Feb 2020 – Sep 2021

By the time we got to Vík, my bud and I were exhausted. We’d gotten up for sunrise and then climbed around 3 different glaciers. Tonight we were staying at Hotel Kria, which is centrally located in the small town of Vík. I was getting ready to have a good dinner and tuck in for the day.

Pokin, however, decided it was time for sunset photos.

“It’s nice out,” she said. “Who knows when it’ll be nice out again.”

My bud and I groan. We weren’t winning this battle. In the car we go again!

Our sunset destination was Reynisdrangar, about a 15 minute drive west of Vík. Reynisdrangar was voted one of the best beaches in the world, and It was also one of filming locations for Game of Thrones (beach at Eastwatch by the sea.) It’s considered a very dangerous beach as amidst seemingly calm and predictable waves will come sudden powerful sneaker waves. In recent years, the waves have dragged several travellers out into the ocean where they drowned in the undertow. <*gulp> *The major landmarks are 3 basalt columns. Legend has it these columns were formed when three trolls unsuccessfully tried to pull a ship to shore when sunrise hit.

Not learning her lesson from this morning, Pokin was determined to get some photos in the surf break. “Further up the shore though,” she promises. Sigh.

Along the way we passed fields like this with sheep. I considered trying to ride one but given how wet it’d been, thought better of it.

Once we got to Reynisdrangar, Pokin discovered her plans would be foiled. A giant wedding photoshoot appeared to be taking place and people were everywhere, all over the basalt columns, on the beach, near the waves. It was work to sneak a person free view of the place. I didn’t care. Pokin minded. I reminded her she was a tourist too, then got out of the way of smack zone.

Eventually the other tourists left and she got a few shots in.

Which was about time! It’s cold and windy out here!

And those waves looked serious!

Once Pokin washed up and dried off, we had a hearty breakfast and set off towards Vík.

Incidental note, the Foss Hotel Glacier Lagoon has an excellent breakfast. My bud and I approve.

On our way out, we stopped at the little waterfall beside the hotel.

“What’s the point,” said Nick. “There are so many better waterfalls.”

“I agree,” I said. I didn’t need to be near *any *waterfalls.

“It’s right here,” Pokin said. Let’s just see it.

So I guess we just saw it.

Vík is a town along the south coast of Iceland famous for their fine black sand beaches. It’s also considered the southernmost city in Iceland and also one of the rainest. We didn’t really know that when we decided to go there. They just happened to have rooms available when we were booking. So bonus.

First though, we had some glacier business to attend to.

I got word that Intersteller was filmed in one of the nearby glaciers, so my bud and I definitely had to go.

As warm up, we started at Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon. It’s the smaller cousin to Jökulsárlón, but not by much, and benefits from being way less crowded. You can’t see this lagoon from the road, but it’s only a short 10 minute walk to the lake Both lagoons are fed from the Vatnajökull ice cap, which is the largest icecap in volume in Europe. While we were there, we heard icebergs cracking off into the lake.

It happened to be raining, so I got a rainbow too.

Then it was to Svínafellsjökull - Interstellar!! To get ourselves in the mood, we loaded up the Intersteller sound track, data charges be darned!

The Svínafellsjökull glacier is a slightly longer walk from the parking lot. I didn’t care. Better anticipation!

I see it! Getting closer now! Can’t wait to get my paws on that ice!

The weather continued to stay overcast but I wasn’t going to let that deter me. Once we got to the base of the lagoon, we noticed a walking path towards the glaciers to the west of the lake, so we followed it in hopes of getting to the glacier.

I’m so excited!

It started to get really steep, so Pokin decided to stay put to grab photos instead.

My bud and I felt pretty sure footed though, so we continued onwards.

Unfortunately shortly after, we too, had to turn back too before we could step foot on the glacier as the trail just got too sketch even for us.

Maybe there was a different path there. Probably we should have booked a guided tour. Next time!

Way too early in the morning the next day, the alarm went off and I was thrown into a bag.

Off we went to Breiðamerkursandur, also known as Diamond Beach. Diamond Beach is located across from the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. As icebergs crack off the the Jökulsárlón glacier and float out into the ocean, some of the icebergs wash back up on shore resembling chunks of diamonds in the light.

Pokin was determined to take sunrise photos here. As soon as the car pulled to a stop she rushed out towards the incoming waves.

Crazy person.

My bud and I took the more cautious approach. We scouted out the lay of the land, first. We even went back to look at the lagoon –

– and only when I knew the timing of the waves did I venture out to the icebergs.

I helped out with some shots even.

My caution proved smart as Pokin and her camera got wiped out by a rogue wave as she was getting this shot.

Her filters, camera, and tripod went splat lens first into the sand, and Pokin fell on her butt the other direction. My bud and I just looked at each other with a knowing look. Yep, predictable.

Lucky for her the hotel was only 30 minutes away.

Smartly of me I think about these things.

Dry bear day for the win.

After I got over the shock of going somewhere dark and wet and cold, I started to get a little excited for our trip.

We rented a 4-wheel drive SUV from Blue Car Rental so we could go on both regular and F roads. F roads are the more rugged roads around Iceland…basically anything that’s not in town or part of the ring road. They can get bumpy and muddy and so a 4WD is necessary. There are even more difficult roads, especially in the highlands that require a super Jeep or are closed in the winter. We arrived during a freak winter storm (of course we did), resulting in the early closure of some F roads already. At the rental car company they showed us a map of Iceland, and basically everything except the south of Iceland and west near Reykjavik were marked “no go.”

Luckily our first destination was the south coast of Iceland. We were headed to a hotel near the town of Hof. We were doing a straight shot drive down there “since the Fagradalsfjall volcano” isn’t erupting."

Well almost a straight shot. First we stopped for cinnamon buns at Braud (because apparently they had the best cinnamon buns), and then Pokin needed to stop and get her camera checked out (because apparently it’s not a trip if Pokin doesn’t break her camera at least once.)

After those detours we got driving. My bud had just arrived from a redeye and Pokin picked out a 4.5 hour drive to our first destination. Neither my bud nor I was amused but that’s where we’re booked to sleep so that’s where we had to head.

The drive was scenic - or at least I think so. Both Pokin and I dozed off while my bud drove us. “You guys are the worst passengers to road trip with, you’re both always asleep,” Nicholas tells us.

We eventually got to a hotel situated right beside a waterfall. Both my bud and I took a liking to it immediately. Modern, clean, warm. We got a view facing out to the sea.

Of course we barely got settled before Pokin decided it was time to head out.

“It’s not raining, we should head to the lagoon for sunset,” she said.

By lagoon she meant the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. “I need to scout it out for sunrise photos,” she added. *Sunrise photos. *I groan. I know the drill.

Jökulsárlón Glacier lagoon is one of many glacier lagoons in the area, but it’s by far the most popular and touristy – probably because it’s one of the most accessible lagoons, being situated right off the main highway and all. The lagoon is fed by the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, and it’s also reported to be the deepest lake in Iceland. You can see seals swimming in the lagoon. We immediately saw some seals. That was cool. And a tonne of tourists. That was less cool.

Visiting the lagoon area can be divided into four quadrants. Coming from Rekyavik, the lagoon is on the left side, and the Diamond Beach (Breiðamerkursandur) on your right. The two sides are further divided by a river, so there’s the side before you cross the river and after. Most of the icebergs float onto the east side of the river, which is probably why the cafes and tourist shops all set up on the east side.

We pulled into the parking lot and Pokin made a mad dash for the shoreline, and joined basically every other photographer tourist in Iceland that had the same idea to line up here for sunset.

My bud and I? We actually checked out the area and walked around. We had fun watching all the tour busses pull out of the parking lot as the light got dimmer.

Eventually it was nearly dark.

“Perfect,” Pokin says. We now know where to go for sunrise photos.

Oh no.

Shortly after my Costa Rica escape, they wrapped me back up in a bearrito towel to suffer in darkness. This went on for months.

“The house is still under construction, you can’t come out”, is the thoroughly lame and totally unconvincing reason my bud gives me.

Then one day I heard the sounds of a luggage roller. I’m cautiously hopeful. “We going somewhere awesome?” I ask my bud. He doesn’t tell me anything. I get stuffed in a bag. Bag > bearrito, so I let it slide. Not even one smack.

Some number of hours later we arrive to our destination. Turns out Pokin and our friend Linda had already been here for some time.

And here turned out to be….Iceland???!! I look at my bud in confusion. “Don’t you remember the last time we went to Iceland”? I ask

My bud shrugged. “Pokin wanted to photograph an erupting volcano.”

“An erupting volcano?! Isn’t that how our last flight got delayed? Is there an erupting volcano in Iceland right now?”

“Well there was…it’s actually been quiet for something like 12 days now.” says Pokin.

I look outside. It looks dark. And damp. Oh boy.

At least I’m not in a bearrito towel.

Last year was rough. We were in lockdown. I was stuck in a bear shack with way too many bunnies.

This year didn’t start off much better. Not only was I stuck indoors without travel or gaming, but I spent most of my day wrapped up in a towel bear-rito. Something about making sure I stayed clean during construction. I’m sure this was my bud’s idea of torture.

Then one day my bud said we were going to go on a trip. We were headed to a town called Las Catalinas in Costa Rica, a newly built no-car, fully walkable master plan community that looked a bit like Italy. You fly directly to Libera airport instead of San Jose, and from there it’s about an hour drive to Las Catalinas. We were going to split a house with friends. To travel again!

Our house was called Casa Crepúsculo, which was perched on the side of the mountain. We got the upper bedroom. I promptly decided to check out the bed, before deciding I’d rather sleep on a pillow kingdom.

Since we arrived at night, it wasn’t until the next day I could really check out my surroundings. I got myself a comfy seat on the balcony and took stock.

Not too bad. I could get used to this.

It’s the middle of the pandemic. Nobody is going anywhere. Suddenly Nicholas gets a message from his friend Mark’s fiancee. They are getting married. They want to be very careful with Covid, so they aren’t inviting anybody, but Nicholas convinces them that it would be okay if he drives up directly, quarantines for a few days and has a small bachelor party for Mark and attends the wedding.

At first I was suspicious, a bachelor party? During the pandemic? But then I remembered, Mark is one of Nicholas’s old gaming friends, and they will party like the bunch of nerds they are. What did they do? Soda, junk food and video games. I can get behind parties like this.

Since we were up here already, we took the time to visit my bud’s mom. Outdoors. Masks on of course.

Then it was a road trip back home. We took the time to stop by Mono lake and grabbed some photos.

Peep and I finally come to an understanding.

“Look, I’m busy.  You should annoy someone else,”  I tell him.

“Peep,” says Peep.  *Ulgh.  *He disappears.   Well at least he did that.

Annnnnd I haven’t seen him in months.  Life is great.

Then COVID-19 happened.  We go into quarantine.  No more travel.  Indefinitely.  Also Pokin’s sister and husband move in with us.

To stay sane, my bud and I, and the rest of the family go on nightly walks, where we’ve been noticing a LOT of baby bunnies trying to survive out in the wild.

*Not my problem!  *I think, as we continue our walks.

Then came Pokin’s birthday.

“We got you a surprise,” Pokin’s sister says to her.  “We’d been seeing so many bunnies on our walks, we thought about pets!  And so we got you something!  “Close your eyes and hold out your hand.”

Pokin closes her eyes.  I close my eyes.  A wave of trepidation comes over me.

We open our eyes.  OMG there is bunny on her hand.

“We thought you’d like him!  Surprise!” PoOn said.

They got her a bunny.  Another bunny.

We’re under quarantine right now!  Don’t they know that?!  Who knows where this bunny has been!!  He’s not even wearing a mask!

I take this bunny out for a talk.  I put on my mask.  Gotta stay safe after all.

“Look pal, we follow social distancing rules around here.  In other words, stay far away from me.”

The new bunny stares at me.

In silence.

I stare back.

Oh boy.

It gets worse.

PEEP!  ARGH!

This quarantine is really testing me.  I’m surrounded by a bunnies.  They’ve grown in quantity.  And size.

And I’m locked down in this house.  Somebody help me.

Maybe it’s time to think about my hibearnating options.

My visit to Easter Island had me inspired.

I told Nicholas there needed to be a statue of me.  Ideally multiple.  He didn’t say much but eventually a statue was made.

Well we still had the materials from casting that first statue.

And what better use of our time during quarantine than to make more statues…of me?

So that’s what we did.

My likeness poured and ready to cure

The reveal

The production

Now to figure out where to put all of these!

We don’t get to travel much any more these days, so on the way back from skiing we detoured to Bryce Canyon.

It was surprisingly crowded for the winter.  Just our luck it was some sort of winter festival.   Well still, we’re here now and a bear wants to explore.  We made a quick stop to the Visitors Centre and were pointed to the Queen’s Garden Trail.

The trail’s nice.  And it was a great day out.

I saw people hiking in flip flops.  They are crazy.  I opted to be carried.  As usual.

When you are well prepared, no hill is too steep to climb.

Suckers.