Day 87 July 7th 2018 Hvammstangi
Glaumber Farm our first chilly stop of the day. All the more atmospheric when considering life in the turf village during the 11th century.
Picture perfect turf buildings – waves of grass topped rooves and patterned turf walls. Surrounded by snow capped mountains even in midsummer.
The earliest building from the 11th century had been found using sensors – close to the current buildings. On excavation it was found the remains of a longhouse.
A fascinating array of artefacts in the museum including a variety of bags made of animal skin. No skin left unused! Dried cows bladders, bulls balls, amniotic sacs. All with a variety of uses – expected and unexpected. Am niotic sacs used as skylights. Beautifully decorated simple shoes. Weather vane – the skin being limp when warm weather coming.
Lunch was a picnic in the rain with a local cyclist flying by looking in astonishment at the tourists sitting having lunch in the rain. After which an unusual factory – Fish leather factory in Sauðárkrókur, the array of colours and textures – all of various fish skins was surprising both in look and strength.
Kálfshamarsvík Basalt Columns – three of us opted to remain near the car park after Terns attacked and drew blood as Gerd ventured through the field to the coast. Not to be deterred he re-entered with sticks held aloft which did not prevent the dive bombing but prevented bodily harm! The three of us remained out of attack range until Gerd returned and said it would be a big miss not to see the columns.
True – as sticks aloft we all ventured through the grassland to the coastline lined with rows and rows of black basalt columns facing all directions. One area a warm amphitheatre of cobbled columns below the tall white lighthouse.
The photograph in the header of the post above is from the Midnight walk – because one can!
PHOTOS OF OUR DAY
