Couple of weeks ago I noticed a tweet going past about a few acquaintances that had planned a new cycling adventure. At that moment in time I remembered that my last cycling adventure had been in 2010, cycling around New Zealand, and that I had promised myself to go on a big cycling trip at least every two years. So that evening decided for myself that this summer I’d do another bicycle tour on my recumbent, yet where to?
A quick tweet into the world asking for any tips, came back with an answer of cycling a route through the heart of the UK, from Harwich to Land’s End. After some research this seemed like a nice trip, though planning this would be something due to work, canoepolo tournaments, and the London Olympics. The only weeks that did fit into my planning for a vacation would be three weeks in August, and that would be around the end of the London Olympics. That means that London and surrounding areas will be hugely crowded, and campsites probably the same. Right, if not cycling that part of the UK, then where else?
The idea of Iceland quite soon bubbled into my brain, having recently seen some photos and videos of that beautiful country on the Internet. A little bit of research made sure that only cycling the Icelandic ring road would leave out quite a few magnificent sites in the interior, off-limits to rental vehicles. OK, some Icelandic vehicles do venture into the interior, yet these are specially modified trucks with massive wheels and tires. This just means that the interior is not full of tourists ;-).
After picking up a few maps and a guide book at a really nice store here in Deventer (De Wandelwinkel) a route around the Vatnajökull Glacier unfolded, but after a bit of plotting that on Google Maps and having read quite a few stories, that route is quite unlikely to complete in three weeks on a bicycle (even in good weather). Add to that the relentless Icelandic weather, where galeforce winds are not uncommon, which leaves me debating whether that route is suitable (following the F26 and then the F910, making my way to the Askja lake/volcano).
With a couple months ahead of me before actually setting of on that trip, I still have time to seek out a route, and a few backup routes. Currently it is just seeking out the places that I’d like to visit and see whether that can be incorporated into a route that can be done in three weeks.
Should you have any tips on places I do have to visit in Iceland that are not on any tourist map, please let me know ;-).
P.S. If you’ve enjoyed this article or found it helpful, please share it, or check out my other articles. I’m on Instagram and Twitter too if you’d like to follow along on my adventures and other writings, or comment on the article.
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