Day 106 July 26th 2018 Gjorgv
Today I woke up and decided I was going to take myself on a driving tour – Gulp! It worked I finally felt quite comfortable except for the odd moments the brain let me down but nothing dramatic happened.
Someone had mention that Gjorgv was gorgeous. It was marked as one of the “Butterfly” (scenic) routes – even better. It involved travelling to the next island of Esteroy – connected by a bridge. Then travelling up the finger and over.
Eiði was the first town I came to after crossing the bridge from Streymoy over the Fjord and onto Eysturoy. The road curving around the new finger. Eiði was the town I could see across the water as I walked yesterday. It was a pretty town up close but the ultra narrow streets hurried me on. I spied a sign to Gjorgv and followed it eastwards.
The road across the northern part of Eysturoy was magnificent – green pastures, towering mountains and the sparkling Fjord sea in the distance. As I rounded one corner a spectacular trio of cliff faces lined up in front. A few cars were parked in a pull off which I joined to take a better look at the view. I then noticed little ants of people visible up the mountain beside the carpark.
“Why not?” I thought. Out with hiking poles and water and up I go. It was a tough walk both up and down but the views over the dam lake, the sea and surrounding mountains made frequent stops worthwhile for more than catching breath. Wind gusts became stronger the higher I climbed until a couple returning suggested the hike to the ridge at the top was not advised as the wind was stronger and gusting. Happy to take advice I kept on till almost the ridge and sat to admire the view before turning back.
I later discovered this was Slættaratindur the highest mountain in the Faroes reaching 880metres. Pleased I did the walk and pleased I did not know that beforehand – giving an excuse not to start.
And on to Gjorv. What a treasure of a village. Clustered around a small bay with a gorge on one side and mountains surrounding it. After the mountain climb my body was saying enough so decided I would not climb up but explore the village and gorge. I had already decided this was a place I should bring Chris to if he got back to the Faroes.
After watching families with young children playing in the small lagoon in the river coursing through the village I found a quiet spot for lunch before exploring the Gorge and seafront.
And finally gaining confidence mile by mile – I returned home to my tiny house in Haldarsvik.
