From Húsavík, we set off towards Akureyri. The coastal road winds inland, and we’re greeted by rain right from the start. To be honest, neither our mood nor our motivation was particularly high that morning, but as soon as we’re on our bikes in our rain gear, our spirits lift. It’s strange, but the steady rhythm of the raindrops and the whirring of the tires have an almost meditative quality. We find a kind of equanimity, let ourselves be enveloped by the rain, and discover that even cycling in the gray and rain has its charm.
The road is easy to drive on, and to the right and left, a landscape unfolds that seems to come from two different worlds: on one side, old lava fields overgrown with moss and low shrubs, and next to them, suddenly, lush vegetation. Somewhere along the roadside, we discover birch boletes, which we gather for dinner—a wonderful gift of nature.
The closer we get to Akureyri, the more we feel the return to civilization: suddenly, two gigantic cruise ships loom before us, anchored in the harbor, and what feels like a million people pour into the small town. After the lonely kilometers along the coastal road, it feels almost surreal. Our campsite, however, is located a little outside the town, is incredibly child-friendly, and pleasantly quiet. There, we meet up with Petra and Chrissi again, whom we met on the ferry to Iceland, and enjoy hearing their stories from the south, where we ourselves plan to travel in a few days. We spend a cozy evening together, chatting, laughing, and at the same time, there’s a touch of melancholy in the air. Johanna and Mirja are starting their journey back to Germany tomorrow, and from then on, we’ll continue the tour without them.
For Silke, there’s another very personal reason to celebrate this evening: her superb helmet from Colibri. Partially sponsored and lovingly recommended by the optician in Lübeck, it has proven its worth countless times on this trip. Storm, rain, blazing sun – no problem at all. No insects in her face, UV protection, perfect fit. Silke raves about how grateful she is to have this particular helmet with her. For her, it’s a real highlight of the Iceland trip, and Jürgen agrees, because his Colibri sunglasses are also living up to their promises. And so our day in Akureyri ends: with rain, joy, a touch of sadness at saying goodbye – and the feeling that we are well-prepared for the stages ahead.
