That spring, I was in Iceland with sunny weather — Lu

Photos & Text by murphybj4
 
After saying goodbye to Akureyri, the largest city in the north, we were welcomed by endless scenic roads. To ensure a smooth journey ahead, we loaded up on snacks at the supermarket, fearing another snowstorm that could leave us stranded and hungry in the car. This time, fully prepared, we headed toward Rhino Rock in northwest Iceland.

Rhino Rock, also known as Elephant Rock, is located along the coast of the Vatnsnes Peninsula in northwest Iceland. Since seeing it up close requires driving off the Ring Road, many travelers skip this attraction.

The approximately 15-meter-high Rhino Rock is made of basalt. When we arrived, it was low tide, allowing us to walk down to the beach and face it directly. However, as we were near the Arctic Circle, the April sea breeze was bone-chillingly cold, making it impossible to fully enjoy the beautiful scenery.

After leaving Elephant Rock, although we had originally planned to make a pilgrimage to Kirkjufell (Church Mountain), we ultimately had to give up on seeing Iceland’s most famous peak. Not only is it a filming location for Game of Thrones’ “Game of Thrones,” but it’s also the global traveler’s instant image of Iceland. But because we were really short on time — the round-trip drive would have taken an extra five hours and required a night drive back to our accommodation — we had to console ourselves with the excuse of coming back next time.

By giving up Church Mountain, we had more time to enjoy the slow pace of life in the bay town. Borgarnes was our last rest stop before returning to the capital. Our lodging was situated on a cape in the bay, surrounded by the sea and with stunning mountain views — it was the accommodation we were most looking forward to during our trip to Iceland.