We started this portion of our trip at the Mývatn Nature Baths. Originally planned for another day, they became part of a longer day (the west part of the route on the map below).

The nature baths at Mývatn are said to rival the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik, but they are cheaper. They do not have massages and other high end perks, but they do include a swim up bar if you are so inclined. The blue water is caused by the silica reflecting. Mývatn is not as busy as the Blue Lagoon, but it is smaller so I’m not sure if the amount of people per square meter would be the same. It was very beautiful; however, the seats were slimy in the big pool so I didn’t want to sit.



At the pool we met three young men, childhood friends from Michigan. They had gone to three different universities and this was there graduation trip. One had completed a degree in aerospace engineering, another in supply chain management and the third in experience architecture (I hope I got that right). They are doing the loop in the opposite direction to us, so we exchanged information on the driving conditions. I thought it was funny that only one guy knew how to drive a standard, so he is teaching the other two on the Iceland highways. You see little enough traffic here that it is probably a good way to go – except for the lack of shoulders should they get into trouble.
We did see snow down close to the road. When we saw it, it was only at an altitude of 550 m.





We paid for the only toll on Iceland. The Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel Is 7 km long and cuts about 15 minutes off the drive in the summer time, and makes the drive possible in the winter. It only cost about $16 CAD and I thought that was reasonable. You have 24 hours to pay the toll or you will receive a fine.

Apparently not everyone remembers to drive on the right side of the road in Iceland. We followed this guy for a while as Paul did not want to try to pass him.

I’ll end this post with more scenery pics from our drive (you did tell me to take lots of pictures).



















































