Sometimes These Things Happen

I am gazing out the window of our van at a desolate landscape of ash and cinders when I hear Hauker say "Oh shit." just before the van veers off the gravel track and comes to a stop - something has broken. We had started out at 5:30 this morning in an effort to get some photo shooting completed before the big Icelandic rainstorm expected in the afternoon, but now it seems that the day's schedule has changed. 

There are 8 of us in the van and we all get out while Haukur (Hawk) and his companion discover that a bolt has fallen out of something critical related to the right wheel steering. Amazingly, they search the track and find the damaged bolt and begin work to reinstall it. So, while they are doing that, Hawk suggests we take advantage of the unscheduled photo shoot in this desolate place. To add to the atmosphere it is chilly and the wind is picking up in advance of the storm, but I am wearing enough Gortex and fleece to be comfortable.

We slowly fan out and begin to appreciate the sullen character of this space and record what we see. Surprisingly the ground is spongy to walk on and footprints are deep. The ash-fall is hundreds of years old and I doubt that many people have walked out where we are. The tracks that extend across this whole area are used by visitors to see the natural wonders, and fishermen to go to the Fishing Lakes region, which was going to be our destination before the mishap.

 About 90 minutes and much duct tape later, Hawk is willing to try slowly returning to our hotel, but he feels that it will also make the trip to his mechanic who is maybe 40 miles away. All goes as planned and by three o'clock Hawk is back with the repaired and inspected van and the revised forecast says the storm is not expected until this evening, so we head off on the anticipated trip towards the Fishing Lakes.