Geysir and a Trek in Search of Solitude

By Justin Gailey from Port Angeles, Washington
​I spent a week of my homestay up near Geysir, the ultimate namesake for our English word “geyser”.  It was a lovely area full of mountains, fields, horses, and geothermal activity. But what part of Iceland isn’t?

I worked at a bed and breakfast where I got to meet a lot of interesting people from all over the world who were passing through on their own Icelandic adventures. It was especially fun watching the Iceland vs. England football match with a bunch of foreigners who also cheered Iceland on. Except for our English guests. They stayed in their room.

I finished up my stay at Geysir with a trek up into mountains in search of some solitude and spectacular views. And man, were there ever some spectacular views.  From the top, I was in the middle of a sea of volcanoes, fjords, glaciers, and rivers that seemed to stretch on as far as you could see. Iceland has a habit of reminding you at every turn that you’re living in one of the most geologically active and interesting places on the planet.