Iceland was denuded of trees a thousand years ago, and more than a hundred years afforestation has been difficult and of limited success. One problem is the sheep eat the trees, so all forests must be fenced in, and this cool conveyance allows hikers like myself to cross the barbed wire unscathed.
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The Fish Factory maintains a small connection to the local fishery, and here is the first catch of my visit.
The top image is the Atlantic Wolffish, which takes its name from its ferocious teeth. It also has a toothy plate on the roof of its mouth for crushing shellfish.
The lower photo are skate, which the fisherman showed me with enthusiasm. I did not understand his enthusiasm until he explained the fish were reserved for fermentation. They are put into plastic bags and set aside for six weeks to two months while they ferment. If I am lucky enough to be invited, I get a taste in a few weeks.
This fine drawing may not be the an early Barry McGee mailbox drawing, but it is very commendable. Nice drawing, good hand, and the abstraction is humorous.
#Graffiti #Reykjavik #TwistOne #StodvarCreativeCenter
The wind blows last nights snow onto the road making for awfully hard going. Myvatn awaits, and we got there eventually, for a soak and a beer (together). The road closing behind us and block our way pushed us onto Reykjavik, and a flight for me back home to the residency in Stöðvarfjörður.
#StodvarCreativeCenter #FishFactory #ArtistResidency
Upon arrival in Stöðvarfjörður, I immediately set upon finding rocks to carve. There was one just east of town that they used to shatter for gravel. There was one out by the point, but that is the protected Harp Rock. I found a beautiful vein running from the road to the water, but I learned those beauties are on private property. We pitched the landowners, all 13 of them, but those rocks are probably non-starters.
So, Saturday, I set out again on the ‘land of many owners’ which is controlled by the municipality. The rock are not a big or smooth as the rocks of the 13 Owners, but they will do nicely. I hiked, photographed, and plotted on the map. The photos below are some of the options that I requested a permit from the Municipality. Fingers are crossed while I bide my time in idleness.
#RockArt #Hiking #Petroglyphs
After the snow closed the road back to Egilsstaðir and my residency, I flew back from Reykjavik. It was a clear day, and the most beautiful flight ever. The view stretched from the Akureyri to Hofn, over the gate of hell, and past a tremendous dam.
From the airport I hiked across the fields into Egilsstaðir where I heard they had a lovely pool, and I was not disappointed. Iceland’s outdoor wintertime pools are the best. Egilsstaðir has a 25M lap pool, a 37-40 degree hot tub, a 39-42 hot tub, and a 37 degree shallow pool, and a 10 degree cold plunge in a wooden barrel. There was a sauna, but I did not explore it.
Natural mineral hot springs are a hobby of mine, but the civic pools of Iceland are a treasure, and they eclipse the wild pools of the New Mexico, California, and Colorado.
#Soaking #HotTubs #StodvarCreativeCenter
This cyclist ascending the freshly opened road between Reyðarfjörður and Egilsstaðir. We traversed it a few days before, and it was rough going. What this cyclist does not know is that the 8 foot drifts have left a kilometer of ice and slush that runs six inches thick.
Heading back to the residency in Stöðvarfjörður
#Cycling #WinterCyclist #aLittleCrazy #MountainPass #StodvarCreativeCenter #ClosedRoad
Fish farm on the way to Stodvarfjordur Creative Center….getting close….one fjord away.
#OnTheRoad $StodvarCC #FishFactoryCreativeCenter
Considerately, this place is more than a mile west of town, because it does smell sweet. What at first appeared to be drying eels, turned out to be Atlantic wolffish.
#WolfFish #WorthYourSalt #SaltedFish #StodvarCreativeCenter #StodvarCreativeCenter #OldSchool
The pool here is not hot enough for a good soak, but it is lovely.
#OnTheRoad #Soaking #Seljavallalaug