Retracing the route back to Reykjavik and stopping at some of the interesting points along the way was the plan for the last day in Iceland. Glaciers descending from the icefields and magnificient waterfalls just called for staying longer. Maybe next time.

It was time to bid adieu to the icy lagoon and drive toward Skafatell so we could catch our booked glacier walk. The sky was mostly sunny and meadows next to the road and snow and ice covered volcanoes of Vatnajukull made for great views. We stopped at one of them, Kviarjokull, on a dirt road a half a mile from the Ring Road. As we approached Skaftatel later on, the clouds thickened and a first shower rolled through.

Route 1 and Fjallsjokull	Kviarjokull in BW	Kviarjokull	Lake under Kviarjokull	Lake under Kviarjokull	Willows
Willow flowers	Willow flower	Svinafellsjokull reflection	Svinafellsjokull reflection	Svinafellsjokull	Svinafellsjokull
Lamb skewers

When we arrived at Skaftatell and started getting ready for our walk, a shower changed into a downpout that lasted a good half an hour. I ate a lamb skewers with fries. At some 22 US dollars it was some of the most expensive fast food lunches I ever had. Iceland is not cheap. The rain let up just in time for the walk and the light drizzle could not dampen our curiosity to explore. We went on a small bus to a nearby glacier, Svínafellsjokull, and set out with the guide. He introduced himself and admitted if we find his name hard to pronounce, we should just call him Eric. We walked through the rubble near the moraine and put crampons on before continuing on the ice. As we walked up the glacier, he lead the way around the crevasses and pointed it out the features of the bizarre terrain, and history of its exploration. The sun broke through the clouds and the surrounding beauty reminded me of some big glacier walks I had planned and hoped to still accomplish one day.

Melting pool	Ice axe	Ice mushroom rock	Shoot out through an ice tunnel	Tunnel	Face mask
Guide	Ice walk	Rock	Us	Irina	Drain
Leading the way	Glacial procession	Crevasse	Layers	Layers	Mountain scenery
Lake under the glacier

We made few stops after we left Skaftatell, passing the "Desolation of Smaug" - glacier wash plains created by catastrophic volcanic under Vatnajukull and Mydalsjokull. We were treated to a rainbow along one of the less desolate part, and continued past the now somewhat familiar sights until the attractive sunlight near Seljalandsfoss made us stop and enjoy the waterfalls.

Route 1 bridge across Skeidararsandur	Dramatic landscape	Rainbow on Route 1		Rainbow	Nissan framed by a rainbow
Ring Road	Looking toward Myrdalsjokull	Volcanic ladscape	Skogafoss	Waterfall	Meadow

Our previous stop at this spectacular waterfall was marked by bad weather. It was sunny this time and the low sun illuminated directly the cliff from which the watefall takes its lengthy drop. A breeze was blowing the mist around and when standing close enough to the river just below the waterfall or on the left side some way up, I could see a circular rainbow. What a sight!

I got my last hot dog in Iceland at a funky looking stand in a small town along the Ring Road. We watched a few horses graze peacefully with a snowcapped volcano behind them - Hekla is a famous and one the most active volcanoes on the island. We arrived at an airport hotel close to midnight though the sun set just a short time earlier. After another short night, we said so long to Iceland a few hours later...

Fowl		Horses and Hekla	Keflavik International Airport