Iceland Pics

For the non Facebook compatible amongst us, some pics:

We spent whole 5 days stuck in this pine cabin with pine furnature and pine floor and pine food

Everyting got soaked in torrential rain on the glacier, hairdriers were used to ry the probes before sealing

We ran out of Hot melt glue because there was “Just the right amount”, jeff was forced to improvise with a propelling pencil

The Landy Broke down in winchester england but wasnt allowed to be investigated untill It totally died at the top of a mountain

“Chapter closed”

So far there have been 3 days of radio wakeups to collect data from the probes, day 1 the probes were corralled on some rock so we could guarantee radio to all of them. We spoke to all and got data, but discovered a fault that meant we got no accelerometer values. This was later traced to the firmware not allowing long enough for the accelerometers to settle before reading. The next day was a full deployment, 6 of the 7 probes were in the ice, we spoke to only one of them. On attempt 3, total deployment,  we again got only 1 probe, but miraculously it was a different one, so we got 2 days worth from it. Attempt 4 today, same again, files uploaded fine, but no radio contact with probes.

I have just spent 3 weeks of my life and allot of money to help the Glacsweb project. It has been an experience and quite journey, not just in the travel sense. As I reflect I ask the question – Was it worth it? I had a lot of positive experiences, learnt a few things, did some cool stuff. As the dust settles I realise the project leader said neither thank you or goodbye, for that reason – NO. It was worth the money, but not my time. It was summarised well yesterday, as James (one of the Geographers) and I walked out of the eagle air office, he simply said – “Well thats that chapter closed”.

I have been in Reykjavik now for a day, Its very different this time. On the way in, it was a national holiday and consequently desolate. This time its much more lively. I went for a wander in the docks, it was quite odd to actually see a whaling ship, harpoon gun and everything. My first meat fix came from a faux-American “Burger-joint” an excellent example of how to cook cow. After a little research I found a quirky little cafe that resembled a cross between an old English tea shop (Doilies and glass cloches) and a country pub. Best of all the beer was only 550ISK – about £3.80 for an actual pint. I think it was carlsberg, but I cant be too sure.` The girl serving was infact the same girl who served me in the tourist office. After a while I was joined by dutch accountant, a good guy even if he didn’t have a shmok and a pancake.

Later I went to Kaffibarr, the prescribed haunt for students and young people. Despite the 700ISK(£4.86) I some how drank 5 wilst talking to a half german half english chap and the german barmaid. As the night went on the place got busier, slowly filling with locals who all see med to be just a bit weird. The DJ was a woman in her 50’s playing a strange selection of tunes, requiring a torch to see the controls, in the relatively well lit room. Later a massive tray of cheese and chutney appeared.

This morning, I headed to the museum of telecommunication only to be told it had closed down, even tho I could see the exhibits through the windows. It is/was situated in the area of the university campus and for some reason I found myself investigating postgraduate courses for international students. Hence I find myself sat eating lunch in the University of Iceland Students union.

Relics of air travel

I just checked in with eagle air. The carrier for the domestic flight from Reykjavik to Hofn. Its a small industrial unit bordering the airfield. It feels how I imagine air travel of the early 1900’s. I walked up, gave them a wadge of Icelandic notes (£60) and without requiring id, asking innumerate insulting questions about my bag packing capabilities, scanning my luggage for anything slightly pointy or searching me in case of a hidden bottle of water, took my bag and offered me coffee.

Currently sat in their foyer, the pilots are cutting about drinking coffee and chatting-up the office girls and the groundsman young son (Appx 10) is running around in a pair of ear defenders.

After a brief conversation with rob it became clear that there will be no-one to meet me at the Hofn airstrip. Apparently the geographers have the Land Rover at the glacier with no intention to return until late. Normally no reception can be a good thing – less fuss, but with this, I realize that this is the first time Ive gone, let alone flown somewhere with absolutely no knowledge of whats there. Some accounts suggest a small gravel road others some sort of civilization. My GPS Helpfully displays no information other than a mark to say where the town is. Google maps have no imagery or mapping more accurate than a white smudge from the edge of space.

As my battery empties, the girl I saw apparently sat behind the desk has emerged, she was infact stood looks about 12, I hope the pilot is a little older.

Screaming little vomit pumps

The two flights to Iceland were a pleasant affair due to the lack of noisy drunken Essex folk found on cheap flights from Stanstead. The second (3hr) was only marred by the couple in the two seats next to me – they chose to inflict their screaming little child on the whole flight. Unsurprisingly a sub-month old baby didn’t understand the concept of takeoff and turbulence, it did however know how to communicate its concern for the loud noises and violent shaking.

Things were complicated when I received this email on the morning of the 3 flights to Hofn:

Flugfélagið Ernir / Eagle Air Iceland wrote:

>
> Good day,
>
> 
>
> I am sorry to inform you that your flight from Reykjavik to Hofn
> 04.08.08 at 7:30am has been cancelled because of national holiday. We
> have a flight later the same day at 16:00 and we have reserved a seat
> for you on that flight. Let us know if you would like to use it. We
> are very sorry for the inconvenience.
>
> 
>
> Bestu kveðjur / Best Regards
>
> Lára
>
> Flugfélagið Ernir / Eagle Air
>
> Bókanir / Reservation: +354 562 2640
>
> Aðalnúmer / Office: +354 562 4200
>
> Fax: +354 562 4202
>
> 
>

Thanks for the warning chaps!

This meant more hours in Reykjavik than i planned, less than i want to stay awake for. Kindly my mother battled my travel insurance company, they were useless, she found me a guest house – a nice one at that. It waqs situated  on an industrial estate right by the airfield, I suspect from the look of things it was the US base until they removed their talons a few years ago. This theory was supported by all the sockets in my room being the American type and hence useless. The Guest house was nice, if slightly noisy, the worst being the bird outside which must most accurately mimicked the noise of a slippy fan belt. Presumably from all the poor quality American cars.

Berlin

Berlin was quite a different experience to my last visit. A nice hotel and specific tasking made a significant improvement. The task at hand was the Berlin Beer Festival. All we knew was that it runs the length of Karl-Marx allee and involves copious beer and sausages. The tone was set in stanstead airport where we embarked on our third beer, at the gate (There was a spoons right by it!) after the first passengers started boarding, banking on the fact that we were last on with seats in the front row.

After a significant navigation failure – there do not seem to be any street name signs (Perhaps for fear of invasion?) we got to the hotel and hit the festival with apprehension. The rough scheme is that you buy a stein (mug) and optionally a “beirkompas” – map and crack on. Re-fills are between 1.5-3 EUR. In addition to the hundreds of little stalls selling beer, there are some food stalls and a spattering of music stages. The food was stunning, 2 EUR for a chunk/slab of animal in a pathetically small bun, cooked exquisitely. The music was unfortunately very German, although most songs were recognizable as pop classics, they all suffered from the classic German OOM-PAH lilt -  magic!

Day 2 saw a vein attempt at some touristy stuff sweetened by the search for a camping and outdoor shop, we discovered that everything that does not serve alcohol or food shuts on sat and sun – losers, what kind of capital do you call that? Greg took me to a place where artists rent rooms the resulting graffiti is unusually most enjoyable.

The afternoon and evening continued with a cheeky attempt to flank the krauts by attacking the festival from the other end. Needless to say we didn’t manage to make it to where we left off the night before. The two fronts were only united by a last minute attack today before leaving by air. The consumption only became apparent upon waking this morning, fully clothed face down on my bed.