My knee has decided to get better rather than worse, so I'm hoping it won't be an issue going forward. It's hard to imagine how hobbled I felt three days ago and now I'm moving around relatively pain-free. Such are the mysteries of the human body, I guess.
I really enjoyed the little settlement I stayed at last night. It's a working farm so most of food was fresh off the grounds.
I made friends with a goat who followed me around yesterday. I think he liked me because I probably smelled like his other goat friends (I haven't done laundry since arriving in Iceland).
I also followed this rabbit around. It seemed too friendly to be wild, but it also wasn't penned up, so I didn't know what to make of it.
The forecast today called for a chilly 2-5 degree temperature with rain on and off throughout the day. I might have taken the day off, but it was also calling for wind from the west, which could be a welcome boost. I decided to chance it.
Apologies for the rain on the lens. This was my fastest descent of the trip so far. I hit 67km/hr
The first 60 kilometres were chilly but dry. There wasn't a lot to look at, but there also wasn't much traffic so I was enjoying the solitude. After 60 kilometres, I could see the rain I was about to ride into, so I made the decision to call ahead and book a hotel in Egilsstaðir. It was expensive, but I wasn't looking forward to setting up camp in cold wet clothes and hoping I'd be able to dry off and warm up in my tent. Also, as mentioned earlier, I haven't done laundry since getting here. For the sake of anyone with whom I come within smelling distance, I should probably get that taken care of.
Riding in the rain was not ideal. My rain gear only keeps me dry to a point, but a steady downpour will eventually soak me within an hour or so. At that point, all my gear is doing is keeping the wind off me. Even though I'm soaking wet in near freezing temperatures, I'm okay as long as I'm riding. I'm generating so much heat that the wet doesn't bother me, but if I stop, I start to freeze. That meant keeping up a solid pace for 50km without stopping or easing up, after already covering 60km.
Out of necessity, I had my fastest day of riding, but it's taken it's toll. I owe a debt of gratitude to past Mark for thinking ahead and booking the hotel. Present Mark is reaping the benefits. I even booked to spa to pamper myself.
More good news - I reached a milestone today! At 769km, I've passed the halfway point around the country. I'm not really sure what to expect in East Iceland. It looks even more remote and under-serviced than the North, so I'll have to carefully plan my rides to mage sure I have places to refuel and stock up on supplies. I'll need to figure that out tonight. But for now, off to the spa!
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