Today was a leisurely day with the gang where we got to stroll around the trails and go on a hike. My bud spent some of that time going on an ebike instead. I stayed with the group.
But first breakfast, which was an excellent spread.
Onwards for our hike!
After a nice few weeks in London, it was time to head onwards!
We boarded a flight near London and it was onwards to Bolzano for a transit over to Merano.
I’d never been to this neck of the woods, but Northern Italy runs a lot more like Germany than it does Italy. Merano is in South Tyrol, and there are more German speaking Italians than Italian. It has something to do with how much the border changed hands over time.
The place we’re staying is a place called Castel Frasburg. It was our friend’s 40th birthday, and for his celebration he invited a number of close friends to celebrate with him at one of their favourite destinations. We were glad to go! We got settled in, and went out to explore the grounds. I think I’m going to like it here.
Slowly over the course of the day, people began to arrive. It was a fun blend of meeting new friends over a delicious meal.
When we got back, there was a cookie and a nice note for us.
It was time for our Europe trip! I was pretty excited. Unlike most of our past trips where we were running around in a mad frenzy, we were taking it easy for the first couple weeks.
Pokin was still recovering from her surgery and the doctor had advised lifting “no more than 10lbs.” I guess her usual backpack loaded with camera gear is well over 10lbs, so she agreed to “no plans” other than to camp out in a Doubletree in London, and to just see what happens.
Flight over was pretty smooth. Everyone shook their head as Pokin busted out Costco sized bags of Strawberry popcorn and keto snacks. I approved of none of her selection and didn’t touch any all trip long. The others shook their head but partook. Weak souls.
After the customary expected flight time and an incredibly smooth arrivals through customers, we were in London.
At first when we got to our hotel I was pretty worried. We had arrived early, and we got a pretty awful room. There was barely a window and we were looking into a boiler. Some things were also not working. Luckily because the room was a bit broken, they had to upgrade us to a better room, with a much better bed.
While I laid claim to the bed, my bud and Pokin went looking for food. Looks like lots of good options around. They found a crepe place pretty fast.
Now since the trip was meant to be pretty laid back, my bud didn’t think much about wardrobe. Which is a mistake in London. Me, I’m usually a dapper bear, so I was all set in terms of attire, but my bud was not at all equipped for the typical standards in London.
Pokin wanted to go for tea with their friends… and my bud did not have anything but tech startup tshirts.
And London has a dresscode. Especially for high tea.
And thus came about the great London makeover. So my bud stepped out.
And came back a new bud – clean shaven, hair cut, mysterious bags.
Turns out his bags contained a whole new wardrobe, suit and all. Look at that transformation!
We were in London during the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, and there were decorations everywhere. It looked so festive!
(I’m glad we came too as the Queen would pass away later this year)
The rest of our trip was pretty uneventful. Saw some pubs. Went to some tea shops.
Perfect low key start before we continued on to Italy.
Oh here’s also a photo of the red door where Pokin spent like an hour trying to record a birthday tribute video.
We’re going on a big trip to Europe! First to London, then to Italy. We’ll be gone for almost a month!
But first, priorities.
It’s my bud’s friend’s big 4-0 birthday. And my bud’s bud has great taste. He appreciates fine cocoa products.
Alas it’s already hot in Vegas, so my bud had to set up production in a bedroom where he could drop the room temperature sufficiently to make fine cocoa products.
I think they turned out pretty well!
Now time to pack for our trip!
While the beach was the main draw, we did spend some time walking the complex a bit.
But mostly we just wanted to hang out on the beach.
I told my bud I wanted to visit more beautiful beaches like this, so he’d better get to work some more. He told me to work myself. I ignored that. I’m too relaxed to smack him.
And just like that, we’re headed back home tomorrow.
The next few days were pretty relaxing. My bud and I took many bearfoot con bear walks on the beach.
The day after New Years Eve, just about everyone filed out, leaving on a scattering of guests left in the club. The weather was very cooperative and everything was pleasant. I lounged on the sand when my bud went on a run, I lounged in the sand when my bud decided to walk across the shallow bay out to Sugar Cay, and I lounged in the sand when they went kayaking. The waters were so shallow and calm I didn’t have to worry about so many rogue waves like we did in Iceland, and it was warm enough to stay close to the waters.
So back and forth and back and forth we would stroll on the beach and across the complex.
When sunset came, we either watched it on the beach.
Or from the deck.
Pretty relaxing either way!
It’s New Years Eve! Just like that, it’s the last day of 2021.
And I’m going on vacation. To the Bahamas. There are nearly 700 islands in the Bahamas, and I’m going to one Great Abaco Island, though the airport we landed in was actually on Marsh Island? Our friends were kind enough to invite us to spend NYE with them. I’m looking forward to a change of scenery, after having spent most of the year in a bearrito.
Here’s the view from outside the plane as we’re getting ready to approach.
Our destination today is the Abaco Club. It’s a private club with a nice long fine white sand beach. Abaco Club’s had an interesting history with multiple owners. For the longest time it sat underdeveloped through multiple recessions, but the current owners seem to be putting a lot of effort into growing the community.
As we disembarked from the airport though, we were first greeted with giant swarths of dead trees. At first we thought maybe they were just dormant from winter, but it turns out this is the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane that struck Abaco Islands Directly on Sept 1, 2019. While the hurricane itself inflicted a lot of damage, it was the resulting flooding that left the soils too salty for trees to survive.
While most of the damage impacted northern Abaco, Abaco Club survived surprisingly unscathed. Much of the area might have been protected by a combination of the Winding Bay, and by Sugar Cay.
After about a 20 minute ride, we pulled up to our friend’s place. There’s a main house and we got to stay in the guest house.
Time to settle in and get ready for New Years Eve!
Our volcano bear dance didn’t do anything to wake the volcano. Onto plan B – look for the elves, otherwise known as Huldufólk.
According to a National Geographic survey in 2017, over 50% still believe in Huldufólk! As a spirit bear, I support the Huldufólk!
So we went to look for them at Strandakirkja, which is located on the south coast of Iceland.
This church is creepy. I immediately felt like I was in a scene right out of Diablo. But it’s creepier when I’m not in a game. Originally built in the 12th century, I found out later it’s known as the Miracle church, known for its divine powers. Maybe that’s what I felt.
We found the elf houses around the back. Better make an offering!
I like these bear size elf homes!
The next place we picked out made no sense at all. Apparently we were going to Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River.
And turns out you can’t just drive to the hot springs. You needed to hike 40 minutes to one hour uphill.
No one actually was actually ready to go into the hotsprings, but up the trail we went, only to be pounded in the face by wind the entire walk up.
“Are you enjoying this?” I make a point of asking my bud every few steps against the wind.
We get there eventually, look at a lot of people sitting in the water and turn around.
Then it was back towards Reykjavik, where my bud tells me he got me a hot cocoa.
I took a sniff. Yep. Not hot cocoa. It was a hot coffee spiked with Brennivín. Tricked. I smack my bud. Adam drinks it instead. I smack my bud again.
And then Anna and Adam took off to a bubble hotel, and we drove to the last stop of the night, Garður a small fishing town located close to the Keflavik airport.
“Set your expectations low,” Pokin tells us.
Turned out not to be that bad at all! “Better wood panelling than at Ranga,” said my bud.
I agreed. We were all pleasantly surprised. Then we went to bed.
The next morning I took one last glance at the lighthouse –
Homeward bound!
And concludes my account of our 3rd trip to Iceland, where no volcano erupted.
After the volcano, we stopped at some beach, where the near gale force winds were still definitely present. In fact, it caused a door to rip out of Pokin’s hands and straight into the neighbouring car.
No one wants to remember that, least of all Pokin…so moving along.
We spent our time driving along the south coast before eventually making a decision to head to the Reykjanes peninsula, which is at the south western tip of Iceland for sunset.
Some time back, before I knew we would be headed to Iceland my bud and I watched the Eurovision Song Contest.
I didn’t realize it, but the Volcano Man was shot at the Reykjanes peninsula!
Volcano bear! Volcano bear!
Guarding the land! So many fans!
Then we saw the sunset and went to bed.
No volcano eruption.
Volcanic protector bear!
A timeless hero bear!
At this point we’ve been in Iceland for a number of days, and that volcano that Pokin dragged us over here to see has been staying mum.
Not a peep.
Well we were in the area anyway so we may as well see it, near gale force winds be darned. There are 3 parking lots to get to the Fagradalsfjall volcano. The first two involve a 40 minute hike to see the lava, whereas the third lot takes you almost right to the fields. So we picked lot C.
Here’s the starting point. Some enterprising food truck set up a stand right next door to serve hot dogs and lamb stew.
There’s a short hump you go up and over, which takes you into this valley. Most of the lava’s cooled off but you can still see small wisps of smoke.
Here’s a close up of the lava.
You can hike up the ridge of the hill to look right into the crater, but since the volcano wasn’t active we just took a look around and got back in the car. After all, the volcano wasn’t active, it was really windy, and I didn’t want to get blown away.
“THIS is what you dragged us here to see?” I turned to Pokin as we got back in the car.
She shrugged.
Mum’s the word from all volcanos and people, it seems.