Over the last four days we’ve cycled over 280 km between Vík and Höfn, around a glacier called Vatnajökull. It has been the most extraordinary experience. We’ve passed lava fields covered in thick green moss, desolate expanses of black glacial sands, barren rocky plains, and massive jagged mountains.

The distances and scale here are almost too large to comprehend.

At times this can be completely exhilarating. Cruising along at 30 kms per hour with a tail wind, with snow capped peaks, massive glaciers and the ocean all around you. At other times it can be soul destroying, particularly when the winds shift, cut through you like a cold knife and leave you battling to turn your peddles.

The flat plains, lack of vegetation and vast scale have played serious havoc with our distance perception. We often found ourselves cycling towards a glacier or mountain that looked like it was only a few kilometres away, only to find that ten kilometres later, we appeared to be no closer than before.

The Vatnajökull glacier is seriously large (its the largest glacier outside of the arctic). We worked out that we’ve cycled around 200km around its’ southern arm, and it extends at least as far north. At it’s deepest point it is over 950 meters thick, and it covers an area of 8100 km^2.

While tough, its already been an unforgettable experience. We had a particularly nice time bumping into a Canadian avalanche technician cycling on her own through Scandinavia and Iceland (hi Serena!).

We’re now resting up for a couple of days in Hofn (its cold but so nice knowing we dont have to cycle or pack up the gear for the next few days).