Trip Day 6, Day 5 Sey₫isfjὄ₫ur

August 26, 2019

We have been traveling from Reykjavik, north to the western fjords, to Grimsey on the Artic Circle, down to Akureyri still in the north. The Captain told us yesterday that the weather was going to start getting rough, and he might have to change the course. On Sunday night as we left Akureyri, he met with the passengers, showed us weather maps, and explained the change of course. The winds and swells continue to increase on the east and south sides of Iceland. We made Sey₫isfjὄ₫ur, but then began to retrace our route around the north and west of Iceland. We will miss Heimaey Island located in the Westmannaeyjar archipelago off southern Iceland.

Where the red shade on the east/south side, the swells would be more than 15 ft. high and the winds around 15+ knots.

Sey₫isfjὄ₫ur is Iceland's most picturesque town with many of the old Norwegian-style houses well-preserved and painted bright colors. Founded in 1848, it is situation on the eastern side of Iceland in a fjord, which geographically is the oldest part of Iceland. The fjord that is about 40m deep was carved out 2.5 to 3 million years ago by massive glaciers.

Situated under two vast mountains, Mt. Strandartindur and Mt. Bjolfur, avalanche prevention is essential. The people experienced two avalanches back-to-back in 1993 and 1994, losing 20 people and houses

The town has a population of 700. Its origins began with Danish merchants who started trading in the fjord in the mid-19th century. A Icelandic herring fishery was built by the Norwegians in 1870 leading to a booming town. The fishery was distroyed in the avalanche, and the population has decreased.

During WWII, the town was important to the allies. There were about 1000 US and British forces stationed there and other small villages in the area. They constructed about 200 bunkers such as the one in the picture below. Ola Maria, our guide is in this picture also. She is a guide, assistant pharmacist, registered nurse and kindergarten teacher. Her husband is a chef for one of the fishing boats.

More colorful houses and buildings

This sculpture is actually steel girders that were bent from the weight of the avalanche to remind people of the force of an avalanche

Walking through the middle of town, we saw the Blue Church and some of the colorful houses that now are mainly pubs, cafes, but also art studios.

Delicate wild flowers that are edible-blue bells

Really cute wood carvings

We walked up on the mountain (Bjolfur-named for the first settler), circling the town passing several beautiful waterfalls. This mountain and surrounding mountains are table top mountains.

Crossing over the fences into a pasture in which sheep are grazing. At the end of September, the farmers with the help of other community members bring all the sheep down to the town to be sheltered in barns.