Planless on Iceland

pip_muenster · 12-15-2011, 12:33 PM

The riverbed was full of rocks and the far bank steep.
- 'Well, this is the end, is it?'
It sure looked dangerous, so I answered:
- 'Ah, let's give it a try. You go first!'

But I get ahead of myself. This will be about a planless 4 week trip to Iceland earlier this year.

Considering the road options ... Shall we do it?

Ride The World!

poolman · 12-15-2011, 12:41 PM

Sounds great, bring it on...

IslandMonkey · 12-15-2011, 12:44 PM

In for this one.

pip_muenster · 12-15-2011, 12:47 PM

Last year I wasn't able to go on vacation before September, so I had to go south to find some nice weather. Instead of Iceland, I ended up at the Black Sea.

Somewhere in Bulgaria

To make up for this, my employer had promised not to interfere with whatever vacation I would have in mind. As the winter went by, I saw an inmate looking for company to do an Iceland trip and jumped at the occasion. Things went forth and back, and in the end another inmate, maddin, and I got ourselves tickets for the ferry. Months went past and we never had much time to plan or even meet.
So, coming from different parts of the country, we agreed to meet on the way to the ferry in Rendsburg, near the Danish border.

pip_muenster · 12-15-2011, 01:10 PM

Maddin rolled in minutes after myself on his all-black 660 Tenere. Great, we hadn't done a single kilometer yet and I was already envying it. We filled up at the next gas station and hit the autobahn towards north. The last exit before the border was our first stop. Simply set, the 'Bordershop' is nothing else, but a huge liquor shop and the last possibility for the Scandinavians to benefit from Germany's low taxes on alcohol. Exactly, what we needed.

The autobahn all through Denmark was almost uneventful. A traffic jam. We filtered through the cars until a man waved at us to stop as there had been an accident. It turned out that 2 motorbikes had crashed and both riders were severely hurt. A soldier from one of the cars had provided first aid - probably much better trained on open wounds then anybody else. We couldn't do anything, but watch the ambulances and a helicopter. When we were finally allowed to go on, we saw the rest of the biker group standing at the side of the road. All packed up, probably as well just starting their holiday trip up north.

Getting closer to the ferry port, we saw more and more vehicles with an adventurous note: Jacked up Land Cruisers, loaded bikes, 4x4 trucks ... We arrived in Hirtshals in the very north of Denmark in the evening and decided to check out the ferry port before looking for the camp site. Here, we met Ernst on his red GS and recruited him.

A disposable BBQ grill and the beer were just right to celebrate the first camp.

BBQ in the rain

pip_muenster · 12-15-2011, 01:33 PM

At sunrise, we had already left the camp and checked in at the port. The ferry wasn't there yet, so there was plenty of time to look at each others stuff.

The bike lane

Yummy.

This guy from Sweden had brought a power drill. He had rode in over night and hadn't had the time to mount his panniers before now.

Then, news spread through the crowd. The last arrival had brought the complete Touratech catalog mounted to his steed.

Anyway, we finally got onto the ferry, strapped down the bikes and found our berths. Time to hit the sun deck.

Unfortunately, not our ferry ...

pip_muenster · 12-15-2011, 01:48 PM

Are we there, yet?
...
And now?

There wasn't really much to do on the ferry, other than sleeping and eating. We took the chance to exchange plans with every biker we could find. When we found out that at least 6 or 7 wanted to see the highlands, all on their own, jenzz came up with a brilliant idea: 'Let's meet for a camp somewhere remote after a day.' Unfortunately, we still had a full day on the ferry ...

The Faroeer islands

A quick stop in Torshavn

Coming up next: Iceland!

Korben · 12-15-2011, 01:56 PM

I'm in. Sounds like a good story!!

fancyindigo · 12-15-2011, 01:58 PM

My dream ride...

Looking forward to the rest of the report!

Excellent photography!

pip_muenster · 12-15-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fancyindigo

Excellent photography!

Thanks a lot, but wait until we're actually on Iceland.

GlenInk · 12-15-2011, 02:07 PM

John K. · 12-15-2011, 02:42 PM

Adventure riding in Iceland - AWESOME!

playharder · 12-15-2011, 04:27 PM

Subscribed.

Wolfgang55 · 12-15-2011, 07:12 PM

I be hooked

Dent14 · 12-15-2011, 07:30 PM

One place I would LOVE to go someday....can't wait for the report

12-15-2011, 12:33 PM	#1
pip_muenster ^OP curious Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Germany Oddometer: 298	Planless on Iceland The riverbed was full of rocks and the far bank steep. - 'Well, this is the end, is it?' It sure looked dangerous, so I answered: - 'Ah, let's give it a try. You go first!' But I get ahead of myself. This will be about a planless 4 week trip to Iceland earlier this year. Considering the road options ... Shall we do it? Ride The World! __________________ Reports: Nordkapp - Mt. St. Helen - Black Sea - Iceland - Morocco (new!)

12-15-2011, 12:41 PM	#2
poolman Gnarly Poolside Adv. Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Darnestown, MD Oddometer: 412	Sounds great, bring it on... __________________ ~~~~~~ poolman Sacred Valley of the Incas Costa Rica Solo

12-15-2011, 12:44 PM	#3
IslandMonkey Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Manchester (ish), England Oddometer: 299	In for this one. __________________ Sean

12-15-2011, 12:47 PM	#4
pip_muenster ^OP curious Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Germany Oddometer: 298	Prolog Last year I wasn't able to go on vacation before September, so I had to go south to find some nice weather. Instead of Iceland, I ended up at the Black Sea. Somewhere in Bulgaria To make up for this, my employer had promised not to interfere with whatever vacation I would have in mind. As the winter went by, I saw an inmate looking for company to do an Iceland trip and jumped at the occasion. Things went forth and back, and in the end another inmate, maddin, and I got ourselves tickets for the ferry. Months went past and we never had much time to plan or even meet. So, coming from different parts of the country, we agreed to meet on the way to the ferry in Rendsburg, near the Danish border. __________________ Reports: Nordkapp - Mt. St. Helen - Black Sea - Iceland - Morocco (new!)

12-15-2011, 01:10 PM	#5
pip_muenster ^OP curious Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Germany Oddometer: 298	Day 1 Maddin rolled in minutes after myself on his all-black 660 Tenere. Great, we hadn't done a single kilometer yet and I was already envying it. We filled up at the next gas station and hit the autobahn towards north. The last exit before the border was our first stop. Simply set, the 'Bordershop' is nothing else, but a huge liquor shop and the last possibility for the Scandinavians to benefit from Germany's low taxes on alcohol. Exactly, what we needed. The autobahn all through Denmark was almost uneventful. A traffic jam. We filtered through the cars until a man waved at us to stop as there had been an accident. It turned out that 2 motorbikes had crashed and both riders were severely hurt. A soldier from one of the cars had provided first aid - probably much better trained on open wounds then anybody else. We couldn't do anything, but watch the ambulances and a helicopter. When we were finally allowed to go on, we saw the rest of the biker group standing at the side of the road. All packed up, probably as well just starting their holiday trip up north. Getting closer to the ferry port, we saw more and more vehicles with an adventurous note: Jacked up Land Cruisers, loaded bikes, 4x4 trucks ... We arrived in Hirtshals in the very north of Denmark in the evening and decided to check out the ferry port before looking for the camp site. Here, we met Ernst on his red GS and recruited him. A disposable BBQ grill and the beer were just right to celebrate the first camp. BBQ in the rain __________________ Reports: Nordkapp - Mt. St. Helen - Black Sea - Iceland - Morocco (new!)

12-15-2011, 01:33 PM	#6
pip_muenster ^OP curious Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Germany Oddometer: 298	Day 2 At sunrise, we had already left the camp and checked in at the port. The ferry wasn't there yet, so there was plenty of time to look at each others stuff. The bike lane Yummy. This guy from Sweden had brought a power drill. He had rode in over night and hadn't had the time to mount his panniers before now. Then, news spread through the crowd. The last arrival had brought the complete Touratech catalog mounted to his steed. Anyway, we finally got onto the ferry, strapped down the bikes and found our berths. Time to hit the sun deck. Unfortunately, not our ferry ... __________________ Reports: Nordkapp - Mt. St. Helen - Black Sea - Iceland - Morocco (new!)

12-15-2011, 01:48 PM	#7
pip_muenster ^OP curious Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Germany Oddometer: 298	Day 3 Are we there, yet? ... And now? There wasn't really much to do on the ferry, other than sleeping and eating. We took the chance to exchange plans with every biker we could find. When we found out that at least 6 or 7 wanted to see the highlands, all on their own, jenzz came up with a brilliant idea: 'Let's meet for a camp somewhere remote after a day.' Unfortunately, we still had a full day on the ferry ... The Faroeer islands A quick stop in Torshavn Coming up next: Iceland! __________________ Reports: Nordkapp - Mt. St. Helen - Black Sea - Iceland - Morocco (new!)

12-15-2011, 01:56 PM	#8
Korben Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Derbyshire, England Oddometer: 54	I'm in. Sounds like a good story!! __________________ Those who take risks may not live long, Those who dont, dont live at all. Tour 1. Wales: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468598

12-15-2011, 01:58 PM	#9
fancyindigo schmancy...fancy Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Asheville, NC Oddometer: 1,146	My dream ride... Looking forward to the rest of the report! Excellent photography! __________________ The rocks in the river give the river her song. "Between two evils...I'll always pick the one I've never tried before." "There's nothin' in this world beats a '52 Vincent and a red-headed girl." -Richard Thompson/Del McCoury

12-15-2011, 02:07 PM	#11
GlenInk Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: Elliot,South Africa Oddometer: 84	Where is the rest ? __________________ Put brain into gear before opening mouth !

12-15-2011, 02:42 PM	#12
John K. Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: Arkansas Oddometer: 19	Wow! Adventure riding in Iceland - AWESOME!

12-15-2011, 04:27 PM	#13
playharder Just a rider Joined: Aug 2010 Location: cloquet, mn Oddometer: 59	Subscribed. __________________ You're never too old to learn something stupid.

12-15-2011, 07:12 PM	#14
Wolfgang55 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Next to Rio Bravo Oddometer: 2,953	I be hooked

12-15-2011, 07:30 PM	#15
Dent14 In Claud We Trust Joined: Nov 2011 Location: Houston, TX Oddometer: 14	One place I would LOVE to go someday....can't wait for the report

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