Backdate: Iceland June 2024 Day 7

4/6/24 Tues: Got out of bed at 7.45am after a restless night. I was still scared to “face reality” as I hear the angry wind outside. Had to muster courage to roll up our window shutter to take a look at the snow conditions outside and to my horror, I mean as someone who’d experience snowstorm for the first time, it was more than knee deep already!

Thoughts were running wild in my mind already because I received no replies from the owner as to how or if we could “move” out today or if there was any solution to rid the snow around us. I was truly worried of being stuck there for one more night!

Had breakfast at the cabin next to our room at 8+am and I casually asked other travellers their plans. There were these two German couples who happened to want head north towards Husavik too so we thought we could remove the snow and leave together, at least we can look out for each other on the way. *felt much better talking to people and knowing there could be a way out of this* At 10+am, we saw a snow plow truck outside removing the snow, which was a great relief for me.

Potato took a nap while I anxiously looked outside now and then. Honestly, with only one snow truck, it did not look like he could remove snow in time for our cars to move. Then I saw some people going out to help remove snow manually. The old German uncle was nice to help test our tires and confirmed they suit winter roads albeit it was old and the grip was not as strong. That at least told us we could move with the two bigger cars towards Husavik.

Potato went out to help remove snow for everyone and also some snow blocking our car’s path before he drove over. After refilling some petrol (5592 ISK, S$55.08) at a nearby petrol station, the three cars moved off with the old couple in front of us, and the younger couple in their jeep behind us.

We were on “high alert” throughout that one hour plus on 60% snow roads. There were pretty strong wind and snow and rain on the way, and some paths were practically covered with snow, so we could only rely on the old German uncle’s car to lead the way and the yellow sticks by the side of the road to tell where we were going. I even felt the car shook at one point. Potato needed the toilet urgently about 2/3 into the journey, so we signalled and turned away to a nearby hotel.

Arrived at Husavik safely in the afternoon at 1.45pm. We checked in to room 227 at Fosshotel Husavik as planned and one could tell everything was about whales in this hotel. Headed out for late lunch at 2.30pm in the cold~ it was still raining and snowing after we got here, but it was not as bad as in Myvatn. It's a town by the sea and we had fish N chips for 5100 ISK, S$50.21. Tasted a bit salty for me and I did not like this batter as much as the one in Myvatn. Coincidentally, the four Germans were also chilling there after their lunch.

It was pretty much a gloomy day. Walked into a few local shops and bought Ian a shot glass (949 ISK, S$9+). After a 2.5-hour break in the hotel, we went to Netto mart at 6.50pm to buy elderflower and pear drink (299 ISK each) and coleslaw Hrasalat (329 ISK)… total S$9.13.

Had dinner at Naustið, a family-run seafood restaurant, at 7.15pm. It has a nice interior. The fish for the day was Blue Ling. We ordered the Naustið’s fish soup (3550 ISK) which tasted like mild Indian curry with prawns, Blue Ling fish and carrots etc. The Icelandic mashed fish (4800 ISK) with potato and boiled potatoes and rye bread was nice! The texture of Rye bread reminded us of Chinese年糕lol. Costed us S$81.67 for dinner.

Because of the bad weather in the North now and the icy road conditions, I had to cancel our plans for a short hike around Asbyrgi canyon at night. Returned to our hotel to rest. *kept feeling “small tremors” when I was in the room but Potato said he did not feel it* Had the pineapple coleslaw at night and it was okay. I enjoyed the elderflower drink though the pear-flavoured one was a tad too sweet.