Sauðafell

For the past five months Izzy and I have looked out every morning (well those mornings where the cloud allowed us to look out!) across the reserve to the mountain of Sauðafell which stands 553m (or 1797 ft for those that still like the old money!)

Everyone who visits the reserve has to drive along the 4x4 track that runs around the bottom of Sauðafell with it´s rocky summit. It has been a constant part of the scenery here and we have been trying to find time to climb it since April! - Well on Saturday we eventually managed to find time, and luckily for  us beautiful weather, to climb the mountain with our faithful hound.

The view of Sauðafell from the 4x4 track

Izzy making her way up the mountain

Bjartur (right hand side) enjoying the view

Almost at the top

Great view

Izzy on the ridge

At the summit 

SEEDS Group 2 - Oli´s Angels

Today saw the departure of our second SEEDS group of volunteers. They have been with us for the last week and have filled the place with laughter and have lightened atmosphere in the centre as we come to the end of the season. It has been lovely having them and getting involved with all of their activities on and off the reserve.

Sunday will see the arrival of our last group from the John Muir Trust and also the last full week that Izzy and I have left at Skálanes before we return to the United Kingdom. Sometimes it seems that the time has flown and other times it seems like we have been here for a long time.  It has been an eventful summer and a very useful experience for both of us. Hopefully all of the groups that we have had through feel it has been a worthwhile experience for them as well.

So.....SEEDS Group 2 in photos...

Down...but not out!

It was always going to happen at some point and 19 weeks have now been and gone at Skálanes before I have become ill, although on the plus side I have outlasted everyone else. Now to head-off the comments about "Man-Flu" I do not have the flu! I might have a horrible cold or even a throat infection, but I do not have man-flu.

It has been busy at Skálanes with guests and day visitors, but the season is definately slowing down now. In three days our second Glasgow University group leaves and we then only have a SEEDS group and a group from John Muir Trust before Izzy and I follow the majority of bird species back south.

Lacking any great inspiration other than the four walls that I am currently confined in, I thought I would simply finish with a photograph of a 4x4 lorry that we parked next to the other day.  Now I know Izzy is on the shortish side (don't tell her I said that!) but the lorry is HUGE! If you're going to travel in Iceland then I guess it is worth travelling in style!!

Images from the reserve...

Some photographs from the reserve over the last couple of days...

Blue sky and Ice-cold water!

Looking up the Fjord

Snipe beside the centre

Pool below the dam

Chantal taking samples

Scary!

Harebells

Track down to Skálanes

Reading the signs...

Unfortunately everything starts to get a bit tired and worn out after a while, and I´m not just talking about myself. The main sign at Skálanes had seen better days, with two of the five panels falling apart.  So taking the original sign we have now recycled three of the panels and used them in three individual sign "cairns".

Many thanks to the Desire group for their work on the signs and especially Master Builder Colin and Apprentice Dylan!

Work in progress, but looking good...

New use for the old parking sign

Colin´s brilliant information cairn in the car park

"Build and they shall come!"