tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80963130551905789122024-03-14T01:17:16.125-07:00Fuel the Mules in IcelandBenedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-6663042429679823282008-09-04T08:22:00.000-07:002008-09-04T09:34:48.065-07:00Festy Food FeastWe were presented two challenges involving the consumption of manky putrefied shark, Greenland's finest. Since the dares were of similar nature, Tris couldn't resist topping up with an extra animal part from the local supermarket. The bonus culinary delight consisted of vacuum packed ram's testes pickled in yellowy/green jelly.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACt_OxB-I/AAAAAAAABE4/5_gezsjgBws/s1600-h/1_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192955349993442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACt_OxB-I/AAAAAAAABE4/5_gezsjgBws/s320/1_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Shark on the left, balls on the right<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACuSTxz8I/AAAAAAAABFA/kQk5QQCeqXI/s1600-h/2_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192960471289794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACuSTxz8I/AAAAAAAABFA/kQk5QQCeqXI/s320/2_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Preparation at the dinner table</strong><br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACus-IaJI/AAAAAAAABFI/ncxBtuRZ1A0/s1600-h/3_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192967628253330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACus-IaJI/AAAAAAAABFI/ncxBtuRZ1A0/s320/3_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> First bite</span></strong><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACeVQ7qDI/AAAAAAAABEQ/rJCxstdnYnI/s1600-h/4_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192686386751538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACeVQ7qDI/AAAAAAAABEQ/rJCxstdnYnI/s320/4_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Don't think about Aries!</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACemvg-kI/AAAAAAAABEY/6eM97Zyp9UE/s1600-h/5_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192691078429250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACemvg-kI/AAAAAAAABEY/6eM97Zyp9UE/s320/5_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Tastes like a chicken liver pate</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="left">Tris' next challenge involved finding a person of Viking descent, preferably blonde, to spoon feed him harkarl (putrefied shark). After some initial trepidation, he approached some locals requesting a snack. After unleashing the melting meat from its casing, the entire pub was engulfed in the stench of ammonia.<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACe9xcL3I/AAAAAAAABEg/2RMwe-ypbRg/s1600-h/6_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192697260519282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACe9xcL3I/AAAAAAAABEg/2RMwe-ypbRg/s320/6_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> What lies within?</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACfNKTP2I/AAAAAAAABEo/VaDcuAL3sow/s1600-h/7_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192701391322978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACfNKTP2I/AAAAAAAABEo/VaDcuAL3sow/s320/7_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACfd0CpbI/AAAAAAAABEw/okRDRZJxe0s/s1600-h/8_Medium.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242192705861363122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMACfd0CpbI/AAAAAAAABEw/okRDRZJxe0s/s320/8_Medium.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> After professing his love for Tris "the most beautiful man in the world", Viddi took to his job with gusto.</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABA-O7n0I/AAAAAAAABDo/lJYu_MPHuCA/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242191082476511042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABA-O7n0I/AAAAAAAABDo/lJYu_MPHuCA/s320/9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABBdbQk0I/AAAAAAAABDw/OXLiVmW5HXQ/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242191090849715010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABBdbQk0I/AAAAAAAABDw/OXLiVmW5HXQ/s320/10.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The look of satisfaction</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><p align="left">Unfortunately for Tris, Viddi didn't turn out to be of Viking descent, but was Swedish. The dare was not yet fulfilled and he'd have to go back for more. We soon found a proper feeder to replace the Swede, who fortunately was much blonder and Icelandic.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABBsTHULI/AAAAAAAABD4/UemQFXb6aiY/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242191094842085554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABBsTHULI/AAAAAAAABD4/UemQFXb6aiY/s320/11.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> I'm sure it will be better this time</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABCHqNH4I/AAAAAAAABEA/ByvvkhQE-hU/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242191102186692482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABCHqNH4I/AAAAAAAABEA/ByvvkhQE-hU/s320/12.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABCpwRr-I/AAAAAAAABEI/Ekgelygz3oA/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242191111338962914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SMABCpwRr-I/AAAAAAAABEI/Ekgelygz3oA/s320/13.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Wrong</span></strong><br /></p><p align="left">Tris would like to thank Gerry, Veronica, Dom and Emma for the dares and charitable contributions, and the shark and ram for their bodies.</p><p align="left">Further donations to reach the A$4200 goal would be much appreciated. Tris is in England contemplating hedgehog and badger bits... make a suggestion, if you dare.</p><p align="left"> </p>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-72902891380182526792008-08-31T04:39:00.000-07:002008-12-03T06:23:06.712-08:00Part 4: Husavik to ReykjavikFirstly, we wish to apologise for our recent lack of blog updates. We failed to find a single internet cafe in the north of Iceland which allowed us to upload photographs, so we've now done a double blog post! Make sure you read <a href="http://fuelthemules.blogspot.com/2008/08/part-3-eglistair-to-husavik.html">part 3 </a>first if you haven't yet.<br /><br />The final leg of our trip involved several 100+ km days in terrible weather, sometimes the only way to keep warm was to dance around our stove while the water boiled.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGsknRpCI/AAAAAAAABDg/VgYdJfXkThk/s1600-h/1-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGsknRpCI/AAAAAAAABDg/VgYdJfXkThk/s320/1-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240649216699769890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Another hill climb from </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Husavik</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> to </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Akureyri</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGd2pLWYI/AAAAAAAABC4/Uk2n6hlCK44/s1600-h/2-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGd2pLWYI/AAAAAAAABC4/Uk2n6hlCK44/s320/2-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648963841546626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stunning views coming into </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Akureyri</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, but terrible headwinds!</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGd29Bt6I/AAAAAAAABDA/GU8JdKdpxdI/s1600-h/3-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGd29Bt6I/AAAAAAAABDA/GU8JdKdpxdI/s320/3-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648963924801442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Feeling the passion with Saturday night festivities in </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Akureyri</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGd1o_2DI/AAAAAAAABDI/IvPLgxeoxKw/s1600-h/4-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGd1o_2DI/AAAAAAAABDI/IvPLgxeoxKw/s320/4-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648963572357170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >We woke to discover some cheeky birds had ravaged our food supplies</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGeBSrGPI/AAAAAAAABDQ/pCOXKwisVts/s1600-h/5-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGeBSrGPI/AAAAAAAABDQ/pCOXKwisVts/s320/5-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648966699948274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trying to give Icelander's favourite cuisine (dirty hot dogs) a healthy touch</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGecLYUVI/AAAAAAAABDY/Dnm-53B8-Ko/s1600-h/6-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGecLYUVI/AAAAAAAABDY/Dnm-53B8-Ko/s320/6-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648973917114706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Garbage bag improvisation came into play in order to endure all day rain: high five to doing it with class!</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQdp39aI/AAAAAAAABCQ/dbVzP6s6OI0/s1600-h/7-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQdp39aI/AAAAAAAABCQ/dbVzP6s6OI0/s320/7-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648733795284386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQf7_6bI/AAAAAAAABCY/6zLQGEEMfVM/s1600-h/8-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQf7_6bI/AAAAAAAABCY/6zLQGEEMfVM/s320/8-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648734408174002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let me in: Cycling into Varmahlið was our coldest, wettest day</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQqOIxgI/AAAAAAAABCg/Vd_ULGppzCE/s1600-h/9-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQqOIxgI/AAAAAAAABCg/Vd_ULGppzCE/s320/9-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648737168606722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barn escape: Our first night indoors in 22 days... bliss</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQoPjvuI/AAAAAAAABCo/C3GrN9s38RA/s1600-h/10.-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQoPjvuI/AAAAAAAABCo/C3GrN9s38RA/s320/10.-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648736637697762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQo0zZ1I/AAAAAAAABCw/SQg5TyRDQME/s1600-h/11-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGQo0zZ1I/AAAAAAAABCw/SQg5TyRDQME/s320/11-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648736793913170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freezing 6am set off in Blonduos : This is meant to be summer!</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_tLfkfI/AAAAAAAABBo/_bEueOef-oI/s1600-h/12-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_tLfkfI/AAAAAAAABBo/_bEueOef-oI/s320/12-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648445905048050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_54COXI/AAAAAAAABBw/zrkv-EuzlhY/s1600-h/13-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_54COXI/AAAAAAAABBw/zrkv-EuzlhY/s320/13-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648449313094002" border="0" /></a><br />An early start with good weather allowed us to make our furthest distance of the trip (120 kms) from Blonduos to a mountain pass 50km from Bolgarnes. We decided to go it rough and camp roadside, setting up our tents in the rain and keeping some blood in our lifeless limbs by grooving to Basement Jaxx.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_1ieQQI/AAAAAAAABB4/W8X3K5_LUMc/s1600-h/14-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_1ieQQI/AAAAAAAABB4/W8X3K5_LUMc/s320/14-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648448148914434" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_8uSvyI/AAAAAAAABCA/h1nF5sAytKc/s1600-h/15-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF_8uSvyI/AAAAAAAABCA/h1nF5sAytKc/s320/15-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648450077540130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dancing cookery styles<br /></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGAShuxuI/AAAAAAAABCI/Guw9uuudrUo/s1600-h/16-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqGAShuxuI/AAAAAAAABCI/Guw9uuudrUo/s320/16-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648455930431202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">There was always room in the panniers for 1 of these each</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1UkYcOI/AAAAAAAABBA/stT_BgKwSN0/s1600-h/17-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1UkYcOI/AAAAAAAABBA/stT_BgKwSN0/s320/17-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648267499860194" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1aviFgI/AAAAAAAABBI/mJvXP7boMqU/s1600-h/18-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1aviFgI/AAAAAAAABBI/mJvXP7boMqU/s320/18-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648269157242370" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1tljXbI/AAAAAAAABBQ/gKBvrtt4Z7c/s1600-h/19-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1tljXbI/AAAAAAAABBQ/gKBvrtt4Z7c/s320/19-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648274215656882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A break from the bikes led us up Grabrok crater, delivering spectacular views of the surrounding area<br /></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1qrfqBI/AAAAAAAABBY/pybuutsncQ8/s1600-h/20-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF1qrfqBI/AAAAAAAABBY/pybuutsncQ8/s320/20-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648273435273234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">By this stage, even Cocobolo was showing signs of fatigue</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF17PeIaI/AAAAAAAABBg/2iUMl6DCTfU/s1600-h/21-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqF17PeIaI/AAAAAAAABBg/2iUMl6DCTfU/s320/21-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648277881135522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We were happy not to be on the old road from Reykjavik to </span>Akureyri<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFnwEd-zI/AAAAAAAABAY/zYZIRzyK9Gc/s1600-h/22-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFnwEd-zI/AAAAAAAABAY/zYZIRzyK9Gc/s320/22-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648034364029746" border="0" /></a>The tourist information in Borgarnes informed us a storm was approaching, so we soldiered on 35kms more to the nearest barn accommodation... Our bodies were extremely weak and it took 3 hrs! Luckily as always the dramatic weather provided a spectacular show to entertain us along the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFn0628sI/AAAAAAAABAg/3bAGQoslzlo/s1600-h/23-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFn0628sI/AAAAAAAABAg/3bAGQoslzlo/s320/23-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648035665900226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFoK_IY3I/AAAAAAAABAw/UpxV4V90ii0/s1600-h/25-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFoK_IY3I/AAAAAAAABAw/UpxV4V90ii0/s320/25-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648041589400434" border="0" /></a>Our prayers were answered when we were treated to a well equipped comfortable barn which we shared with an arctic fox. Cocobolo managed to tame the wild fox, allowing Tris to discuss his views on Icelandic wilderness over a cup of chai.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFoFIanbI/AAAAAAAABA4/D1VfIcLMHSI/s1600-h/26-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFoFIanbI/AAAAAAAABA4/D1VfIcLMHSI/s320/26-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240648040017730994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The following day, Tris whipped up garbage bag couture to ride out the storm</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIJutihI/AAAAAAAAA_w/-z-mS15BNp0/s1600-h/27-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIJutihI/AAAAAAAAA_w/-z-mS15BNp0/s320/27-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240647491496282642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIMzNQBI/AAAAAAAAA_4/r0RWBf-ykFs/s1600-h/28-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIMzNQBI/AAAAAAAAA_4/r0RWBf-ykFs/s320/28-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240647492320444434" border="0" /></a>Moments after stepping outside it was clear that it was impossible to complete our intended to route to Reykjavik. Instead we opted for plan B, braving the elements, riding with the 80 km an hour winds to Akranes, all effort was focused on remaining upright. Windy squalls made it impossible to control our bikes, especially when massive semi-trailers hurtled past, creating intense wind suctions. Benedict and his llama were thrown over a metal safety barrier as the final destination came into sight. Luckily no serious injuries were sustained except for sore guts from excessive laughing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIYXh6cI/AAAAAAAABAA/mt-DZjXBPcE/s1600-h/29-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIYXh6cI/AAAAAAAABAA/mt-DZjXBPcE/s320/29-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240647495425583554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIYE7CSI/AAAAAAAABAI/IAnVRkNBy98/s1600-h/30-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFIYE7CSI/AAAAAAAABAI/IAnVRkNBy98/s320/30-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240647495347538210" border="0" /></a>It took Miles a while to recover from the wild ride. Shamefully we relied on the Reykjavik public transport system for the remaining 50km of our journey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFImDB0fI/AAAAAAAABAQ/T-U9YKHL4fw/s1600-h/31-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLqFImDB0fI/AAAAAAAABAQ/T-U9YKHL4fw/s320/31-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240647499097690610" border="0" /></a>Back where we started in one piece. What an incredible last day, once again the wrath of Icelandic weather didn't destroy the mighty Mules!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thank you to all everyone who has supported and helped us through this amazing and challenging mission. You generous donations have amounted to an impressive total thus far, well done! We hope you have found entertainment in our stupidity and we are more than happy to provide information about Iceland if you need it.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Please stay tuned for our final blog entry detailing the results of our festy</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"> food challenge!</span>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-19568843038175502852008-08-30T13:20:00.000-07:002008-08-31T04:30:05.610-07:00Part 3: Eglistaðir to Husavik<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After completing our previous blog entry we thought we were in for a leisurely ride 25km ride to Seyðisfjorður for a relaxing weekend. Little did we realise it was on the other end of a 700m high mountain, the largest climb of our whole trip. We were punished and laughed at for our ignorance.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmubGfk_OI/AAAAAAAAA6g/YT62-P_bNE4/s1600-h/IMG_5430-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmubGfk_OI/AAAAAAAAA6g/YT62-P_bNE4/s320/IMG_5430-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411422045043938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span>Pumping the pedals halfway up</span></span></div> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv4GpRwNI/AAAAAAAAA-I/VN89pvjJUIM/s1600-h/P1020206-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv4GpRwNI/AAAAAAAAA-I/VN89pvjJUIM/s320/P1020206-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413019813560530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Halfway down the steep descent</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmubXaAacI/AAAAAAAAA6o/oLoCTUFylLo/s1600-h/IMG_5446-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmubXaAacI/AAAAAAAAA6o/oLoCTUFylLo/s320/IMG_5446-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411426585078210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmumN1CxUI/AAAAAAAAA6w/L0RVXqRPLpQ/s1600-h/IMG_5466-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmumN1CxUI/AAAAAAAAA6w/L0RVXqRPLpQ/s320/IMG_5466-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411612992685378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Upon arrival we immediately set off night kayaking in the fjord...it was exquisite</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmumIxB00I/AAAAAAAAA64/BogsDvimLwQ/s1600-h/IMG_5472-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmumIxB00I/AAAAAAAAA64/BogsDvimLwQ/s320/IMG_5472-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411611633668930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We timed our arrival with an annual town festival and got our first taste of Icelandic partying</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmummq9-xI/AAAAAAAAA7A/PGq9lK5WLc8/s1600-h/IMG_5502-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmummq9-xI/AAAAAAAAA7A/PGq9lK5WLc8/s320/IMG_5502-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411619661314834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Seyðisfjorður is a pretty cool town, later in the night we climbed up to a massive Hollywood style neon sign.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv4QZQzSI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/DE26P_Tar5s/s1600-h/P1020249-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv4QZQzSI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/DE26P_Tar5s/s320/P1020249-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413022430743842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv4mL_9dI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/rrtkH2PLC5A/s1600-h/P1020250-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv4mL_9dI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/rrtkH2PLC5A/s320/P1020250-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413028280694226" border="0" /></a>The next day we set off to Myvatn, but the distance was too far to cover in a day. So we got our first taste of camping in the wilderness, on luxurious moss next to a river. The weather was splendid, taking us back to our long lost Mexican beach days. Our love of moss was incorporated into our washing up ritual, its abrasiveness yielding sparkling results!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuwhiRNzI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/PRU6KjENpso/s1600-h/IMG_5571-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuwhiRNzI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/PRU6KjENpso/s320/IMG_5571-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411790081341234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmumwr9syI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/5mpZKwdWbxY/s1600-h/IMG_5563-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmumwr9syI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/5mpZKwdWbxY/s320/IMG_5563-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411622349845282" border="0" /></a>On the journey the landscape transformed into a surreal barren moonscape, reminiscent of northwest Australia. It appears our two great lands have much in common.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuxVQ_fPI/AAAAAAAAA7w/W3hYsqWPihA/s1600-h/IMG_5598-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuxVQ_fPI/AAAAAAAAA7w/W3hYsqWPihA/s320/IMG_5598-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411803967519986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >We decided to pop in to give the kooky Icelandic songstress a visit along the way. We discovered that Bjork means a birch wood tree.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDJGyfnI/AAAAAAAAA-g/JGR4g5szPhw/s1600-h/P1020279-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDJGyfnI/AAAAAAAAA-g/JGR4g5szPhw/s320/P1020279-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413209452772978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" > We arrived at lake Myvatn and were treated to a spectacular day exploring the bizarre volcanic landscape unique to Iceland.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDSKgkfI/AAAAAAAAA-o/YGud3y2UKLw/s1600-h/P1020283-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDSKgkfI/AAAAAAAAA-o/YGud3y2UKLw/s320/P1020283-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413211884294642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuxiewSVI/AAAAAAAAA74/Ld_VN-7ELP4/s1600-h/IMG_5611-800.jpg"></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Miles' secret shame</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuxiewSVI/AAAAAAAAA74/Ld_VN-7ELP4/s1600-h/IMG_5611-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuxiewSVI/AAAAAAAAA74/Ld_VN-7ELP4/s320/IMG_5611-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411807514904914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvDYXUncI/AAAAAAAAA8A/CQ4U-EREXHw/s1600-h/IMG_5613-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvDYXUncI/AAAAAAAAA8A/CQ4U-EREXHw/s320/IMG_5613-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412114037022146" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDU0xCBI/AAAAAAAAA-w/IIci_AOUPDo/s1600-h/P1020287-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDU0xCBI/AAAAAAAAA-w/IIci_AOUPDo/s320/P1020287-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413212598405138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Strange black fingers emerging from the shallow turquoise waters</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvDsLcNbI/AAAAAAAAA8I/FOk0clHYKDE/s1600-h/IMG_5626-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvDsLcNbI/AAAAAAAAA8I/FOk0clHYKDE/s320/IMG_5626-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412119355897266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >For use in Bikefriday's next advertising campaign</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvEZEmyCI/AAAAAAAAA8g/PRASmEjCZbY/s1600-h/IMG_5630-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvEZEmyCI/AAAAAAAAA8g/PRASmEjCZbY/s320/IMG_5630-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412131406825506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pseudo craters were scattered around the south of the lake</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmua0JZWkI/AAAAAAAAA6I/nwZejcnEVWc/s1600-h/hair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmua0JZWkI/AAAAAAAAA6I/nwZejcnEVWc/s320/hair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411417120168514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Spike from Degrassi Jr. High?</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDuDFY6I/AAAAAAAAA_A/-L1oNgfIMgU/s1600-h/P1020294-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwDuDFY6I/AAAAAAAAA_A/-L1oNgfIMgU/s320/P1020294-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413219369345954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miles inhales the surrounds?</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwVVe574I/AAAAAAAAA_I/bXXH6StSMUM/s1600-h/P1020303-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwVVe574I/AAAAAAAAA_I/bXXH6StSMUM/s320/P1020303-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413522012794754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rock crab sightings are rare in the area</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuxDoehLI/AAAAAAAAA7o/ESbn_hg8MzE/s1600-h/IMG_5597-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuxDoehLI/AAAAAAAAA7o/ESbn_hg8MzE/s320/IMG_5597-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411799234184370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuwyglTUI/AAAAAAAAA7g/75m9jl11Rk4/s1600-h/IMG_5592-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuwyglTUI/AAAAAAAAA7g/75m9jl11Rk4/s320/IMG_5592-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411794637671746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sulphurous steam vents invited us with their warmth but turned our stomachs</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwVvoLSbI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Ax-XAgaLNi0/s1600-h/P1020305-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwVvoLSbI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Ax-XAgaLNi0/s320/P1020305-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413529031002546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We sampled the local delicacy: smoked lamb on geyser bread</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvD1aYMQI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/nYjqRcXHIpQ/s1600-h/IMG_5628-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvD1aYMQI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/nYjqRcXHIpQ/s320/IMG_5628-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412121834467586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvEPB_YwI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/AWxqj_z_E1s/s1600-h/IMG_5629-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvEPB_YwI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/AWxqj_z_E1s/s320/IMG_5629-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412128711500546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Fearsome warriors?</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwV0gF0oI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/7Zl3agis364/s1600-h/P1020318-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwV0gF0oI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/7Zl3agis364/s320/P1020318-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413530339267202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Cocobolo toasts his Mexican buns</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwWDm_TGI/AAAAAAAAA_g/ZrFToYpISY0/s1600-h/P1020320-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwWDm_TGI/AAAAAAAAA_g/ZrFToYpISY0/s320/P1020320-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413534394731618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv3csBVII/AAAAAAAAA94/ebRJgAN2Nhk/s1600-h/IMG_5783-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv3csBVII/AAAAAAAAA94/ebRJgAN2Nhk/s320/IMG_5783-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413008550777986" border="0" /></a>Shortly after Myvatn, we connected with Mule number 4, our old friend Tristan. His hasty preparation list included twister, juggling balls and a less than adequate bicycle whose handlebars were held together by string, Tristan displays his pain after his first day of riding.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvRamrOZI/AAAAAAAAA8o/XZnQ06WdcYs/s1600-h/IMG_5670-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvRamrOZI/AAAAAAAAA8o/XZnQ06WdcYs/s320/IMG_5670-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412355156457874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvR1SOSwI/AAAAAAAAA84/KraB3_ji5o0/s1600-h/IMG_5679-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvR1SOSwI/AAAAAAAAA84/KraB3_ji5o0/s320/IMG_5679-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412362318433026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvRitBr9I/AAAAAAAAA8w/LYeSivf7hlM/s1600-h/IMG_5673-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvRitBr9I/AAAAAAAAA8w/LYeSivf7hlM/s320/IMG_5673-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412357330579410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Dettifoss the largest waterfall in Iceland frightened us with it's muddy glacial torrents</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvSIbqj0I/AAAAAAAAA9A/WmH0Jdrmuws/s1600-h/IMG_5689-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvSIbqj0I/AAAAAAAAA9A/WmH0Jdrmuws/s320/IMG_5689-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412367458307906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Benedict gets acquainted with his inner geologist, examining the interesting formations of Hljo</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ðaklettar. A vortex to another universe?</span></span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuazzJR4I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/U715nkNHnKw/s1600-h/IMG_4500-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmuazzJR4I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/U715nkNHnKw/s320/IMG_4500-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411417026840450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvSfCARBI/AAAAAAAAA9I/nrVNFJQU8b8/s1600-h/IMG_5699-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvSfCARBI/AAAAAAAAA9I/nrVNFJQU8b8/s320/IMG_5699-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412373524694034" border="0" /></a>We camped in the horseshoe shaped Asbyrgi canyon, which the early Norse settlers believed was formed when Odin's normally airbourne horse touched down on earth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvmkK-aFI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/JL__xudMbQI/s1600-h/IMG_5711-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvmkK-aFI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/JL__xudMbQI/s320/IMG_5711-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412718501881938" border="0" /></a><br />The next town we visited, Husavik, was well known for its enormous collection of penises in the phallalogical museum. Benedict was unable to contain his excitement while pitching his tent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvmz1YQzI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/GD_g08yvRqM/s1600-h/IMG_5724-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvmz1YQzI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/GD_g08yvRqM/s320/IMG_5724-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412722706268978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwWeivbsI/AAAAAAAAA_o/Gk1afGk4YCA/s1600-h/peni.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmwWeivbsI/AAAAAAAAA_o/Gk1afGk4YCA/s320/peni.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413541624671938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvnKjMB4I/AAAAAAAAA9g/qXvdKhLhOWg/s1600-h/IMG_5728-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvnKjMB4I/AAAAAAAAA9g/qXvdKhLhOWg/s320/IMG_5728-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412728803985282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Humbled by the museum's largest specimen, a sperm whale's member</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvnVXbmDI/AAAAAAAAA9o/t-korV0zt3g/s1600-h/IMG_5733-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvnVXbmDI/AAAAAAAAA9o/t-korV0zt3g/s320/IMG_5733-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412731707463730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miles got a bit too close for comfort.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvnnDVCyI/AAAAAAAAA9w/rlfHxnvW1BE/s1600-h/IMG_5738-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmvnnDVCyI/AAAAAAAAA9w/rlfHxnvW1BE/s320/IMG_5738-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240412736454986530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elephant wood</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmubD1Fp-I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/7f-iQwqef-w/s1600-h/IMG_4516-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmubD1Fp-I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/7f-iQwqef-w/s320/IMG_4516-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240411421329958882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Next on our culinary hit list was the adorable puffin, whose succulent smoked flesh was very tasty.</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv30FQSgI/AAAAAAAAA-A/GctB2MvFiXA/s1600-h/IMG_5839-800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SLmv30FQSgI/AAAAAAAAA-A/GctB2MvFiXA/s320/IMG_5839-800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240413014830631426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Tristan showed an alarming interest in bizarre local cuisine... which would be satisfied later :)</span><br /></div>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-67060498069658610682008-08-24T09:53:00.000-07:002008-08-24T10:22:33.451-07:00Fuel the Mules .. WITH FESTY FOOD!As we approach our donation target on the mycause charity site, we are proud to say we have reached the top 5 highest earners of all time! <a href="http://mycause.com.au">http://mycause.com.au</a><br /><br />In order to reach our total we are willing to go to desperate measures for your entertainment.. and donations :) Photographic evidence will be supplied.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/Bibliophiliac/other/food%20blog/thorri-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/Bibliophiliac/other/food%20blog/thorri-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Feast your eyes on this appealing plate of traditional Iceland cuisine</span></span><br /></div><br />Unfortunately due to seasonal variation, some of the pictured foods are not available. We have done some research and found what foods are available at the moment. We propose the following dares with suggested amounts, other dares are welcome!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Putrified shark meat (Hakarl)</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lonely planet description:</span> Iceland's most famous stomach churner. Hakarl is Greenland shark, an animal so inedible that it has to rot away underground for six months before humans can even digest it. Most foreigners find the stench (a cross between ammonia and week-old roadkill) too much to bear, but it actually tastes better than it smells.. It's the aftertaste that really hurts.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Our suggested pledge:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">$50 per Mule family member</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sheep's head (Svið)</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lonely planet description:</span> Singed sheep's head (complete with eyes) sawn in two, boiled and eaten fresh or pickled.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Our suggested pledge:</span><br /><ul> <li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">$100 - 2 hours used as bicycle seat</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: bold;">$150 - Used as helmet whilst defrosting</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: bold;">$200 - Consumed by all members of the Mules<br /> </span></li> </ul> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Head Cheese</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> (Sviðasulta)</span></span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Lonely planet description:</span> made from bits of svið pressed into gelatinous loaves and pickled in whey.<br /> <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Our suggested pledge:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">$50 per Mule family member</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br />Any other imaginative suggestions are welcome!Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-29511798562289296662008-08-18T02:29:00.000-07:002008-08-18T02:37:41.172-07:00Introducing Mule #4 - Tris McaffeeWe have a suprise late addition to Team Mule, our childhood friend Tristan McAfee of whom we haven't seen in the last 15 years. We're as excited as you about the explosive and crazy powers he will bring to our team. He is asking for suggestions for dares in exchange for donations of which there will be photographic evidence. We're looking forward to seeing how his fitness holds up, as you can see by the photo he has been training hard in Slovenia!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235788930916817298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKlCStI4GZI/AAAAAAAAA6A/8eSBTDY6idU/s320/Europe+Summer+2008+505.JPG" border="0" />Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-71777869157614396932008-08-16T03:40:00.000-07:002008-08-16T05:19:45.387-07:00Part 2: Vik to Eglistaðir<div align="left">Moments after completing our last blog entry we were punished by 60-80km/h head-on winds on route to our next destination, forcing us to ride slower than we could walk. After a couple of kilometres we declared defeat and rode back to Vik and caught the bus to the next town, Skaftafell. We camped at the base of the biggest glacier in Europe where icy cold glacial winds sweeping over the campsite made for an unbearably freezing night. Miles has had a number of extremely frustrating camping "incidents" the worst being when he had to derobe 3 times, running around in the freezing cold collecting change for the shower machine (it takes 4 x 50K pieces), as the bloody machine ate his money. We have also had a little difficulty with our trangia stove for the first week. The first fuel Miles bought wasn't flammable at all, and the second was hugely flammable, blackening our brand new equipment with a giant fire ball! Until now we had been grateful to borrow other people's gas burners.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235074884297528866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa43uMfliI/AAAAAAAAA0w/25aBe6OjMHA/s320/IMG_5187.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235077219624172850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6_p9wPTI/AAAAAAAAA5o/ggT-nUXRlXQ/s320/IMG_5203.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Glacial walk<br /></span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076795181889378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6m8y092I/AAAAAAAAA5g/g6OF8HjYIRo/s320/IMG_5208.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075884474583570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5x8JSShI/AAAAAAAAA3w/ZuuuUt-uaF4/s320/P1020109.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076183816956930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6DXSEbAI/AAAAAAAAA34/KP8gledmJn0/s320/P1020115.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Entry to underground ice river</strong></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076185541302610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6DdtL2VI/AAAAAAAAA4A/QDATwD8u7ME/s320/P1020117.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Demonstrating his fury on the icy slopes<br /></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235074890180875954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa44EHMVrI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/Ej7_6UxT_h8/s320/IMG_5233.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076188400471426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6DoW3TYI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/-yxQ9cuGEqU/s320/P1020125.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The view energized us<br /><br /></span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076189366284930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6Dr9IcoI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/XWiKAKxCd1M/s320/P1020127.JPG" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Glacial tongue<br /></span></strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235074893354693090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa44P748eI/AAAAAAAAA1I/ljIsTWwyxxs/s320/IMG_5224.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Svartifoss hexagonal basalt columns</span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075238405598610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5MVWb7ZI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/EFZby8TE9Hg/s320/IMG_5238.jpg" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Benedict staring death in the face</span></strong><br /><br /><div align="left">Skaftafell National Park entertained us with a surreal 5 hour glacial walk followed by a strenuous 6 hour hike through the mountains above campsite in the national park where we had spectacular views and collected wild blueberries to be added to a delicious porridge breakfast. As always, Benedict was the guinea pig to see if they were poisonous -- the only side-effect being deliciousness!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076182091692706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6DQ2u-qI/AAAAAAAAA4I/5X_QQXjZu88/s320/P1020119.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235080010540266146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa9iG8AMqI/AAAAAAAAA5w/vBUQjDv1bN0/s320/P1020128.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Gathering wild blueberries</span><br /><br /></strong><div align="left">The following day we were faced with more extruciating head-on winds, but our efforts were rewarded with a visit to the gorgeous Jökusarlson glacial lagoon, resembling an Antartic landscape. Some fellow Spanish bikers, conivingly drafted behind us the whole way and were annoyingly composed at the next campsite but offered us free Spanish nougats for our assistance.<br /></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075242313608546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5Mj6LbWI/AAAAAAAAA1g/Mchwn2i-WQg/s320/IMG_5249.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235083211821390082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKbAcco5mQI/AAAAAAAAA54/HGN8yqVu89I/s320/P1020143.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jökusarlson was frosty<br /></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075249598986306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5M_DJeEI/AAAAAAAAA1o/UMs-IiABwaA/s320/IMG_5264.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075257812844482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5Ndpe_8I/AAAAAAAAA14/ryj2f8VD8aM/s320/IMG_5315.jpg" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Cocobolo ponders with his head above the clouds</span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><div align="center"><br /></div></span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075476337049618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5aLttwBI/AAAAAAAAA2A/3GXG85aispU/s320/IMG_5320.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Dancing with Cocobolo</span></strong></p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><p align="left"></span></strong>The previous days continual exertion against headwinds had begun to weaken Benedict´s fragile knees, which only allowed the meagre 60km journey to Höfn, the next major port of call. After eying up the deliciously healthy livestock alongside our route, we couldn´t resist to indulge in a massive marinated pork feast for dinner.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075249970656706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5NAbwtcI/AAAAAAAAA1w/rS2_21TYwds/s320/IMG_5309.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075879664046050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5xqOXT-I/AAAAAAAAA3g/vELPntmXBKU/s320/IMG_5407.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Happily insulated and succulent<br /></span></strong><br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075695560632930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5m8YsKmI/AAAAAAAAA24/b6c0ihHDjLU/s320/IMG_5346.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076532634890962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6XquvstI/AAAAAAAAA5I/nZ66pH3GUOw/s320/P1020166.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Clouds meeting the mountains<br /></strong></span><br /><div align="left">An early 6am start the following day took us 106km to Djupivogur. The day was glorious as we entered the spectacular eastern fjords... until we encountered our first gravel road. Our withered muscles struggled to cycle up the steep inclines as massive semi-travels showered us in rocks as they charged past. By the end of the day we atrophied our bodies and brains by melting awaying in the 42 degree hot tub of the local swimming pool. nice.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075475403451170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5aIPIKyI/AAAAAAAAA2I/9N_sm6NedQk/s320/IMG_5321.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075481113997842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5adgoMhI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/K8ZOhE0w1LY/s320/IMG_5327.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Welcome to gravel country<br /></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075478032654754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5aSB-oaI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/rkbon_F0mNM/s320/IMG_5325.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Excessive deep heat application<br /></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075688768132402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5mjFO1TI/AAAAAAAAA2w/5KYe7O8SXk4/s320/IMG_5332.jpg" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Curbing alcoholism by creating ridiculously short opening hours</span></strong><br /><br /><div align="left">Our next day involved covering a massive distance hugging the coastal route around the epic fjords, completing a record day of 112km. Struggling our way through steep gravel sections was rewarded by visiting the dazzling collection of stones in Granny Petra's geological wonderland (the most visited place in Eastern Iceland). Our camping experience at Faskruðsfjorður was one of the best yet, as we were one of only 3 people at the site, looking over the panaromic fjord - plus it was free!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075695091076530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5m6ovTbI/AAAAAAAAA3A/MCxOB4UWmPc/s320/IMG_5356.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075692739476386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5mx4Eu6I/AAAAAAAAA3I/tNjI3SRetiw/s320/IMG_5361.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235076531158849490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa6XlO1F9I/AAAAAAAAA5Q/vhsf9wAFiPw/s320/P1020186.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">A sample of Petra's amazing lifetime collection<br /></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075874931292738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5xYl_OkI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/_S3PSjktJxA/s320/IMG_5401.jpg" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Heart attack after inflating thermarest mattress<br /></span></strong><br /><div align="left">Yesterday's we cycled 50km around the head of another fjord, only to discover a tunnel shortcut which would have saved us much pain, luckily the view was worth it! After lunch we had to cross our first significant mountain pass, cycling uphill to 600m above sea leavel, soon after to be rewarded by 40 minutes of pure downhill bliss in Eglistaðir for the night.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075873263531442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5xSYXNbI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/grwiD5Sqddk/s320/IMG_5395.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235075879900985586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SKa5xrG2uPI/AAAAAAAAA3o/aPMi7cbtI7k/s320/IMG_5411.jpg" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The pocket llama finds its centre of gravity before tackling the mountain pass</span></strong> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Help us reach our target!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Australia</strong> <a href="http://www.mycause.com.au/fundraise.php?mode=frpage&id=419">http://www.mycause.com.au/fundraise.php?mode=frpage&id=419</a> </div><div align="center"><strong>UK</strong> <a href="http://www.mycharitypage.com/themules/">http://www.mycharitypage.com/themules/</a> </div>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-33466942568413478662008-08-09T05:57:00.001-07:002008-08-09T06:18:22.692-07:00Part 1: Reykjavik to Vik<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Uj16KhnI/AAAAAAAAAyY/q9DpcZjeTGk/s1600-h/IMG_5033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Uj16KhnI/AAAAAAAAAyY/q9DpcZjeTGk/s320/IMG_5033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232501685561755250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Team Mule setting off</span><br /></div><br />We finally set off down the dangerously busy highway out of Reykjavik on 12pm on Tuesday after stocking up on supplies. Apart from almost being wiped out by a few cars, our first hitch was when Miles failed to unclip from his pedals correctly, doing a stationary stack at a petrol station. An hour or so after we´d hit the road, we realised that we had started heading up highway north instead of south and had to backtrack to an alternate route?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2UkbEJ_zI/AAAAAAAAAyo/o7w7SfH2gHs/s1600-h/IMG_5035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2UkbEJ_zI/AAAAAAAAAyo/o7w7SfH2gHs/s320/IMG_5035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232501695535775538" border="0" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Uka7lUxI/AAAAAAAAAyw/Zl1VO_lwySs/s1600-h/IMG_5038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Uka7lUxI/AAAAAAAAAyw/Zl1VO_lwySs/s320/IMG_5038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232501695499817746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> It didn't take long to realise we were in for a tough ride</span></span><br /></div>This led us into a rainy mountainous path where we quickly realised we were in for some hard times. By mid afternoon we reached þingvellir, the site for the oldest parliament in the world and existing on the edge of a tectonic plate creating spectacular views. We were largely unable to enjoy the vista as our hands and feet were ice blocks. The visitor centre served as a storm shelter while we re-energized and changed into warmer clothes. The weather remained the same for the rest of the afternoon and it was an extremely long, slow, 90km ride to Selfoss service station. Deliriously we gorged 3 free coffees each, hot dogs, ice creams and other junk - we were never so happy to reach civilization.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Ukq5mq2I/AAAAAAAAAy4/g8wVhgnYO8c/s1600-h/IMG_5049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Ukq5mq2I/AAAAAAAAAy4/g8wVhgnYO8c/s320/IMG_5049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232501699786484578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSB3gDVI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/RRssGt1-asM/s1600-h/IMG_5057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSB3gDVI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/RRssGt1-asM/s320/IMG_5057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502479045791058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Icelandic cuisine: The sheep's head almost tempted us </span></span><br /></div><br />Now we were paying for our 3 months of indulgence in Central America. The warm showers at the campsite were a godsend and set us into good spirits for the next days 80km ride to Seljalandsfoss.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VAQitp8I/AAAAAAAAAzA/w9OEGtv3w1k/s1600-h/IMG_5051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VAQitp8I/AAAAAAAAAzA/w9OEGtv3w1k/s320/IMG_5051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502173747488706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VRwOYM1I/AAAAAAAAAzI/u8OCao4lY0M/s1600-h/IMG_5056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VRwOYM1I/AAAAAAAAAzI/u8OCao4lY0M/s320/IMG_5056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502474309907282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSCRDp6I/AAAAAAAAAzY/B-47ib6UQNQ/s1600-h/IMG_5069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSCRDp6I/AAAAAAAAAzY/B-47ib6UQNQ/s320/IMG_5069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502479152981922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSQVdioI/AAAAAAAAAzg/9_QplEbT89k/s1600-h/IMG_5084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSQVdioI/AAAAAAAAAzg/9_QplEbT89k/s320/IMG_5084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502482929552002" border="0" /></a>The route to Seljandsfoss was relatively flat but we couldn´t continue onto our final destination inland, þorsmörk as it involved crossing glacial rivers, so we took a bus with intent to return the following afternoon. The campsite supplied a lukewarm slime bath for us to bathe our sore muscles in as the showers were not working. The following day we took the morning to explore the mind boggling glacial sculpted area by foot, it was exceptional apart from unnecessarily crossing 7 freezing cold glacial rivers with no shoes on. The graphic images display the effect on Benedict´s withered stumps.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSbGmu1I/AAAAAAAAAzo/tQPvIA9fbbY/s1600-h/IMG_5099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VSbGmu1I/AAAAAAAAAzo/tQPvIA9fbbY/s320/IMG_5099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502485820029778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Slime bath of delight?</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Vf8tjY2I/AAAAAAAAA0I/cqxheMB69cE/s1600-h/IMG_5121.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Vf8tjY2I/AAAAAAAAA0I/cqxheMB69cE/s320/IMG_5121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502718180057954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfVTexvI/AAAAAAAAAzw/pvHf9MTr8LA/s1600-h/IMG_5107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfVTexvI/AAAAAAAAAzw/pvHf9MTr8LA/s320/IMG_5107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502707601721074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfSPMv7I/AAAAAAAAAz4/cOVof_O7JGA/s1600-h/IMG_5115.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfSPMv7I/AAAAAAAAAz4/cOVof_O7JGA/s320/IMG_5115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502706778455986" border="0" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfkDc9GI/AAAAAAAAA0A/U8UXy9jcs80/s1600-h/IMG_5117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfkDc9GI/AAAAAAAAA0A/U8UXy9jcs80/s320/IMG_5117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502711561024610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Glacial river crossings<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">We returned to Seljalandfoss by 4pm and biked on to Skogar, another exceptional waterfall which provided our campsite for the evening. This was Icelandic camping at its best.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfzfPFdI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/MibGgaEE4ls/s1600-h/IMG_5127.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VfzfPFdI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/MibGgaEE4ls/s320/IMG_5127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502715704088018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crazy creek chair Muel and yoda Benedict suffering from frostbite</span></span><br /></div><br />Our last day riding with Muel led us across a treacherous mountain pass to puffin-country "Vik" where rain started plummeting down as we started ascending the biggest beast of a hill we´ve encountered. The ride down from the top made it all worthwhile resembling the Scottish highlands. We trekked up the nearby 150m cliff face to view puffin nesting from above, unfortunately we didn´t get closer than 30m from the delicious animal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Vm70DzRI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/yiFq6x3dB5o/s1600-h/IMG_5145.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2Vm70DzRI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/yiFq6x3dB5o/s320/IMG_5145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502838197996818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Road into Vik</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VpJtoioI/AAAAAAAAA0o/2UDwiSXfHiY/s1600-h/IMG_5173.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2VpJtoioI/AAAAAAAAA0o/2UDwiSXfHiY/s320/IMG_5173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232502876288879234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where are the puffins?</span></span><br /></div><br />Today Muel has left the group and headed back to Reykjavik then London. We awoke this morning to find Muel´s tent poles snapped from severe winds which we must ride 70km into to our next destination! It´s now 1:15pm and we're a bit worried! Thank you to the puffin hotel for their use of laptop and fast internet connection.Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-81252899755755000042008-08-09T05:26:00.000-07:002008-08-09T05:57:04.288-07:00Our Mascot: Cocobolo Mono<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2TXeUZDKI/AAAAAAAAAyA/7w0P-aMvXk4/s1600-h/IMG_5030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2TXeUZDKI/AAAAAAAAAyA/7w0P-aMvXk4/s320/IMG_5030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232500373559250082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cocobolo´s throne</span><br /></span></div><br />In honour of our fundraising mission, we have named our mascot who joined us in San Cristobal Mexico "Cocobolo Mono", mono being monkey in Spanish. So far he has enjoyed his easy ride perched on top of Miles' panniers, silently observing the landscape and providing thoughtful reflection and encouragement. Due to several rain showers, his colour has already faded, stay tuned to see how he fares in the harsh Icelandic elements.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2TXcwvumI/AAAAAAAAAyI/SKx8CUQpgJk/s1600-h/IMG_5074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2TXcwvumI/AAAAAAAAAyI/SKx8CUQpgJk/s320/IMG_5074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232500373141305954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Seljalandsfoss</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2TXsQOiYI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/4J65cxxP8Kc/s1600-h/IMG_5153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJ2TXsQOiYI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/4J65cxxP8Kc/s320/IMG_5153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232500377299880322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflecting on our journey so far<br /></span></span></div>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-53673319064872226482008-08-04T13:31:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:37:51.755-08:00Prelude to PainAs we flew into Keflavik airport at 1am, 50km out of Reykjavik a little worse for wear, we realised we were somewhere unique, the sun was already rising, the landscape completely devoid of trees. After some long waits, we collected 2 out of 3 bikes from the airport, Benedict's needing collection the next day from the cargo bay. Luckily, our friend Phil who resides in Reykjavic provided us with a comfortable sanctuary prior to setting out on our trip. Our first day in the country was a bank holiday with great weather, allowing us to stock up and explore the town of Reykjavic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdpGoSyDtI/AAAAAAAAAx4/L41IOs7qRAc/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdpGoSyDtI/AAAAAAAAAx4/L41IOs7qRAc/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230765054830448338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Intense training awaiting our flight to Iceland</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdo30L0fsI/AAAAAAAAAxw/oDoKrVelKtw/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdo30L0fsI/AAAAAAAAAxw/oDoKrVelKtw/s320/026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230764800324435650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our first encounter with a local.<br /></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdonrAVD-I/AAAAAAAAAxo/6IadVCcOjD8/s1600-h/041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdonrAVD-I/AAAAAAAAAxo/6IadVCcOjD8/s320/041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230764522982412258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Admiring the etheral beauty of the Hallgrimskirkja Church.</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdoHHFU-GI/AAAAAAAAAxY/DTVkFMccZ_A/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdoHHFU-GI/AAAAAAAAAxY/DTVkFMccZ_A/s320/030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230763963583887458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Taking in the town on our new mode of transport.</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdoH17EnuI/AAAAAAAAAxg/vA_bbIkYqdk/s1600-h/042+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdoH17EnuI/AAAAAAAAAxg/vA_bbIkYqdk/s320/042+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230763976157339362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Reykjavik's backdrop<br /></span></div>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-72150830492761467822008-08-04T13:21:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:51.897-08:00Expensive preparationNew York provided a valuable stop-off for buying the majority of our equipment. As you can see it was an expensive ordeal, but the investment will pay dividends when facing unexpected summer ice storms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdlSeqT5BI/AAAAAAAAAxA/4ebYYQEjVuo/s1600-h/P1020028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdlSeqT5BI/AAAAAAAAAxA/4ebYYQEjVuo/s320/P1020028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230760860356699154" border="0" /></a>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-77074646275764345322008-08-04T13:14:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:37:52.059-08:00The talented Muel fires upFor the start of our journey we're lucky enough to have our good friend Sam aka Muel joining us for 7 days. Prior to our flight he fires up with his dual guitars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdjdTWMD8I/AAAAAAAAAw4/zBM5hjX3CMo/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SJdjdTWMD8I/AAAAAAAAAw4/zBM5hjX3CMo/s320/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230758847274815426" border="0" /></a>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-3968915633173021452008-07-11T12:55:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:52.720-08:00Jungle CuisineOn number of occasions whilst immersing ourselves in jungle fever, Benedict's appetite almost brought him to a deadly level of intimacy. One of these beasts could almost constitute an entire meal!<br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221848542533773202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHe7lTid55I/AAAAAAAAAwg/_hNsRGCPk-Q/s320/Guatemala.Belize+291.jpg" border="0" />1. Consuming Cave Spiders<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221848546727020802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHe7ljKNyQI/AAAAAAAAAwo/ujG9wjyljj4/s320/Guatemala.Belize+341.jpg" border="0" />2. Titillating Tarantula<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221848553495536130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHe7l8X9IgI/AAAAAAAAAww/qR96aGSWfFY/s320/Guatemala.Belize+360.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">3. Grasshopper Garnish </p>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-17751436075330135902008-07-11T10:24:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:54.783-08:00Training in Central America<div align="left">Miles and I have been enjoying ourselves thoroughly on our journey northwards from Costa Rica through Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Cuba and finally Mexico. Along the way we have experienced first-hand the beauty and diversity of tropical rainforests in the region as well as getting into training by climbing 4 volcanoes, a couple of waterfalls and other hikes.</div><p align="left">Our first volcano experience up Volcano Telica in Nicaragua was a 5 hour climb in light wind and drizzle. As we neared the crater, winds picked up to an incredible speed. As rain started whipping our face we began to consider that this may not be the best place to camp. Upon reaching the crater, our visibility was about 10m, all our possessions were beyond soaked, and the only solution our American friends could come up with was to light up a cigarette. We abandoned all hope of camping in the crater and began to make our decent late afternoon, the pathways had turned to rivers and large trees began to be uprooted. Halfway down a rescue team had been sent to get us as Hurricane Alma had crossed the coast. At this point we were really wishing our guide had checked the weather forecast! Needless to say, we survived the ordeal, and were even more determined to conquer some volcanoes in the future. </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221838017596065490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHeyArFxhtI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/t3_SSsvrz-4/s320/IMG_1831.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The only photo after the Hurricane</span></strong></p><p>Guatemala presented us with 3 further volcano climbs, a beautiful 2 hour climb up active volcano Pacaya where we dipped our walking sticks into running lava. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221821544530454706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHejB0I4KLI/AAAAAAAAAuA/o0dd-l_Iz4I/s320/Guatemala.Belize+037.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221822644559568226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHekB2EQXWI/AAAAAAAAAuI/TP6OaZS71gA/s320/Guatemala.Belize+038.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Brilliant specimen<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221838023329631442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHeyBAcwzNI/AAAAAAAAAvg/RJPfl-Q4s2A/s320/P1010367.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong> <p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221843201692252834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHe2ubWnuqI/AAAAAAAAAwY/2OpZ5lt1VsQ/s320/n501092656_940132_6210.jpg" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Stick sacrifices<br /><br /></span></strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The next day, Miles and I decided to up the ante and mountain bike up and down Volcan Agua, next to the city of Antigua. A gruelling 1.5 hours of all vertical ascent saw us near the top, which was followed by some hair raising downhill through the rocky paddocks of local corn farmers. Miles and my inexperience shon through as we both managed to flip over handbars on steep downhill portions, luckily unhurt rolling through newly plowed and suprisingly soft cornfields.</span><br /><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221823897010203810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHelKvzwbKI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/IGAGUNqGFGM/s320/Guatemala.Belize+150.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221825073558234162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHemPOyqpDI/AAAAAAAAAuY/VzQi9rP5Z9s/s320/Guatemala.Belize+161.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Conquering Volcan Agua</span></strong><br /><br /></p><p>A week later I foolishly decided to climb our steepest volcano ¨San Pedro¨ at 6am on a Saturday morning after a few too many beverages the previous night and housing a stomach bug caught a week previously in Antigua. After 3 hours of vertical climb, we had the most beautiful view of 7 towns scattered around lake Atilan. After struggling down again I fell into bed for the next 5 days with a terrible sickness, something a course of antibiotics managed to resolve. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221826633292322898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHenqBQQGFI/AAAAAAAAAug/JEdzFnSAIGw/s320/Guatemala.Belize+198.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Deliriously sick halfway up San Pedro</span></strong></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221839594517005842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHezcdlBhhI/AAAAAAAAAv4/qHiQOiBngpE/s320/Guatemala.Belize+209.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221839611582008002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHezddJoysI/AAAAAAAAAwA/wjjuKG8JZkg/s320/Guatemala.Belize+211.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong> The view was worth it from the top of San Pedro</strong></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221838038987021170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHeyB6xxm3I/AAAAAAAAAvw/o_Iaq_cDCEs/s320/P1010535.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Getting intimate with the rainforest<br /></span></strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221839620933882466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHezd__TEmI/AAAAAAAAAwI/_5JWhcJwuKI/s320/Guatemala.Belize+366.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221839628372723922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SHezebs2yNI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/9tEg9BTBPBM/s320/Guatemala.Belize+368.jpg" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Rulers of Tikal</span></strong></p><p>Enjoy the photos and please consider donating to our cause! Our adventure begins on the 3rd of August which is only 3 weeks away and we´re only a quarter of the way to our target! </p><p>Cheers,<br />Miles and Benedict</p>Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096313055190578912.post-63242258737915798122008-04-28T15:53:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:37:54.943-08:00Charity Pages Created<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SBZXtOk43_I/AAAAAAAAAt4/AKuwFsfDlbU/s1600-h/Fuel+The+Mules.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__Qsr0zaXsJ4/SBZXtOk43_I/AAAAAAAAAt4/AKuwFsfDlbU/s320/Fuel+The+Mules.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194435654736994290" border="0" /></a><br />I have setup three pages on the web for donations, one in Australia, one in the UK and one in the US. After credit card transaction fees, 100% of the donations that Miles and I receive will go directly to CREA. Please consider giving gift aid if you are in the UK.<br /><br />Australia<br /><a href="http://www.mycause.com.au/fundraise.php?mode=frpage&id=419">http://www.mycause.com.au/Fuel_the_Mules_in_Iceland</a><br /><br />UK<br /><a href="http://www.mycharitypage.com/themules/">http://www.mycharitypage.com/themules/</a><br /><br />US<br /><a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/fuelthemules">http://www.firstgiving.com/fuelthemules</a><br /><br />We depart for Costa Rica on the 8th of May, stay tuned for updates on our trip!Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382171449578265186noreply@blogger.com0