Page 44 - 2000 ICELAND

had been a boring and unrewarding hike in the cold and wet. So we were
vindicated in our choice to be lazy and wimpy!

It was a long day’s drive from the summer mountain hut to Hekla where we

would stay for the next three nights! And it continued to be rainy, cloudy,
and cold all day long. This is a cabin for four with two bunk-beds. Lynn and

Kay took the top bunks since Pat and I are the shortest, but they had quite a
time getting in and out of bed and dreaded any “night calls.” Of course, the

toilet and showers (private stalls again but only two for a huge and very full

campground and cabin assemblage) were about half a block away from our
little cabin. This place had one of our nicest eating facilities also it was

located in a separate and large open air building.

Supper was really good again tonight and it was agreeable to sit and talk
with our North American friends. Later everybody headed for the pool or

the showers. Then, at 9:15, it was time for bed, a good read, and finishing
the diary. At 9:30, Pat announced, “My gosh, it’s snowing! July 11, and it’s

snowing!” We all piled out of bed and ran outside to be certain. What we

were immediately certain of was that it was very cold. So back to bed.

MT. HEKLA

At least it wasn’t still snowing this
morning, but it was raining – and

hard! So we had breakfast and took
off for a long ride, hoping that it

would be clear at the destination.
Just in case we had all our rain-gear

with us on the bus. At first we drove

through lovely farm country where
some of June’s earthquake damage

was obvious. The terrain was strange as there were lush looking farms next
to lava fields with so many stones and lava crags that no one could plow it.

Then we rode into Mt. Hekla’s shadow. Iceland’s currently most active