North of Reykjavík is a small mountain Ejsa about 3000 ft tall.
There was a 4 hour weather window
Of sunny at noon I took the 15 bus to the 57 and hopped off at the hiking center.
Its about 2 -3 hour hike to the top , very popular with the locals
As part of the Golden circle visitor to Iceland will stop to watch it erupt about every 5 minutes, I have edit to that last on minute for you.
The word geyser comes from Iceland as “Geysir”, this was the first, ( well second, the first one stop working.
Mission accomplished
I was driving around Iceland, and just stoping to see the sighs.
After a cool waterfall (foss ) I saw a parking lot full of cars and no sign of what was going on, but there was no parking fee, so I said what the heck, looks like a black sand beach. After 4 km ( 2.5 miles) I found this.
Yes it was cold and windy ,
On Saturday Nov 24, 1973, a United States Navy Douglas Super DC-3 airplane was forced to land on Sólheimasandur’s black sand beach in the south of Iceland after experiencing some severe icing.
Made to Iceland
Coffee and cake
Took a lot of sorting through stuff
But now I’m at airport 
yes I lost the beard on my way
Adventure waits ahead
I have next step on the trip ,
http://www.cologne.de/events/cologne-carnival
The Greeks and Romans celebrated cheerful spring festivals in honour of Dionysos and Saturn with wine, women and singing. The ancient Germans celebrated the winter solstice as a homage to the gods and expulsion of the evil winter demons. Later the Christians adopted the heathen customs. The period of fasting (Lent) prior to Easter was heralded in by “Fastnacht” or “Karnival” – carne vale = Farewell to meat!
Sail away, pray for wind.
NPR was on the radio, some crazy politician was on air. Some country having a coup , a cyclone somewhere, one more disaster, before we need to buy something.
Turn of the radio!
Turn off the engine in the car!
I grab my sail bag, lock the door of the car and walk to the gate, already the world is fading away. I walk down the dock.
As I step on to the boat, I feel the boat give way, as the boat finds a new equilibrium. Focus on the boat now, sail cover, halyards, lines, topping lift, that boom vang thing.
I look back at the outboard engine, do I really have to? I connect the gas, pump it to prime the line. Pull the choke. I say something nice to the engine. Good vibes matter. I slowly pull the cord to prep , then slow get it the right spin point and pull. Once more and it starts up. ( sailing instructor in my head, says: “is the cooling water flowing”) , I look yes it is spitting water fine.
I’m ready, I step off and clear the lines, except for the stern line and step back on. I sit grep the tiller and clear the stern line, and put the engine in reverse. I am moving , slowly backwards I look around , try to see the wind. I’m already feeling better, I have forgotten about 1/2 of the news of the day. I throttle down and shift to forward and head out to the Columbia river. It a clear warm day with winds out of the north at about 8 mph. ( inland waters its miles ,not knots.)
I point the bow directly in to the wind, I have tied the tiller off and step up to the main halyard and “smartly” raise the sail. I feel a smile come to my face. I fall off to starboard and let out the sheet. I have some wind. I idle down the engine and put it neutral. I’m moving by sail power. “It’s time to turn the motor off”
I reach back, and with some relish , choke the engine to death. That is I pull the choke out and that quickly stops the engine. I am now a sailing vessel. I pull the engine up to reduce the drag, grab the fenders on the way forward, and release the foresail furring line. I pull the foresail lines and cleat it off.
I am now a sailing vessel. I don’t mean I’m on a sail boat. I really mean I am part of the sailing vessel. I respond to the wind, and water, I am focused on everything around me. I hear the water and the wind.I am one with the boat, and feel the boat is one with the water and the wind.
As I feel one with everything, nothing seem wrong or out-of-place. I am in equilibrium.
Do you want to join me?
Lets go for a sail.
See you later
From always connected Rob
With that behind me I’m now look ahead to Iceland and then to UK and Ireland for a while.
Good sailing good fun to be sure
Maybe I can sail from England to Spain or France or in to the Port of Amsterdam
Looking forward to seeing you
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