nice to have some support when I inevitably decide to do a few water crossings. Gravel is about as far as my experience goes on the bigger bikes, but going through a lot of ride reports I think I'll be fine. It's the mechanical side or punctures that worry me more.

I'm just investigating the best way to get there, flying & shipping the bike, or catching a ferry across from Denmark, both options aren't cheap and I have a tight'ish budget and can't have too much time off work. Camping I think is the way forward to keep costs down most nights. Also for a 7 day ride on the island means a couple or more days travel either side so need to figure that bit out too.

Now that I've got 5 posts here I can send PM's too so might drop you a line later if that's ok?

[Wildman]

Originally Posted by Modman

Thanks for that. Similar to my plan, I'm happy to plod along by myself but it's always nice to have some support when I inevitably decide to do a few water crossings. Gravel is about as far as my experience goes on the bigger bikes, but going through a lot of ride reports I think I'll be fine. It's the mechanical side or punctures that worry me more.

I'm just investigating the best way to get there, flying & shipping the bike, or catching a ferry across from Denmark, both options aren't cheap and I have a tight'ish budget and can't have too much time off work. Camping I think is the way forward to keep costs down most nights. Also for a 7 day ride on the island means a couple or more days travel either side so need to figure that bit out too.

Now that I've got 5 posts here I can send PM's too so might drop you a line later if that's ok?

Please do.

I'm reckoning on leaving the UK (I'm very near to Dover/Folkestone) Sunday, 3rd August and getting back Monday, 19 August although I may have to travel to or more likely from Hirtshalls via a work assignment in Copenhagen but awaiting confirmation of that.