Stage 9: Varmahlíd – Blöndulón lake

After the for the others usual coffee in the morning we set of. The first kilometres are climbing in several stages over a ridge. The venom is in the last part from Vatnhlíðarvatn lake to the top where the climb is at its steepest. Until there we went more or less behind each other but since Hausie and me are mainly chatting and Susann had jet fuel for breakfast it becomes a strenuous climb. The descent however is fast and steep and within few minutes we’re in the valley on the other side. It is not far from here that the Kjölur route (F35) starts.
The first kilometres are over the still regular but unsealed road 732 along the river. Apart from the climb just after the suspension bridge over the river Blanda this part is rather flat. At the point where the F35 really begins the road starts climbing and becomes sealed again. This has been done in order to make it possible for lorries to reach the power plant further uphill.

Road 732: the Northern end of the Kjölur route

The road climbs out of the river valley in a long steep climb (about 10% on average) from nearly sea level to over 500 metres above sea level. Unfortunately the tarmac stops exactly at the power plant and that is not the summit yet. So for the last kilometre we have to find our way up over a gravel road with a soft top layer making handling the bike difficult in times. At the summit the road improves again and we stand still for a while to enjoy the wide views over the inland.
We decide to make a lunch stop and carry some of our stuff to a pile of rocks some few hundred metres away in order to have some shelter from the wind. It is actually quite nice in the sun if there is no wind and so our already late lunch is extended with a short nap. The road up here is of remarkable quality; the surface is not as smooth as tarmac but it is hard without stones or sand on it and today’s ride is like Sunday afternoon’s ride. Moreover the road is flat to undulating.
We pass several smaller lakes before we reach the vast Blöndulón lake. It is past 6 o’clock now and the wind is coming up. We agree on pitching our tents on the east side of the road near the dam. Due to the wind we are hardly bothered by mosquitoes and flies so we can remain outside our tents in the evening.
The lake is a definite challenge for those who like to take a bath. Hausie is brave enough to get himself wet though not by swimming and 10 minutes later I follow that example by sponging myself standing in the lake. Being naked in a cold freezing lake is definitely not my habit - especially not with this kind of wind. Of course when I’m standing there the only car of the day passes and though the distance is quite large I can see the people in there watching me; wondering about that crazy guy.

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